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Deutsche Welle, Germany
February 23, 2013 Sunday 7:08 AM EST
A new chapter in Turkey's EU bid?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to start a two-day visit
to Turkey on Sunday. Topping the agenda are talks with Turkish Premier
Erdogan on economic relations and the sluggish pace of EU membership
talks. Turkeywas once called the "sick man of Europe." But that was a
long time ago. In light of the recent economic success, and growing
international and diplomatic importance of the country, the apparently
self-confident Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to
hold talks on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ankara.
Turkey's new position appears to add weight to European Union Energy
Commissioner Günther Oettinger's prediction that Germany and France
would beg Turkey to join the EU within the next decade.
In this context, German Foreign Affairs Committee head Ruprecht Polenz
has called for opening new chapters in EU membership negotiations with
Turkey despite the country's blockade of Cyprus, in order to "allow
both sides to have a systematic discussion."
The Cyprus dispute
So far, Turkey has staunchly refused to expand access to a customs
union to the 10 latest EU members - including the Republic of Cyprus,
which Turkey has yet to recognize. The expansion would allow Cypriot
ships and planes to approach Turkish ports unchecked - a step the
government in Ankara is still not ready to take.
The Turks appeared to be irritated by the slow pace of negotiations,
such as the fact that during 2005 EU membership talks, only 13 of the
35 negotiation chapters were open, and that only the chapter on
science and research had been closed.
However, two major factors have led to the recent strengthening of
Turkish self-confidence. First, its location at the intersection of
Europe, the Middle East and Asia has caused the country's geostrategic
importance to grow. Second, Turkey's economy has been expanding at
rates EU countries can only dream of.
'Privileged partnership'
Despite last year's GDP growth of less than 4 percent, following
expansion rates of 9.2 percent in 2010 and 8.5 percent in 2011, the
euro zone debt crisis and the conflict in Syria seems not to have
caused permanent damage to the Turkish economy.
Chancellor Merkel is unlikely to move away from her position of
favoring a "privileged partnership" between Turkey and the EU instead
of granting full membership. However, both Turkish and German
diplomats are speaking of possible "positive signals," after French
President Francois Hollande proposed opening a further negotiation
chapter on regional policy.
Conflicting issues
Although EU membership proceedings are important for the Turkish
government, more pressing matters involve settling differing policies
on dual citizenship and visa requirements for Turkish citizens. This
is why Merkel's statements on these two subjects are so eagerly
anticipated.
During his visit to Turkey two weeks ago, German Interior Minister
Hans-Peter Friedrich stated that Turkish citizens would not be
exempted from visa requirements when traveling to Germany. The same
goes for granting dual citizenship to Turks living in Germany, which
is not common practice.
During a visit to Berlin last October, Erdogan surprised his fellow
countrymen by urging them to make efforts to further integrate into
Germany society, and to internalize German culture by reading the
works of Goethe and Kant. However, on a previous trip to Germany in
2008, he had criticized the country's integration policies, warning
that assimilation was a "crime against humanity."
In the dispute over visa requirements, the Turks make reference to the
many existing bureaucratic hurdles, even for Turkish businessmen
interested in investing in Germany. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
called this "humiliating treatment" of his country as an EU membership
candidate.
Observers believe that while in Ankara, Merkel will point to Turkey's
ongoing negotiations with the European Commission and foreclose the
possibility of a solely German decision. However, as long as no
commitments are made on the visa matter, Turkey will probably not be
willing to take back refugees who fled from its borders into Greece -
an issue considered to be very important for the EU.
Fighting terrorism
Another essential aspect of German-Turkish relations is the joint
effort against religious or politically motivated extremism and
international terrorism. According to Germany security authorities,
there is room for improvement in cooperation between the countries. An
agreement is expected to be signed stipulating that the interior
ministers of both countries are to meet semi-annually to discuss
security matters.
