While busying itself with efforts to settle its accounts with the "deep state," which has been a serious stumbling block in the way of Turkey's democratic progress as revealed thus far by Ergenekon investigation, the political leadership has long neglected the continuation of military and civilian reforms required for the installation of the supremacy of the rule of law.
However, recent developments have raised hope that Ankara may genuinely resume and speed up reforms.
First, the government appointed Egemen Bağış, a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), as the full-time EU negotiator -- now a ministerial post. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held this title for a long time but never had time to focus on Turkey-EU relations in any real sense due to an extremely busy foreign policy schedule.
Making the EU negotiator post separate is considered a positive step by both supporters of the EU within Turkey and EU diplomats in Ankara. "The appointment of an EU negotiator signals Turkey's full dedication to the EU accession process. This also signals renewed momentum for the EU process on Turkey's part," an Ankara-based Western diplomat said.
Prior to Bağış's appointment as EU negotiator, Parliament late last year approved the National Program, proposed in August. Despite some changes to the political criteria section of the National Program, the section still lacks a timetable for when laws to this end must be amended.
The political criteria section envisages basic military and civilian reforms that should be made to meet the essence of democratic principles, including good governance, transparency, accountability and thus democratic civilian oversight of the armed forces.
Another sign that signaled Turkey's possible resumption of long-stalled democratic reforms came when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan started his three-day visit to Brussels last weekend, the first in four years.
Initial messages coming from Erdoğan in Brussels were positive. In a speech he delivered at the European Policy Centre yesterday, he said EU accession is a top priority and that he hopes Turkey will move closer to that goal in 2009. "I hope that 2009 is going to be a very different year. There is no alternative for us to becoming a member," he added.
Turkey's policy of turning its face yet again to the West is taking place in the midst of this overwhelmingly Muslim country's already troubled EU accession process.
If one of the troubles has stemmed from Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels before the EU eases its isolation of the Turkish community on the island, the other has been the EU's failure to set a date for Turkey's final entry into the club.
We will see whether Erdoğan's remarks in Brussels -- that Turkey has no alternative to becoming an EU member -- will be felt on the ground in Turkey, which can only be tested with the acceleration of military and civilian reforms.
On the other hand, this year is also critical for Turkey-EU relations as regards progress to be made on Cyprus. The EU will review toward the end of this year the progress being made in Turkey's attitude toward the Greek Cypriots, i.e., whether Ankara will agree to open air and sea ports to them. The EU has set a 2009 deadline for Turkey to accomplish this, and Brussels may seek the suspension of membership talks if this does not happen.
Internally, the Turkish political leadership has been facing a more crucial challenge on the road toward establishing a viable democracy. First and foremost, it has to begin with a serious overhaul of the existing military-dictated Constitution, which stands as a serious obstacle to establishing a pluralistic society.
At the end of the day, the Turkish political leadership's ability to mobilize the country's democratic forces can only be achieved with adherence to the EU's democratic criteria.
