Turkish Membership in the EU
The Kurdish conflict, the unresolved issue of Cyprus, and the nationalistic tendencies within Erdogan's AK Party have cast a shadow on Turkey's EU membership negotiations, which now risk failure. Ömer Erzeren reports from Istanbul
According to Ömer Erzeren, the declared goal of the AKP had been to lead Turkey to EU membership. Yet, for some time now, the reform process on the Bosporus has come to a standstill
It was with an unusually sharp tone that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan recently criticized the European Union. According to Erdogan, Turkey's ports will remain closed to ships from Cyprus as long as the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island is maintained.
"When negotiations with the European Union become deadlocked, then they are deadlocked," he declared in a speech to the Istanbul Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This was his most critical statement with respect to Europe since Tayyip Erdogan's conservative Islamic AKP (the Justice and Development Party) took power three-and-a-half years ago. In addition, a number of cabinet members have expressed views quite similar to those of the prime minister.
Faltering reform process
The declared goal of the AKP had been to lead Turkey to EU membership. Erdogan scored points in the domestic political debate by playing the European card. The start of accession talks with the EU were greeted as the greatest achievement of his government.
Yet, for some time now, the reform process on the Bosporus has come to a standstill. Leading Turkish economic associations have given the government poor marks. In response to nationalist criticism, the AKP has since moved to the right and hopes to attract adherents through nationalistic propaganda.
Domestic discussion in Turkey is currently focused on the election of the president next spring. Tayyip Erdogan most certainly would like to hold the office, however he is facing a powerful front, including the military, opposed to his candidacy.
The election of Erdogan as president would probably deepen the gulf between secular Turks and his followers, in effect splitting the country. The prime minister believes that he can raise his profile before the election by adopting nationalist rhetoric.
Lack of dialogue with the Kurds
Only a year ago, the prevailing mood was that the Kurdish issue was moving towards resolution. Now, the AKP government prefers to ignore the problem and look the other way.
The freedom to publish and broadcast in the Kurdish language is not seen as sufficient to solve the conflict. To this day, attacks by the radical PKK continue. The government has taken no steps towards a comprehensive political solution to the problem.
Erdogan's government still refuses to enter into dialogue with the elected mayors of the Kurdish regions in an attempt to end the bloodshed. The AKP government has shown little interest in pursuing a policy of broader democratization in Turkey.
The Turkish parliament has passed numerous laws in order to comply with conditions for the start of EU membership negotiations. Yet, today the reform process is at a standstill.
Peaceful resolution to the Cyprus problem blocked
It is no coincidence that Erdogan's government has made concessions to the nationalists on the issue of Cyprus. He can thereby count on wide public approval when he turns to the EU and declares, "When you wanted support for the Annan Plan, we provided it. And Northern Cyprus also voted 'yes' to the plan. It was Southern Cyprus that responded with a 'no' vote. You reward the obstructionists and punish those who gave their okay to the Annan Plan."
In the conflict between the EU and Turkey, Cyprus is at the top of the agenda. The belief that Cypriot membership in the EU and Turkey's simultaneous rapprochement with Europe would lead to a peaceful reconciliation on the island has proved to be mistaken. In reality, the conflict, which began in 1974, has left Cyprus divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north.
The internationally recognized Greek Cypriot part of the island, however, has claimed the right to represent Cyprus as a whole. EU membership has made it easier for the nationalist Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos to block any peace agreement accommodating to Turkish Cypriots.
Only recently, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated the admission of Cyprus to the EU has made the reaching of a peaceful solution more difficult. In 2004, Greek Cypriots rejected the UN peace plan in a referendum.
The EU has given Turkey until the end of this year to sign a supplementary protocol under which Turkish ports and airports will be open to transport from Cyprus. On the other side, the Europeans have not kept their promises to improve the situation for Turkish Cypriots, as Cyprus has blocked relevant decisions in the EU.
