CAIRO, 17 December 2002 — Meetings in the Danish capital of Copenhagen were a sham for Turkey, but a positive step for the 10 new members from mostly poorer Eastern European countries. Turkey, however, will have to wait another two years to begin discussions for membership into the EU.

Many questions loom as to how, when and why Turkey should be part of Europe.

In some European circles, there are vast differences between Christian Europe, and Muslim Turkey. Over 70 million of Turkey’s population are Muslim. Turkey’s current leader has a history of flirting with Islamist views and is now being watched with an eerie, suspicious eye by the West.

So why should Turkey be part of Europe? Many Europeans feel threatened that with a large population growth in Turkey Muslim Turks will be seen roaming the streets of Europe and taking up job opportunities — perhaps even playing a vital role in the European Parliament. This in turn may fuel anti-immigration sentiments.

Turkey is also a big country, and — like many of its Arab neighbors, thrives on cheap labor and a vibrant agricultural sector. All this could actually threaten EU interests. This threat can be summed up in a phrase: Religion and its infusion into politics.

When Turkey’s new leader Abdullah Gul was elected as prime minister, two frequent questions were targeted to Turkish politicians and insiders: “Will your leader incorporate Islamist views into politics?” And “Will he allow US troops to use Turkey as a base if, and when America goes into war with Iraq?” Turkey is treading on sensitive ground, and unless it can grapple with the challenges it faces from the EU and remove what stumbling roadblocks there are, the country will not move forward. Too much pressure has been put on Turkey from both the West and the Middle East to change.

Too much change at too short a time is wrong. The West is xenophobic — always worrying that anyone with Islamist views is an extremist and anti-democratic. The Middle East sees Turkey as a traitor; a country not proud of its Islamic heritage.

Unless East and West can bridge the yawning gap and unless both can begin to merge with one another we will have missed a historic opportunity. The West and the Middle East have much to learn. If Turkey becomes a member of the EU in two years time, it might actually prove to the world at large that Islam, Muslims and those with ‘Islamist roots’ can be part of a civilized, democratic, Europe. In other words, Islam can coincide with democracy. Turkey will also comprise a big chunk of the decision-making process in Middle East affairs.

Europeans who argue that Turks only wants to join the EU because of economic benefits and not because they feel European are living in a fantasy world. The structure of our world today is based on mutual interests and benefits. Why else would America want to see Turkey become part of a greater Europe other than because it is an invaluable ally in the war with Iraq!

There is also much to learn from the West. Until recently, Turkey has been working hard to improve its human rights record — it has been criticized for past torture and ill-treatment of the minority Kurds. It is also working hard to adopt democratic values, a basic criteria for its accession into the EU. All these elements will encourage Arab countries to emulate Turkey.

Instead, however, remarks made by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the former French president that Turkey’s entry would mean “the end” of Europe, has sent a negative signal to the Muslim world. Likewise, Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s disappointment with the EU’s “act of prejudice against us,” could make Turkey cringe from completing its transition toward democracy and modernity. So long as Europe has given Turkey a firm reason to believe that it can join the EU, then Turkey has a chance to grow. If it is Turkey’s human rights record that needs reform, Turkey admits that it is working on it. In the meantime, Europe might find it useful to assess its own records as well. To what extent can Europe mold Turkey to its own set of social values, before admitting it to the EU?