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Since I traveled to France in February of this year and returned somewhat hopeful that French paranoia about Turkey was actually curable, I decided not to write about Mr. Sarkozy or France for some time.
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Unfortunately, since the French president's seemingly incurable Turcophobia continues to be expressed in such an astoundingly unabated and reckless manner, it is not only necessary but also an intellectual responsibility to expose it. Where should one start? Perhaps the direct interference in a potentially explosive regional issue -- the Kirkuk issue -- when the French foreign minister visited Arbil and opened a French consulate there; or should we list the disgraceful words Mr. Sarkozy uttered to the Polish newspaper Dziennik last month? Worse, it remains a mystery who -- or to be more exact in military terms -- which enemy France, Greek Cyprus and Greece sought to intimidate in a military display in the Mediterranean. Also, against whom could a French-Greek Cypriot military cooperation agreement be contemplated? Otherwise, how could one explain the political jingoism behind finding a wording for the French constitution that would require a referendum on enlargement for Turkey only? Needless to say, there are many other French policies and "interventions" aimed at disrupting the relationship between Turkey and the European Union, but there is no doubt that the latest developments take the tension between our countries to a new level. Although Turkey is too focused on its own domestic problems, the foreign policy and security community in Ankara are watching with great concern the ill-advised moves by the Élysée. Truthfully, I am not only concerned about the bilateral relationship that is likely to worsen under the current conditions, but I am more concerned about the future of the European Union and its role in an increasingly securitized world. France has been opposed to every single enlargement of the union. As a southeastern European living in Ankara I am very much distressed that its opposition to Turkish accession has the potential to torpedo the European dream we all feel is so dear to us. Worse, the Élysée is acting in the most irresponsible manner, uttering inflammatory words about Muslims that are not only offensive but dangerous as they only serve to deepen the rift between two major religions. Presiding over millions of Muslims, Mr. Sarkozy should be the last person in Europe to express his prejudices and dislike for Muslims. After all, he who lives in a glass house should be careful about throwing stones. It appears Mr. Sarkozy sees Turkish EU accession as a purely bilateral affair. It is not. He seems to miss the fact that the Middle East and the larger Islamic world are watching Turkey's membership process very closely. Turkish membership has meaning for an extensive geography beyond Turkey itself. Turkish membership has meaning for Muslims, Middle Easterners and many other non-Western peoples. No one, and this includes Mr. Sarkozy has the right to offend our faith, its adherents and a predominantly Muslim country --Turkey. Apparently a recent issue of the Le Point described Mr. Sarkozy's mental state as one of "oscillating between megalomania and narcissism." I would add that he also suffers from obsessive Turcophobia.
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| 19 June 2008, Thursday |
| SUAT KINIKLIOĞLU |
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