Brussels, 28/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - During a round table on the theme "Does the European Union understand Turkey?", organised on Monday in Brussels by TEPSA (Trans-European Policy Studies Association), at a time when Turkey is being shaken by a serious economic and political crisis, several participants made it clear that the EU must take advantage of this difficult time to make the Turkish authorities understand how essential it is for them to overcome this crisis. It is not enough to simply say that developments in the situation are being followed up, said one participant. Speakers at the round table included the ambassadors of Turkey and of the United States with the European Union, Nihat Akyol and Richard Morningstar, Professor in History and Anthropology in Turkey Güvenc Bozkurt, Professor on international relations at the university of Ankara Norman Stone, Editor in Chief of Courrier International Alexandre Adler, and Guy Vanhaeverbeke, former TEPSA Secretary General.
The round table took place just a few weeks from the presentation, recently announced by Turkish authorities, of the national programme for Turkey's adjustment to acquis communautaire (a major step, as one speaker said, that means Turkey's entry as a candidate country for European Union membership is no longer just a "high level political decision". It also comes within a concrete process, comprising decisions of a legislative kind, such as the adoption by the Council, that same day, of the regulation on accession partnership (see EUROPE of 26/27 February, p.10), after approval by the European Parliament of the Swoboda Report. What will happen if the national programme fails to satisfy the EU's requirements?, asked one participant with concern. Others replied that there is no need for scepticism, and that, if there are problems, there are instruments for resolving them: Commission progress reports, Association Councils …
The process requires "a great deal of dynamism on both sides", said one participant, who also stressed how important it is for Turkey's rapprochement with Europe to have "society's assent". This is why a proposal like that of creating a discussion forum between the Turkish and European civil society, mentioned in the Morillon report on Turkey adopted by the European Parliament, was so commended. Initiatives such as the imminent creation of an EU/Turkey Foundation, to be established in Brussels, and the setting in place, in Turkey, of an arm of the College of Europe of Bruges are along these same lines (one speaker said he had noted that Turkish students could not understand why they have not so far been able to benefit from the Socrates programme).
Some of those taking part, who stressed Turkey's geopolitical importance, felt that this importance will increase with foreseeable tension over coming years in the southern Caucasus and the Middle East. This justifies keeping a strong army, even if the Turkish army, which played a pro-occidental and stabilising role, should accept a certain loss of influence, like a parent who must one day or other leave the children to manage for themselves, said certain speakers. Another felt that this necessary transition of the Turkish army towards a more reduced role will require the military to be allowed to return to civilian life (not only at political level but also in high technology) and hold posts equal to their abilities and skills.
Regarding the respect of human rights and rule of law in Turkey, some of those who took the floor felt that Eurooe should show proof of patience, given the recent efforts made by Turkey. This country is going through a difficult phase, a little like that traversed ten years ago by the Eastern European countries. The "political wall" in Turkey has not yet come down, but it has begun to crumble. There is now talk of transparency, the fight against corruption and ethics, said one contributor.
During this discussion it was also a question of what Turkey can give Europe to avoid the "shock of civilisations" and, at this point, one participant said he would be "much reassured" to see, in the Balkans, Albanians and Bosnians move towards the "secular" Islam of Turkey rather than that proclaimed by a country such as Iran. Some speakers recalled Turkey's involvement in the history of Europe, from the Ottoman Empire and well before this time, without speaking of modern Turkey under Mustapha Kemal. One participant exclaimed that the legacy left from the Ottoman Empire to Kemalism seemed to convey that Man must be at the service of the State's interest, a vision that is quite opposite to that of the European Union's "Liberal Democrats".