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BASKIN ORAN: 'IT IS DOWN TO SECULAR TURKEY TO FOOT THE BILL FOR 'ISLAMIC TERRORISM"
Cafe Babel, France
Dec 13 2006
'Dialogue of the deaf' between Ankara and Brussels - Turkish political
scientist, Baskin Oran shares his criticisms
'Although both the EU and Turkey make mistakes, the latter is more
fragile' - Oran (Photo: Berrin Cerrahoglu) Baskin Oran is a Turkish
political scientist and member of the Human Rights Committee in
Ankara. In 2004, he published a work on the concept of citizenship and
minorities in Turkey. Also a columnist for the weekly Turco-Armenian
magazine 'Agos', he is currently on trial for 'insulting Turkish
justice' and 'incitement to hatred'. Whilst Ankara has made mistakes
in the membership process, European leaders are themselves behaving
irresponsibly, he says.
Why does Turkey refuse to open her ports and airports to Cypriot
boats and planes?
Following the last enlargement in 2004, Turkey decided to widen the
application of the 1963 Ankara Agreement [linking it to the EU], to
nine of the new member states. The list did not mention the 'Republic
of Cyprus'. Protests from Brussels and Ankara's obstinacy then led to
a protocol, signed in July 2005, which also caused problems. On the
Turkish side, ratifying the text implies recognition of the south of
Cyprus (Greek), and the abandonment of the north, denying the existence
of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). On the European
side, the diplomats are embarrassed because Turkey has always said that
this protocol did not mean recognising Cyprus. By not mentioning the
'Republic of Cyprus' in its first decree, Turkey is today forced to
ratify a protocol that it cannot ratify. As in December 2004, the EU
is making Cyprus a 'de facto' membership condition, meaning that we
are today facing deadlock in the process.
It really is nothing more than a dialogue of the deaf.
Why has the situation become so unsolvable?
2007 is an electoral year in Turkey and boldness is not a value of
any of the candidates. More fundamentally, the Cypriot question has
always been a national issue. The Greek massacre of Turkish Cypriots
in 1964 caused such heartfelt reactions that leaving Cyprus has become
synonymous with treason. Moreover, in Turkey today, there is a sort
of 'paranoia of the Treaty of Sèvres', after the destruction of the
Ottoman Empire in 1920. Abandoning Cyprus is part of this phenomenon
and also contributes to worsening it. The reaction is exacerbated by
other factors, such as opposition to globalisation, as represented
by the EU. Many Turks fear that joining the EU will affect their
independence and culture. In addition, Turks are reacting against
the EU's mistakes.
What do you mean by 'mistakes'?
I mean the irresponsible acts and speeches made by European politicians
and statesmen - the fact that every new European document lists
new conditions for membership. Today, it is Cyprus; tomorrow it
will be genocide. The day after that, it will be something else
again. Moreover, the concept of 'absorption capacity' is enough in
itself. It creates a permanent impression of humiliation - it is the
idea of Turks always being unable to eat the carrot, however much they
are hit with the stick. There is no other way for it to be interpreted.
Why is the EU behaving in such a way?
In the past, only the elite would talk rationally about membership.
Since September 11, it is the emotional feelings of the masses that
hold sway. Politicians fear being caught on the wrong side of them.
It seems that secular Turkey must foot the bill for Islamic
terrorism. Then, we have the hasty integration of Eastern countries:
the rules have been swept away and the money is not there. Now, they
are trying to palliate the impact by using Turkey. In addition, the
Cypriot President, Tassos Papadopoulos, is a man whose nationalism
and carelessness are legendary. Brussels knows how to make use of
him. However, once appeased, the EU will put Cyprus in its real place.
What will the consequences of these arguments be?
Let's be fearless. Diplomacy will soon find a middle way. However,
the problem remains that this nationalism throughout Europe is
feeding Turkish nationalists who, in return, feed their European
counterparts through their anti-democratic behaviour. The world is
undergoing a fundamental change in its socio-economic structures,
moving from national to international capitalism. This is reflected
in culture, politics and the law. This enormous change is frightening
everyone. However, let us not forget this - it is affecting Turkey
much more than Europe, due to its relative weakness. Turkey is making
a lot of mistakes but we must bear in mind its fragility.
http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.as p?T=T&Id=9182
--Boundary_(ID_bCLJbl4E7C3m7U3E Bzj+kA)--
Cafe Babel, France
Dec 13 2006
'Dialogue of the deaf' between Ankara and Brussels - Turkish political
scientist, Baskin Oran shares his criticisms
'Although both the EU and Turkey make mistakes, the latter is more
fragile' - Oran (Photo: Berrin Cerrahoglu) Baskin Oran is a Turkish
political scientist and member of the Human Rights Committee in
Ankara. In 2004, he published a work on the concept of citizenship and
minorities in Turkey. Also a columnist for the weekly Turco-Armenian
magazine 'Agos', he is currently on trial for 'insulting Turkish
justice' and 'incitement to hatred'. Whilst Ankara has made mistakes
in the membership process, European leaders are themselves behaving
irresponsibly, he says.
Why does Turkey refuse to open her ports and airports to Cypriot
boats and planes?
Following the last enlargement in 2004, Turkey decided to widen the
application of the 1963 Ankara Agreement [linking it to the EU], to
nine of the new member states. The list did not mention the 'Republic
of Cyprus'. Protests from Brussels and Ankara's obstinacy then led to
a protocol, signed in July 2005, which also caused problems. On the
Turkish side, ratifying the text implies recognition of the south of
Cyprus (Greek), and the abandonment of the north, denying the existence
of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). On the European
side, the diplomats are embarrassed because Turkey has always said that
this protocol did not mean recognising Cyprus. By not mentioning the
'Republic of Cyprus' in its first decree, Turkey is today forced to
ratify a protocol that it cannot ratify. As in December 2004, the EU
is making Cyprus a 'de facto' membership condition, meaning that we
are today facing deadlock in the process.
It really is nothing more than a dialogue of the deaf.
Why has the situation become so unsolvable?
2007 is an electoral year in Turkey and boldness is not a value of
any of the candidates. More fundamentally, the Cypriot question has
always been a national issue. The Greek massacre of Turkish Cypriots
in 1964 caused such heartfelt reactions that leaving Cyprus has become
synonymous with treason. Moreover, in Turkey today, there is a sort
of 'paranoia of the Treaty of Sèvres', after the destruction of the
Ottoman Empire in 1920. Abandoning Cyprus is part of this phenomenon
and also contributes to worsening it. The reaction is exacerbated by
other factors, such as opposition to globalisation, as represented
by the EU. Many Turks fear that joining the EU will affect their
independence and culture. In addition, Turks are reacting against
the EU's mistakes.
What do you mean by 'mistakes'?
I mean the irresponsible acts and speeches made by European politicians
and statesmen - the fact that every new European document lists
new conditions for membership. Today, it is Cyprus; tomorrow it
will be genocide. The day after that, it will be something else
again. Moreover, the concept of 'absorption capacity' is enough in
itself. It creates a permanent impression of humiliation - it is the
idea of Turks always being unable to eat the carrot, however much they
are hit with the stick. There is no other way for it to be interpreted.
Why is the EU behaving in such a way?
In the past, only the elite would talk rationally about membership.
Since September 11, it is the emotional feelings of the masses that
hold sway. Politicians fear being caught on the wrong side of them.
It seems that secular Turkey must foot the bill for Islamic
terrorism. Then, we have the hasty integration of Eastern countries:
the rules have been swept away and the money is not there. Now, they
are trying to palliate the impact by using Turkey. In addition, the
Cypriot President, Tassos Papadopoulos, is a man whose nationalism
and carelessness are legendary. Brussels knows how to make use of
him. However, once appeased, the EU will put Cyprus in its real place.
What will the consequences of these arguments be?
Let's be fearless. Diplomacy will soon find a middle way. However,
the problem remains that this nationalism throughout Europe is
feeding Turkish nationalists who, in return, feed their European
counterparts through their anti-democratic behaviour. The world is
undergoing a fundamental change in its socio-economic structures,
moving from national to international capitalism. This is reflected
in culture, politics and the law. This enormous change is frightening
everyone. However, let us not forget this - it is affecting Turkey
much more than Europe, due to its relative weakness. Turkey is making
a lot of mistakes but we must bear in mind its fragility.
http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.as p?T=T&Id=9182
--Boundary_(ID_bCLJbl4E7C3m7U3E Bzj+kA)--