Membership under scrutiny
Should no solution be found by the time of the EU summit at the end of the year, membership negotiations could be put on hold. The Cyprus issue offers those European politicians, who from the outset have been skeptical over Turkish membership in the EU, an opportunity to break off Turkish-European relations.
"It is clear to me that Turkey must fulfill its agreed upon obligations and grant access to goods coming from Cyprus to its ports," declared French President Jacques Chirac after the last EU summit in Brussels. Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schüssel spoke of a serious problem following Erdogan's speech.
If Erdogan's government decides to risk a politically hazardous break with the EU, then the Cyprus issue provides the perfect occasion. In light of a growing nationalism and a fading enthusiasm for the EU among the population, a hard-line position would meet with domestic approval.
As such, Erdogan will clearly want to distinguish himself as a nationalist hard-liner before presidential elections early next year and parliamentary elections in the winter of 2007.
Ömer Erzeren
© Qantara.de 2006
Translated from the German from John Bergeron
Printversion
Reforms Come to a Halt on the Bosporus
The Kurdish conflict, the unresolved issue of Cyprus, and the nationalistic tendencies within Erdogan's AK Party have cast a shadow on Turkey's EU membership negotiations, which now risk failure. Ömer Erzeren reports from Istanbul
; "Flag of the European Union combined with the Turkish flag (photo: dpa)")
According to Ömer Erzeren, the declared goal of the AKP had been to lead Turkey to EU membership. Yet, for some time now, the reform process on the Bosporus has come to a standstill
It was with an unusually sharp tone that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan recently criticized the European Union. According to Erdogan, Turkey's ports will remain closed to ships from Cyprus as long as the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island is maintained."When negotiations with the European Union become deadlocked, then they are deadlocked," he declared in a speech to the Istanbul Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This was his most critical statement with respect to Europe since Tayyip Erdogan's conservative Islamic AKP (the Justice and Development Party) took power three-and-a-half years ago. In addition, a number of cabinet members have expressed views quite similar to those of the prime minister.
Faltering reform process
The declared goal of the AKP had been to lead Turkey to EU membership. Erdogan scored points in the domestic political debate by playing the European card. The start of accession talks with the EU were greeted as the greatest achievement of his government.
Yet, for some time now, the reform process on the Bosporus has come to a standstill. Leading Turkish economic associations have given the government poor marks. In response to nationalist criticism, the AKP has since moved to the right and hopes to attract adherents through nationalistic propaganda.
Domestic discussion in Turkey is currently focused on the election of the president next spring. Tayyip Erdogan most certainly would like to hold the office, however he is facing a powerful front, including the military, opposed to his candidacy.
The election of Erdogan as president would probably deepen the gulf between secular Turks and his followers, in effect splitting the country. The prime minister believes that he can raise his profile before the election by adopting nationalist rhetoric.
Lack of dialogue with the Kurds
Only a year ago, the prevailing mood was that the Kurdish issue was moving towards resolution. Now, the AKP government prefers to ignore the problem and look the other way.
The freedom to publish and broadcast in the Kurdish language is not seen as sufficient to solve the conflict. To this day, attacks by the radical PKK continue. The government has taken no steps towards a comprehensive political solution to the problem.
Erdogan's government still refuses to enter into dialogue with the elected mayors of the Kurdish regions in an attempt to end the bloodshed. The AKP government has shown little interest in pursuing a policy of broader democratization in Turkey.
The Turkish parliament has passed numerous laws in order to comply with conditions for the start of EU membership negotiations. Yet, today the reform process is at a standstill.
Peaceful resolution to the Cyprus problem blocked
It is no coincidence that Erdogan's government has made concessions to the nationalists on the issue of Cyprus. He can thereby count on wide public approval when he turns to the EU and declares, "When you wanted support for the Annan Plan, we provided it. And Northern Cyprus also voted 'yes' to the plan. It was Southern Cyprus that responded with a 'no' vote. You reward the obstructionists and punish those who gave their okay to the Annan Plan."
