Tweet
TURKEY: TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO EU
Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 22 2014
22 December 2014, 22:14 (GMT+04:00)
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The foreign and domestic policies of Turkey have changed dramatically
with the coming of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to power
in Turkey.
Although the opposition forces in Turkey (nationalist and conservative
Islamist) didn't very highly value AKP's successes, eventually they
had to put up with the party's victory.
After strengthening in power, the AKP made policy changes, which
were differently valued in Turkish society, and this strengthened
the Turkish society's polarization.
There is no doubt that the AKP had conducted many reforms for Turkey
to become a full member of the EU.
Since the start of official negotiations in 2005, until now Ankara
has conducted 160 reforms.
But Turkey's accession to the EU has been always postponed.
The EU has repeatedly stated that the main reasons for this are the
Kurdish problem, Turkey's non-compliance with the demand to open
its border with Armenia, and its non-recognition of the "Armenian
genocide".
But despite this, Ankara continued carrying out reforms.
It was believed that in spite of all the obstacles of the EU, Ankara's
reforms in different areas are aimed at making the country a full
member of the EU.
Although the reforms continued and Europe extended negotiations on
Turkey's accession to the EU, the Turkish authorities made it clear
that EU membership has lost significance for Ankara.
"If the EU decides not to accept Turkey, this will not cause the
country's concern," Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkır said. "This
statement shows that Ankara has not been interested in joining the
EU for a long time."
Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus made a statement
December 21 testifying to the revival of ambitions of the Ottoman
Empire.
"Turkey has woken up from a 150-year sleep," Kurtulmus said. "The
collapse of the Ottoman Empire is associated with the loss of ambitions
and culture, rather than with loss of territory."
"Turkey has woken up from a deep sleep and it will revive its culture
and power," Kurtulmus said.
The Turkish authorities are well aware that no matter how Ankara
would try to become an EU full member, these efforts will not bring
significant results.
The reason is that even if Turkey fulfills all obligations, the
EU will call it for recognizing the so-called "Armenian genocide",
which is the red line for Ankara.
Taking into account that the Armenian lobby intends to mark the
anniversary of the so-called "Armenian genocide" in 2015, which is a
long-standing lie, and that the West will use this against Turkey, one
can say that Turkey's relations with the EU will be greatly changed.
http://en.trend.az/world/turkey/2346570.html
From: Baghdasarian
Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 22 2014
22 December 2014, 22:14 (GMT+04:00)
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The foreign and domestic policies of Turkey have changed dramatically
with the coming of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to power
in Turkey.
Although the opposition forces in Turkey (nationalist and conservative
Islamist) didn't very highly value AKP's successes, eventually they
had to put up with the party's victory.
After strengthening in power, the AKP made policy changes, which
were differently valued in Turkish society, and this strengthened
the Turkish society's polarization.
There is no doubt that the AKP had conducted many reforms for Turkey
to become a full member of the EU.
Since the start of official negotiations in 2005, until now Ankara
has conducted 160 reforms.
But Turkey's accession to the EU has been always postponed.
The EU has repeatedly stated that the main reasons for this are the
Kurdish problem, Turkey's non-compliance with the demand to open
its border with Armenia, and its non-recognition of the "Armenian
genocide".
But despite this, Ankara continued carrying out reforms.
It was believed that in spite of all the obstacles of the EU, Ankara's
reforms in different areas are aimed at making the country a full
member of the EU.
Although the reforms continued and Europe extended negotiations on
Turkey's accession to the EU, the Turkish authorities made it clear
that EU membership has lost significance for Ankara.
"If the EU decides not to accept Turkey, this will not cause the
country's concern," Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkır said. "This
statement shows that Ankara has not been interested in joining the
EU for a long time."
Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus made a statement
December 21 testifying to the revival of ambitions of the Ottoman
Empire.
"Turkey has woken up from a 150-year sleep," Kurtulmus said. "The
collapse of the Ottoman Empire is associated with the loss of ambitions
and culture, rather than with loss of territory."
"Turkey has woken up from a deep sleep and it will revive its culture
and power," Kurtulmus said.
The Turkish authorities are well aware that no matter how Ankara
would try to become an EU full member, these efforts will not bring
significant results.
The reason is that even if Turkey fulfills all obligations, the
EU will call it for recognizing the so-called "Armenian genocide",
which is the red line for Ankara.
Taking into account that the Armenian lobby intends to mark the
anniversary of the so-called "Armenian genocide" in 2015, which is a
long-standing lie, and that the West will use this against Turkey, one
can say that Turkey's relations with the EU will be greatly changed.
http://en.trend.az/world/turkey/2346570.html
From: Baghdasarian