The Ankara-Luxembourg line had been the stage of hard, irritating negotiations for two days, people almost danced with words, for a while the European dream was lost and then found; at least an agreement has been reached on the framework document.
The resistance by Austria, which cannot forget the siege of Vienna that took place centuries ago, was broken with difficulty; time stopped in Europe as [Foreign Minister] Abdullah Gul headed to Luxembourg. He arrived after midnight.
Turkey now will sit down at the negotiation table with full membership objective, it rejected other alternatives anyway. “Privileged partnership” has been shelved for ever. Both Turkey and Europe won. The world woke up to a new Turkey and new Europe. Arab television channels assessed these developments as “the beginning of a new era.” Turkey knew how to negotiate the most critical curve on the road to Europe without swerving left or right. Turkey is more European from now on.
Gul, who spearheaded the process successfully, faced the press at midnight, and turning to his British counterpart Jack Straw, made one of the wittiest remarks in recent days: “Wear your earphones Jack! I’ll speak in Turkish. Turkish too will be one of the EU languages,” he said. Gul spoke Turkish instead of English during the news conference and in the question and answer session that followed. Turkey, Turkish language and Turkish people are now in Europe…
The European Union is being assessed either as heaven or madness. In fact, neither reflects the truth. Europe is neither a nightmare like Sevres nor salvation like Nirvana… It has advantages and disadvantages. For the Turkish people, who centuries ago turned their faces towards Europe, it represents more advantages than disadvantages; it was not Europe who wanted us, but we who wanted join the Union 42 years ago.
Besides, the final point reached is not only the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s merit; every government has contributed to it, no matter how little that contribution might be. Both Ismet Inonu, who signed the Ankara Treaty in 1963 and Turgut Ozal who filed the application for membership contributed to this result. I remember an anecdote from very long ago. Inonu, who was prime minister 42 years ago, called his foreign policy experts and consulted them prior to signing the Ankara Treaty. At some point he asked them, “Can we leave anytime we want?”
As he received a positive response, his hesitation vanished and he signed the document.
The same is valid for today as well; Turkey has the right to abandon the negotiating table or freeze relations anytime it wants... The “National Program” prepared by the previous government became the roadmap for the AKP government. Their merit should be acknowledged. The Erdogan-Gul duo displayed a performance that astonished both friends and foes alike. They used the single-party government advantage very well. They brought Turkey to the negotiation stage in a span of just three years.
Turkey has now entered a new road which is more difficult than the previous one, full of mines and with ups and downs. “Our road is not asphalt paved,” Gul said. It neither is asphalt-paved nor flat. It is uphill and gets steeper and steeper… First, the screening process; then a few months later, the negotiations will begin. Science and technology are at first. The tempo will gradually increase. The burden is on Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan’s shoulders.
In the new process calm and patience are required. The subject will inevitably be used in domestic politics. Some parties will strive to incite nationalist emotions. Babacan could be demoralized by pressure from within and from without on the negotiation process. The government too… The signs appeared from the very first day. The style of the opposition parties is really harsh.
September 5, 2005
