AK Party boosting Turkey’s EU process

In the last few months Turkey's leadership has pushed ahead on issues that have been regularly cited as important by the EU but because of their sensitive and somewhat controversial nature, Ankara has in the past been resistant to move on them because they do not enjoy broad political backing. These are civil-military relations, the Kurdish initiative, the democratization initiative and judicial reform. Indeed the outright opposition from some circles means that making progress is often like dragging an elephant up a hill. But yet progress is being made -- albeit slowly -- and Turkey is changing. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the only prime minister in recent times that has seriously tackled the Kurdish issue -- even by recognizing that such an issue exists in the first place -- and his efforts are to be congratulated. There can be no doubt that the initiative will be reflected positively in the commission's report.

Another complaint coming from the EU in recent times has been regarding the functioning of the judiciary. Finally, it seems progress is going to be made here too and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is working on a judicial reform package that will see major changes in how the judiciary is run and how judges are appointed. From the offset, this package has not enjoyed support from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which has said reforms will allow the AK Party to infiltrate further with “its people” into the power structures, thereby further Islamifying the country. Because it will require a constitutional majority to pass in Parliament, it may mean the AK Party will be forced to bring it to a public referendum.

Another issue that the EU is keen on is the normalization of relations with Armenia, which would represent a first step to increasing stability in this region. Although some progress has been made since the Turkish president's historic “soccer” diplomacy in Yerevan last October, the complicating issue of Armenia's continued occupation of the Azerbaijani province of Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions continues to burden progress. While some say that Turkey should not allow “the tail to wag the dog” when it comes to Ankara's relationship with Baku, the same could be said of Armenia, which still seems unable to move with a free hand because of its dependence on support from its diaspora community and, in particular, continuing pressure from the Dashnaks, whose policies and views are neither pragmatic nor constructive and could also sour progress. Nevertheless, the agreement reached between the two countries earlier this week on diplomatic normalization represents a further step in the right direction and gives increased momentum to the process. However, given that the deal needs to be ratified in the parliaments of both countries, it may not be a smooth process as nationalist sentiment and resentment is high on both sides. One of the next steps would be the opening of the border (it was closed after Armenian forces took control of the Azerbaijani province of Nagorno-Karabakh). Armenia is particularly keen as it offers economic and trade opportunities that would allow it to become less dependent on Russia and Iran. Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian in the past has said he wants progress before he agrees to attend an Oct. 14 soccer match in Turkey and continues to insist on no pre-conditions. Realistically, I still doubt Turkey will move on this until a deal is secured which would see Armenian forces leave at least five of the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh as well as Azerbaijan receiving concrete guarantees concerning Armenian withdrawal from the remaining two. No withdrawal, no border opening. I also wish the EU would put as much pressure on Armenia to end its continued occupation of Azerbaijan as it does on Turkey vis-à-vis the closed border and its role in Northern Cyprus.