The Prime Minister made clear that because Turkey had completely fulfilled all of its obligations, the commission had no other choice than to issue a positive report. Mr. Erdogan, who reminded that EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen had said "no" when he (Erdogan) asked "Do we have any other deficiency?", called out to European leaders, "We have done our duty with the seriousness expected of statesmen, and now we expect the same seriousness from Europe."
The Prime Minister's call for "seriousness" was intended to caution Europe about leaving its recent slew of positive words up in the air. "We were promised negotiations would start as soon as we fulfilled the criteria," said Erdogan, referring to the negotiation between then Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, German and French leaders held prior to the Copenhagen Summit. Everyone knows that the political criteria were completely fulfilled with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government's passage of the 8th harmonization package.
Prime Minister Erdogan arrived in Berlin on Saturday night and stayed at the Adlon Hotel in the eastern part of Berlin. This hotel has a special significance: The founder of Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Pasha, had stayed at this hotel when he came to Berlin in 1917 with the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Erdogan chose the Adlon Hotel, which stands before Berlin's historically prominent Brandenburg Gate.
The Prime Minister met with Turkish businessmen in Germany at a breakfast meeting on Sunday morning. The message of his breakfast speech was inclined to Europeans rather than businessmen. Erdogan likened the last two years of Turkey's 40-year European adventure to a final struggle. He explained that the country, having taken great leaps forward thanks to the unity of the ruling party and opposition in the Turkish parliament, deserved to start negotiations on December 17.
Germany is the last country the prime minister will have visited prior to Wednesday's release of the progress report on Turkey. Although the reason for visiting Berlin was to receive [Die Quadriga 2004] award, it also carried the significance of being the final initiative to secure Germany's support. As it may be known, Germany is the most powerful figure in the Union, and Germany-Turkey relations are peaking.
Erdogan met with German Chancellor [Gerhard Schröeder] prior to yesterday's (October 3rd) award ceremony. The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere. Schröeder reiterated his support. The chancellor pledged an affirmative vote for Turkey to start membership discussions pending a positive report from the EU Commission. Following the meeting, Erdogan and Schröeder went together to the award ceremony.
Erdogan received "Die Quadriga 2004" award in the "Bridges of Respect" category. The award itself takes its name form the statue of the four-horse chariot that sits atop the Brandenburg Gate. The award is bestowed annually upon four leading figures who are judged to have made significant economic, social and cultural contributions, and who exhibit forward thinking and a pioneering spirit… The day of award (October 3) is very meaningful for Germans: German Unification Day…The day both Germanys were reunited. The day has immense meaning for Germans.
The time of the award ceremony, just prior to the release of the progress report, seems to be an irony of history, and the prime minister seized this opportunity. Erdogan both received the support of Germany and had the chance to warn European leaders one last time.
