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FRANCE-TURKEY: 'LE CHANGEMENT, C'EST MAINTENANT'
by Helene Flautre*
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-280359-france-turkey-le-changement-cest-maintenant-by-helene-flautre*.html
May 14 2012
Turkey
It was not a coincidence that "le changement, c'est maintenant," the
campaign slogan of Francoise Hollande, who won a landslide victory in
the French elections, which literally means "change now," or "time
for change," was used by Le Monde in its headline to draw attention
to relations between France and Turkey.
The discourse opposing Turkey's membership of the European Union that
Sarkozy relied on in his election campaign in 2007, as well as the
French veto of the five negotiation chapters that were pre-requisite
for membership, marked the worst period in the Turkish-French
relationship. Sarkozy has made these two Mediterranean countries,
which have common interests in many fields, strong opponents over
the last five years.
Hollande's election victory is a big chance to turn a page in
French-Turkish relations. In these days of turmoil in the Mediterranean
area, France and Turkey may devise new policies, and France may
rebalance the center of the EU, taking it from central Europe to the
Balkans and the Mediterranean via Turkey. For the euro-Mediterranean
region, the time for change is now!
Strong common interests
Turkey holds importance for France not only because of trade reasons,
but also strategic factors, considering that it is a country where
French businessmen make huge investments. To this end, it should be
noted that the most important factor in bilateral relations between
Turkey and France is their common interests in the Mediterranean
region. The economic and political stability in the region, which is
experiencing a state of political and economic crisis in the north
and a state of turmoil because of the Arab Spring in the south, is
crucial for both Turkey and France. Without the attainment of peace
and a settlement in this region, neither France nor Turkey can achieve
economically sustainable programs. I am not sure if I need to stress
the importance of France and Turkey in the Mediterranean region in
these times of global anxiety over the Syrian issue.
Due to the ongoing economic crisis, the dimensions of the political
crisis that has become widespread in Europe unfortunately cannot be
properly identified and perceived. Not only the French elections, but
the elections held in Greece once more demonstrated that the coming
danger of the racist far right is becoming a pressing problem in the
continent. Even though this is not a new problem, it is attracting
growing popular attention and interest. In addition to the conventional
European far right that holds anti-Semitic sentiments, we are now
facing a new European far-right movement that promotes a strong
political discourse opposed to Islam. It appears that the policies
of the French political parties will be determined by their approach
towards the far right in the upcoming parliamentary elections. It is
now possible to argue that policies, as evidenced by Sarkozy's election
campaign, seeking to appeal to far-right supporters by reliance on
their discourse backfires. For this reason, not only the relations with
the Arab world, but also Turkey's EU membership, will be affected by
the way far-right arguments are dealt with. In his election campaign,
Hollande has spoken consistently against the populist far right
theses. There is no doubt that a discussion on Turkey's EU membership
will take place between the political movements promoting secular and
universal values and the nationalist, anti-democratic movements that
are opposed to Europe. In other words, Turkey's EU membership is a
discussion that is relevant both to Turkey and to the future of the EU.
Messages on Turkey
As soon as he starts considering the Turkey file, the new president
will have to deal with these facts. We could say that in his
election campaign, Hollande delivered three messages that are
relevant to Turkey. The two messages on EU membership should be
considered carefully. Hollande said that he would lift the veto on
the five chapters that are crucial for membership. His second message
suggests that Turkey will not be able to become an EU member during his
presidential term. If we take these two messages into consideration,
we can say that this is a fairly realistic standpoint because the EU
has not absorbed its 12 new members (with Croatia, 13) and is not
considering Turkey's membership seriously because of the ongoing
economic crisis. However, it should also be noted that this stance
means support for Turkey's negotiation process. What really matters for
Turkey in the years to come is a move towards membership rather than
membership at some hypothetical time in the future. The conditions are
not ripe for discussions on full membership for Turkey, which cannot
be easily integrated because of its history, population, geography,
culture and potential influence. Moreover, Turkey is still not ready
for membership. The biggest obstacle, Sarkozy, has been removed from
the path by the election of Hollande, and this is actually a huge
development. If Turkey takes this chance and makes progress along
the negotiation process that would also include the blocked chapters
within the scope of the "positive agenda" of the Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy tefan Fule, it will
effectively be following the agenda offered by Fule and Hollande.
The Armenian issue, which Hollande has made reference to a few times,
is the most important and crucial problem. However, there are some
important facts that nobody can ignore. Above all, even during
Sarkozy's term, EU institutions did not lay down acceptance of the
genocide as a precondition for Turkey's EU membership even though
it is obvious that only a Turkey that faces up to its past will be
part of Europe. Secondly, Hollande did not rely on this matter in
his election campaign and did not use this as a card against Turkey.
Thirdly, even though he promised that he would work on a project on
this issue, Hollande cannot ignore the most recent decision by the
French Constitutional Court on the penalization of denial of genocide
allegations. The point is that 135 deputies from different parties
filed an application with the Constitutional Court for an annulment of
the parliament's decision. This shows that the idea of the rule of law
is still alive and respected in France and that venturous policies do
not work. It should also be noted that many people in France believe
that such legislation prevents free and constructive discussion.
Undoubtedly, Hollande will focus on this matter in consideration of
all these points. Hollande's approach to the issue suggests that he
is sensitive to the sufferings and the problems of the Armenians, who
are members of an influential social group in France. In other words,
he will not use it to oppose Turkey. For this reason, Ankara should
seek dialogue. I believe that the most important and constructive
development is the new perception in Turkey which has become stronger
through the protests over Hrant Dink's murder, the last victim of
the Armenian issue. The policies of denial are no longer reasonable;
there is a Turkey that is ready to confront its past. In the end,
the wounds will be healed in Ankara, not in Paris. Armenians are
expecting a genuine gesture from Turkey, not from France. If friends
of Turkey focus on this matter, they are doing so because they want
to underline the presence of a still-bleeding wound. If Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses readiness to talk with Holland on this
matter, he will have an influential position in relations with both
France and Armenia.
To conclude, it is now time for change in Turkish-French relations:
"le changement, c'est maintenant." However, even if it had the right
to expect France to initiate the process of change, Turkey should
recall that it is also influential in the turning of this new page.
The first thing that needs to be changed is the style and attitude
that has been used in recent years. Turkish-French relations have been
strongly affected and undermined by the developments in last five
years. But the conditions are good in both Ankara and Paris. And it
is up to the captains to bridge the gap. I am now happy not only with
the change in France, but also with watching Turkey trying to write
a new constitution, confronting its history, trying to face up to
incidents like Dersim and developing exciting political dynamics. And
I do not know if there is any luckier political position in Brussels
than being a French deputy responsible for policy on Turkey.
*Hélène Flautre is the co-chairperson of the EU-Turkey Joint
Parliamentary Committee.
From: Baghdasarian
by Helene Flautre*
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-280359-france-turkey-le-changement-cest-maintenant-by-helene-flautre*.html
May 14 2012
Turkey
It was not a coincidence that "le changement, c'est maintenant," the
campaign slogan of Francoise Hollande, who won a landslide victory in
the French elections, which literally means "change now," or "time
for change," was used by Le Monde in its headline to draw attention
to relations between France and Turkey.
The discourse opposing Turkey's membership of the European Union that
Sarkozy relied on in his election campaign in 2007, as well as the
French veto of the five negotiation chapters that were pre-requisite
for membership, marked the worst period in the Turkish-French
relationship. Sarkozy has made these two Mediterranean countries,
which have common interests in many fields, strong opponents over
the last five years.
Hollande's election victory is a big chance to turn a page in
French-Turkish relations. In these days of turmoil in the Mediterranean
area, France and Turkey may devise new policies, and France may
rebalance the center of the EU, taking it from central Europe to the
Balkans and the Mediterranean via Turkey. For the euro-Mediterranean
region, the time for change is now!
Strong common interests
Turkey holds importance for France not only because of trade reasons,
but also strategic factors, considering that it is a country where
French businessmen make huge investments. To this end, it should be
noted that the most important factor in bilateral relations between
Turkey and France is their common interests in the Mediterranean
region. The economic and political stability in the region, which is
experiencing a state of political and economic crisis in the north
and a state of turmoil because of the Arab Spring in the south, is
crucial for both Turkey and France. Without the attainment of peace
and a settlement in this region, neither France nor Turkey can achieve
economically sustainable programs. I am not sure if I need to stress
the importance of France and Turkey in the Mediterranean region in
these times of global anxiety over the Syrian issue.
