ANKARA, 6 October 2005 — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan conceded yesterday that disputes over Cyprus might snag Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, but ruled out any concessions to the Greek-Cypriots before a settlement is found to the island’s partition. Turkey’s rejection to endorse the internationally recognized Greek-Cypriot government of EU member Cyprus has often threatened to derail its membership bid, which finally took off Tuesday with the formal opening of accession talks.
“We have repeatedly said that this problem should be resolved on the United Nations ground,” Erdogan told NTV television. “We will continue our efforts on this issue exactly in the same way.” Ankara says it will continue to recognize only the breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic in the north of the island until the two communities are reunified under a UN-sponsored peace deal. “Our (EU) path is not an easy one. There will be many difficulties, but I believe we will overcome them in time,” Erdogan said.
Erdogan also chided French President Jacques Chirac for having said that Turkey needed a “cultural revolution” before it could join the European Union. “Chirac should keep his opinions on this issue to himself,” Erdogan said. “Turkey undertakes its cultural revolutions by itself when it needs to... There is nothing for Chirac to worry about, he should calm down.”
The French president, a cautious supporter of Turkey’s EU bid, expressed doubts Tuesday on whether this mainly Muslim country would ever be able to join the bloc, saying membership would require “a considerable effort ... a major cultural revolution.” Erdogan said tongue-in-cheek: “I should first speak to him (Chirac) and learn what cultural revolution (is required), then we will make the necessary changes.” He then got serious: “We have very substantial cultural dynamics, a very rich culture. We will take forward our friendship with them (the EU), preserving these cultural riches.
“Our friends should keep in mind that we will say OK if this cultural revolution means integration, but if it means assimilation, they should not expect that from us,” he said. Turkey began official membership talks with the EU on Tuesday after fierce wrangling on its accession terms, which underscored the increasing hostility in European public opinion to the admission of this relatively poor country of some 72 million.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s center-right government defended yesterday a historic deal opening talks on joining the European Union against domestic critics who accuse it of selling the country short. Opposition politicians and some academics say the ruling AK Party made too many concessions in signing up to a negotiating framework accord with the 25-nation bloc on Monday evening which allowed the long-anticipated negotiations to begin.
They say the EU, which still has deep reservations about admitting the large, Muslim country of 72 million people, has effectively offered Turkey ties short of full membership. “This deal is in Turkey’s interests because Turkey has had its face turned toward Europe for the past 50 years... The reform process in Turkey has now become institutionalized,” Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told Parliament.
He said the government had studied the framework accord carefully before deciding that it fully met Turkish concerns and that it was appropriate for Gul to join EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg for Monday’s ceremony launching the talks. But Onur Oymen, speaking on behalf of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said the deal marked a dilution of what the EU had offered to Turkey last December when it first took the decision to open accession talks with Ankara.
“The framework document is a step back from the Dec. 17 decision on many issues,” Oymen told the chamber. He noted, for example, that the new text called on Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes. Ankara refuses to recognize EU member Cyprus under its internationally accepted Greek-Cypriot government and instead backs breakaway Turkish-Cypriots in the north of the island.
But under the terms of Ankara’s 10-year-old customs union with the EU, Turkey is now under heavy pressure to trade directly with the Greek-Cypriots. Oymen also accused the government of secrecy, saying the opposition had been forced to read the details of the framework agreement on the Internet. “What you are doing is not democratic,” said Oymen.
Gul retorted that the CHP was not a coalition partner and that the government did not require its consent before acting. Opposition lawmakers noted that the framework accord spells out for the first time the EU’s ability to absorb Turkey as a “condition” of its membership. Previously, this had been only an “important consideration.” Gul played down the term “absorption capacity,” saying it had always been part of the requirements for Turkish accession.
Turkish officials hope that with time, and with continued strong economic growth in Turkey, European public hostility to admitting their country will decline. The membership negotiations are expected to last up to a decade. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn will discuss the negotiation process with Turkish officials in Ankara today and tomorrow