In the conflict between the EU and Turkey, Cyprus is at the top of the agenda. The belief that Cypriot membership in the EU and Turkey's simultaneous rapprochement with Europe would lead to a peaceful reconciliation on the island has proved to be mistaken. In reality, the conflict, which began in 1974, has left Cyprus divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north.
The internationally recognized Greek Cypriot part of the island, however, has claimed the right to represent Cyprus as a whole. EU membership has made it easier for the nationalist Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos to block any peace agreement accommodating to Turkish Cypriots.
Only recently, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated the admission of Cyprus to the EU has made the reaching of a peaceful solution more difficult. In 2004, Greek Cypriots rejected the UN peace plan in a referendum.
The EU has given Turkey until the end of this year to sign a supplementary protocol under which Turkish ports and airports will be open to transport from Cyprus. On the other side, the Europeans have not kept their promises to improve the situation for Turkish Cypriots, as Cyprus has blocked relevant decisions in the EU.
Membership under scrutiny
Should no solution be found by the time of the EU summit at the end of the year, membership negotiations could be put on hold. The Cyprus issue offers those European politicians, who from the outset have been skeptical over Turkish membership in the EU, an opportunity to break off Turkish-European relations.
"It is clear to me that Turkey must fulfill its agreed upon obligations and grant access to goods coming from Cyprus to its ports," declared French President Jacques Chirac after the last EU summit in Brussels. Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schüssel spoke of a serious problem following Erdogan's speech.
If Erdogan's government decides to risk a politically hazardous break with the EU, then the Cyprus issue provides the perfect occasion. In light of a growing nationalism and a fading enthusiasm for the EU among the population, a hard-line position would meet with domestic approval.
As such, Erdogan will clearly want to distinguish himself as a nationalist hard-liner before presidential elections early next year and parliamentary elections in the winter of 2007.
Ömer Erzeren
© Qantara.de 2006
Translated from the German from John Bergeron
Qantara.de
The Cyprus Conflict
Disputed Bridge in Nicosia's No Man's Land
Two years after the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots, a solution is still not in sight. Amalia van Gent traces the history of the conflict and reports on a newly built blue bridge at Ledra Street, a symbol of the Cypriot conflict
EU Accession Negotiations with Turkey
Erdogan's Obstacle Course towards Joining the European Union
Now that the EU has officially announced the start of accession negotiations, the Turkish leadership must now prove that it can resolve the many obstacles facing its EU membership. These range from the Cyprus and Armenian issues to a guarantee of democratic basic rights. Ömer Erzeren summarizes the sticking points
Reform Policies of the Turkish AK Party
Setting an Example for Arab Islamists?
Many still regard the experiment represented by the Islamic AK Party with skepticism. Nevertheless, there is hope that the party could develop into a reform model for political change among the Islamic movements in the Arab world. By Slaheddine Jourchi
Dossier
Turkey and Europe
Are questions of cultural identity more important than political and economic criteria? And what role does Islam play concerning Turkey's integration into Europe? Read about these issues and more in our dossier
The Cyprus Conflict
Disputed Bridge in Nicosia's No Man's Land
Two years after the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots, a solution is still not in sight. Amalia van Gent traces the history of the conflict and reports on a newly built blue bridge at Ledra Street, a symbol of the Cypriot conflict
EU Accession Negotiations with Turkey
Erdogan's Obstacle Course towards Joining the European Union
Now that the EU has officially announced the start of accession negotiations, the Turkish leadership must now prove that it can resolve the many obstacles facing its EU membership. These range from the Cyprus and Armenian issues to a guarantee of democratic basic rights. Ömer Erzeren summarizes the sticking points
Reform Policies of the Turkish AK Party
Setting an Example for Arab Islamists?
Many still regard the experiment represented by the Islamic AK Party with skepticism. Nevertheless, there is hope that the party could develop into a reform model for political change among the Islamic movements in the Arab world. By Slaheddine Jourchi
Dossier
Turkey and Europe
Are questions of cultural identity more important than political and economic criteria? And what role does Islam play concerning Turkey's integration into Europe? Read about these issues and more in our dossier
Printversion
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