Due to the ongoing economic crisis, the dimensions of the political
crisis that has become widespread in Europe unfortunately cannot be
properly identified and perceived. Not only the French elections, but
the elections held in Greece once more demonstrated that the coming
danger of the racist far right is becoming a pressing problem in the
continent. Even though this is not a new problem, it is attracting
growing popular attention and interest. In addition to the conventional
European far right that holds anti-Semitic sentiments, we are now
facing a new European far-right movement that promotes a strong
political discourse opposed to Islam. It appears that the policies
of the French political parties will be determined by their approach
towards the far right in the upcoming parliamentary elections. It is
now possible to argue that policies, as evidenced by Sarkozy's election
campaign, seeking to appeal to far-right supporters by reliance on
their discourse backfires. For this reason, not only the relations with
the Arab world, but also Turkey's EU membership, will be affected by
the way far-right arguments are dealt with. In his election campaign,
Hollande has spoken consistently against the populist far right
theses. There is no doubt that a discussion on Turkey's EU membership
will take place between the political movements promoting secular and
universal values and the nationalist, anti-democratic movements that
are opposed to Europe. In other words, Turkey's EU membership is a
discussion that is relevant both to Turkey and to the future of the EU.
Messages on Turkey
As soon as he starts considering the Turkey file, the new president
will have to deal with these facts. We could say that in his
election campaign, Hollande delivered three messages that are
relevant to Turkey. The two messages on EU membership should be
considered carefully. Hollande said that he would lift the veto on
the five chapters that are crucial for membership. His second message
suggests that Turkey will not be able to become an EU member during his
presidential term. If we take these two messages into consideration,
we can say that this is a fairly realistic standpoint because the EU
has not absorbed its 12 new members (with Croatia, 13) and is not
considering Turkey's membership seriously because of the ongoing
economic crisis. However, it should also be noted that this stance
means support for Turkey's negotiation process. What really matters for
Turkey in the years to come is a move towards membership rather than
membership at some hypothetical time in the future. The conditions are
not ripe for discussions on full membership for Turkey, which cannot
be easily integrated because of its history, population, geography,
culture and potential influence. Moreover, Turkey is still not ready
for membership. The biggest obstacle, Sarkozy, has been removed from
the path by the election of Hollande, and this is actually a huge
development. If Turkey takes this chance and makes progress along
the negotiation process that would also include the blocked chapters
within the scope of the "positive agenda" of the Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy tefan Fule, it will
effectively be following the agenda offered by Fule and Hollande.
The Armenian issue, which Hollande has made reference to a few times,
is the most important and crucial problem. However, there are some
important facts that nobody can ignore. Above all, even during
Sarkozy's term, EU institutions did not lay down acceptance of the
genocide as a precondition for Turkey's EU membership even though
it is obvious that only a Turkey that faces up to its past will be
part of Europe. Secondly, Hollande did not rely on this matter in
his election campaign and did not use this as a card against Turkey.
Thirdly, even though he promised that he would work on a project on
this issue, Hollande cannot ignore the most recent decision by the
French Constitutional Court on the penalization of denial of genocide
allegations. The point is that 135 deputies from different parties
filed an application with the Constitutional Court for an annulment of
the parliament's decision. This shows that the idea of the rule of law
is still alive and respected in France and that venturous policies do
not work. It should also be noted that many people in France believe
that such legislation prevents free and constructive discussion.
Undoubtedly, Hollande will focus on this matter in consideration of
all these points. Hollande's approach to the issue suggests that he
is sensitive to the sufferings and the problems of the Armenians, who
are members of an influential social group in France. In other words,
he will not use it to oppose Turkey. For this reason, Ankara should
seek dialogue. I believe that the most important and constructive
development is the new perception in Turkey which has become stronger
through the protests over Hrant Dink's murder, the last victim of
the Armenian issue. The policies of denial are no longer reasonable;
there is a Turkey that is ready to confront its past. In the end,
the wounds will be healed in Ankara, not in Paris. Armenians are
expecting a genuine gesture from Turkey, not from France. If friends
of Turkey focus on this matter, they are doing so because they want
to underline the presence of a still-bleeding wound. If Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses readiness to talk with Holland on this
matter, he will have an influential position in relations with both
France and Armenia.
To conclude, it is now time for change in Turkish-French relations:
"le changement, c'est maintenant." However, even if it had the right
to expect France to initiate the process of change, Turkey should
recall that it is also influential in the turning of this new page.
The first thing that needs to be changed is the style and attitude
that has been used in recent years. Turkish-French relations have been
strongly affected and undermined by the developments in last five
years. But the conditions are good in both Ankara and Paris. And it
is up to the captains to bridge the gap. I am now happy not only with
the change in France, but also with watching Turkey trying to write
a new constitution, confronting its history, trying to face up to
incidents like Dersim and developing exciting political dynamics. And
I do not know if there is any luckier political position in Brussels
than being a French deputy responsible for policy on Turkey.
*Hélène Flautre is the co-chairperson of the EU-Turkey Joint
Parliamentary Committee.
From: Baghdasarian