On Merkel's agenda in Ankara will also be the situation in Iran, the
war in Syria and the conflict in the Middle East. Talks on economic
ties, as well as reconciliation between Turkey and neighboring
Armenia, are also scheduled.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
February 23, 2013 Sunday 7:08 AM EST
A new chapter in Turkey's EU bid?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to start a two-day visit
to Turkey on Sunday. Topping the agenda are talks with Turkish Premier
Erdogan on economic relations and the sluggish pace of EU membership
talks. Turkeywas once called the "sick man of Europe." But that was a
long time ago. In light of the recent economic success, and growing
international and diplomatic importance of the country, the apparently
self-confident Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to
hold talks on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ankara.
Turkey's new position appears to add weight to European Union Energy
Commissioner Günther Oettinger's prediction that Germany and France
would beg Turkey to join the EU within the next decade.
In this context, German Foreign Affairs Committee head Ruprecht Polenz
has called for opening new chapters in EU membership negotiations with
Turkey despite the country's blockade of Cyprus, in order to "allow
both sides to have a systematic discussion."
The Cyprus dispute
So far, Turkey has staunchly refused to expand access to a customs
union to the 10 latest EU members - including the Republic of Cyprus,
which Turkey has yet to recognize. The expansion would allow Cypriot
ships and planes to approach Turkish ports unchecked - a step the
government in Ankara is still not ready to take.
The Turks appeared to be irritated by the slow pace of negotiations,
such as the fact that during 2005 EU membership talks, only 13 of the
35 negotiation chapters were open, and that only the chapter on
science and research had been closed.
However, two major factors have led to the recent strengthening of
Turkish self-confidence. First, its location at the intersection of
Europe, the Middle East and Asia has caused the country's geostrategic
importance to grow. Second, Turkey's economy has been expanding at
rates EU countries can only dream of.
'Privileged partnership'
Despite last year's GDP growth of less than 4 percent, following
expansion rates of 9.2 percent in 2010 and 8.5 percent in 2011, the
euro zone debt crisis and the conflict in Syria seems not to have
caused permanent damage to the Turkish economy.
Chancellor Merkel is unlikely to move away from her position of
favoring a "privileged partnership" between Turkey and the EU instead
of granting full membership. However, both Turkish and German
diplomats are speaking of possible "positive signals," after French
President Francois Hollande proposed opening a further negotiation
chapter on regional policy.
Conflicting issues
Although EU membership proceedings are important for the Turkish
government, more pressing matters involve settling differing policies
on dual citizenship and visa requirements for Turkish citizens. This
is why Merkel's statements on these two subjects are so eagerly
anticipated.
During his visit to Turkey two weeks ago, German Interior Minister
Hans-Peter Friedrich stated that Turkish citizens would not be
exempted from visa requirements when traveling to Germany. The same
goes for granting dual citizenship to Turks living in Germany, which
is not common practice.
During a visit to Berlin last October, Erdogan surprised his fellow
countrymen by urging them to make efforts to further integrate into
Germany society, and to internalize German culture by reading the
works of Goethe and Kant. However, on a previous trip to Germany in
2008, he had criticized the country's integration policies, warning
that assimilation was a "crime against humanity."
In the dispute over visa requirements, the Turks make reference to the
many existing bureaucratic hurdles, even for Turkish businessmen
interested in investing in Germany. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
called this "humiliating treatment" of his country as an EU membership
candidate.
Observers believe that while in Ankara, Merkel will point to Turkey's
ongoing negotiations with the European Commission and foreclose the
possibility of a solely German decision. However, as long as no
commitments are made on the visa matter, Turkey will probably not be
willing to take back refugees who fled from its borders into Greece -
an issue considered to be very important for the EU.
Fighting terrorism
Another essential aspect of German-Turkish relations is the joint
effort against religious or politically motivated extremism and
international terrorism. According to Germany security authorities,
there is room for improvement in cooperation between the countries. An
agreement is expected to be signed stipulating that the interior
ministers of both countries are to meet semi-annually to discuss
security matters.
On Merkel's agenda in Ankara will also be the situation in Iran, the
war in Syria and the conflict in the Middle East. Talks on economic
ties, as well as reconciliation between Turkey and neighboring
Armenia, are also scheduled.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress