TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA
REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 185/16
28.09.2016
1. Akinci alleges that Turkey is the only “port” for the Turkish
Cypriots to take refuge and disappoints pro-solution Turkish Cypriots
2. Akinci wraps up contacts in New York
3. “Five thousand new citizens by the end of the year”
4. TDP, BKP and the YKP evaluated the outcome of the New York
summit
5. Turkish FM stated that that there is "cautious optimism" on the
Cyprus problem
6. Ertugruloglu carried out contacts in Washington
7. Religious official to be appointed to students’ dormitories in the
occupied area of Cyprus
8. Cavusoglu holds Ankara contacts
9. Turkey finances the infrastructure in the occupied area of
Cyprus
10. After the fraud in the occupied area of Cyprus, “Beirut Life”
real estate company advertises a project in Paphos
11. AIA Europe to organize a conference in occupied
Keryneia
12. Turkey looks to boost defense ties with
Azerbaijan
13. Turkey hits dozens of Daesh targets in northern
Syria
14. “How to forge ties with post-Brexit
Europe?”
1. Akinci alleges that Turkey is the only “port” for the Turkish
Cypriots to take refuge and disappoints pro-solution Turkish Cypriots
Under the title “Turkey is the only port for us to take
refuge”, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (28.09.16)
reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has
reiterated that they want guarantees for “the new federal system” which will
be established in Cyprus. In statements to Ankara Anatolia news agency in
New York, Akinci said:
“From whom we could expect this? There is only one port for the
Turkish Cypriots to take refuge. And this port is Turkey. […] We see that a
Greek Cypriot merchant, who bought potatoes from Turkish Cypriots, is threatened
by Greek Cypriots and an attempt is made for his workplace to be burnt. All
these are happening today. Therefore, let no one tell us that you do not need
guarantees on this issue”.
Referring once more to the possibility of the negotiating process to
be extended in 2017, Akinci alleged: “In our view, this will not be the end of the
world, but it is the end of the process. This process will come to the point of
stopping by itself”.
According to the paper, Akinci’s statements caused joy to the
supporters of the status quo in the island and disappointed the pro-solution
forces which had placed their hopes [for the solution] on Akinci.
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.09.16)
covers these statements under the title “Solution in Cyprus will be
tantamount to overcoming a serious obstacle in Turkey’s way to Europe”. The
paper reports that Akinci argued that even though the solution of the Cyprus
problem will not secure by itself Turkey’s accession to the EU, it will be
tantamount to the lifting of a serious obstacle in front of its EU accession
course and many chapters will re-open. “However, this is not the only
obstacle, there are more”, he pointed out and underlined that with the
solution in Cyprus and the accession of the Turkish Cypriots to the EU, the
Turkish language will become one of the official languages of the Union.
Referring to the Cyprus negotiations, Akinci claimed that
important progress has been achieved on the issue of the accession of the
“TRNC” [Translator’s note: The breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus] into the EU and argued that “the EU is one of the
chapters on which the most progress has been reached”. Reiterating the view
that the “TRNC citizens” will become citizens of both the United Cyprus and
the EU, Akinci added:
“The work permits of those who are not citizens and live in Cyprus
with work permit will continue to be valid. In fact, if there is an issue of
labor force as requirement of the economy, Turkey is our nearest source and
there is a qualified labor force. Therefore, more people from Turkey could come
and work. The adjustments as regards labor life will become a federal power, but
we have taken from now the necessary measures in order for not behaving unjustly
to our people who possess work permit in the TRNC. There is no problem on
this issue. Their work permits will continue to be prolonged as long as the
economy demands this. There is no issue of sending back the people who
have come from Turkey”.
Akinci reiterated the position that the territory chapter should
be discussed outside Cyprus in a neutral country, such as
Switzerland, and right afterwards a five-party conference with the
participation of the guarantor powers should take place.
Noting that the security of the Turkish Cypriots should be
safeguarded and the new system should be put under a kind of guarantees, Akinci
alleged:
“Reference is made to a bi-zonal federal structure and the Turkish
Cypriot Founding State will be one of these zones. This state will have separate
police organization. In the past it had not. There were a number of Turkish
Cypriot police officers in the mixed police organization. Now we have
separate institutions, courts, parliament, and government. The unilateral
amendment of 13 articles of the Constitution was attempted in 1963. The common
state was turned into a unitary state of the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish
Cypriots were left outside of this structure. As Turkish Cypriots we do not
want to come face to face with such situations once more. Of course we
want guarantees in this new federal system. From whom we can expect this? There
is only one port for the Turkish Cypriots to take refuge. And this is Turkey.
No agreement has been reached on this issue, but let them excuse us, we do
not and could not have the comfortableness to say ‘we are finding a solution
sir; we are joining the EU, what we need the guarantees for’. […] Let no one
tell us that you do not need guarantees on this issue. Let them leave us live in
security, trust to be established between the two communities and in the future
we shall see and evaluate the issue. However, it is obvious that this is
needed and that it is not possible for the Turkish Cypriot people to approve an
agreement which does not include this guarantee”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Akinci wraps up contacts in New
York
Illegal Bayark television (28.09.16) broadcast that Turkish Cypriot
leader
Mustafa Akinci stated that there is still enough time to reach a
settlement before the end of the year.
Speaking to the illegal TAK news agency before leaving New York,
Akinci said that carrying the negotiations to 2017 without planning and
timetables or in an open ended manner would only lead to a Pyrrhic
victory.
Stating that a historical opportunity exists for a settlement on the
island, Akinci said that wasting this opportunity would have negative
consequences such as deepening the existing division on the
island.
Explaining that they had agreed with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos
Anastasiadis prior to New York on the message they were to give the UN Secretary
General, Akinci claimed that the Greek Cypriot leader had back pedaled after
coming under the influence of the National Council.
Responding to a question as to what degree had the trilateral meeting
met the Turkish Cypriot side’s expectations, Akinci said that he had not come to
New York expecting miracles which he clearly stated at illegal Tymbou airport
before departing for New York.
“We are here to assess the situation and to determine a road map
because we obviously have a tight timetable. The deadline is the end of this
year” he said, reminding that the UN Secretary General is leaving office at the
end of the year and that they wanted him to take on a more active role in the
process.
Highlighting the importance of the trilateral meeting, Akinci claimed
that the meeting had once again shown the UN that the Turkish Cypriot side truly
desires a settlement. He however added that it would have been better if the
milestones had been set.
“It will be extremely difficult to find such a conjuncture. We are
talking about a historical opportunity. Missing this opportunity will have its
consequences because I can clearly say that the division between the two sides
will become even deeper if it is missed. I also believe that it will be the last
shot we have for a federal settlement. I have repeated on many occasions that
this will be the last attempt of my generation. A settlement will allow
cooperation between neighboring countries on the exploitation of natural gas
reserves in the area. This is the view being voiced by experts that is that the
most feasible, cheapest and logical way of transporting the gas to Europe is via
Turkey” he claimed.
Asked about how the process will proceed after New York, Akinci said
that he and Anastasiadis will be engaged in a new round of intensified
talks.
He said that a camp style meeting format was needed to discuss the
territory chapter.
“After this we can sit down with the three guarantor powers for a
five party conference to discuss the issue of security and guarantees. If we can
do this, we can leave the technical issues for later and provide the people with
sufficient time to understand the process and the agreement to be reached” he
added.
Akinci also stated that there was no need for the Turkish Cypriots to
feel disappointed regarding New York as what was experienced is part of the
process.
“Therefore there is nothing to be disappointed about the UN Secretary
General’s statement. The statement only lacked some elements. It would have been
better if we could set a detailed timetable. But as I have said before, the
Greek Cypriots have a phobia against timetables and deadlines. They are also
strictly opposed to arbitration” he claimed.
Akinci also warned against those who have been celebrating the latest
developments in New York, stating that failure to reach a settlement will have
negative consequences for everyone.
3. “Five thousand new citizens by the end of the year”
Under the above title, journalist Mert Ozdag in Turkish Cypriot daily
Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.09.16) refers to the policy of the
occupation regime on the issue of granting “citizenship” and reports that
even though it is not officially stated, in unofficial meetings, Turkey demands
“citizenship” to be granted to all those who had acquired a “work permit” for
subsequent six years. Ozdag writes that the number of the persons for
whom Turkey demands “citizenship” reaches 8,627 as of December 2015. “I
want to draw your attention to the fact that with granting the citizenship to
8,627 persons, the number will reach 34,500 with the spouses and the children of
these persons”, he stresses.
The issue concerns the “United Federal Cyprus” as well, he notes,
because an agreement on the issue of citizenships has been reached at the
negotiating table and a certain number which includes all the “TRNC citizens”
has been determined. The “sensitivity” of the issue had been raised during the
last meeting between President Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci in
Ankara after which the procedure of “granting citizenships” stopped, he writes.
According to the paper, now “citizenship” is granted to persons
who have completed eleven consequent years in the occupied area of Cyprus with a
“work permit”. As it seems, the procedure of granting “citizenship” to
these persons by the end of the year will be intensified, notes the
journalist and adds that the number of these persons is around 1,000 and that
according to “government” sources another 500 persons have acquired the
“citizenship” with a decision of the “council of ministers”.
“If we calculate that within five months [Translator’s note:
During which the National Unity Party – Democratic Party is in “power”] 1,000
citizenships were granted and 500 citizenships with a decision of the council of
ministers, we reach the number of 1,500”, he reports adding that this number
very easily increases to 5,000 when the “citizenship” is automatically granted
to the families of these 1,500 “new citizens”. “We are talking about
5,000 citizenships in five months”, he notes adding that “there is still
a way to go until 35,000”. “However, it is not difficult to say that the
policy of ‘more citizens’ asked by the Turkish officials totally coincides with
the policy of the UBP-DP minority government”, he says.
Ozdag writes that from 2004 until today 10,203 persons have acquired
the “citizenship” of the regime because of marriage. “I find attention attracting the fact that this exaggerated number
of citizenships was acquired through marriage”, he notes and adds says that
4,480 “citizenships” were granted as of 2004 to the families of the persons
who acquired the “citizenship” upon a decision of the “cabinet”.
In another column, he reports that according to his sources, every
day 50 “health certificates” are granted at the occupied Nicosia “state”
hospital within the framework of the procedure of acquiring the “citizenship”
with a “decision” by the “council of ministers”.
“If we calculate that there are 24 working days per month, this
number makes 1,200 in a month. That is, this means 2,400 health reports in
two months. Let us take out the 400 of them, as not everyone takes a health
certificate for acquiring citizenship. The number of 2,000 remains and this
number coincides with the number I referred to in the previous article. That
is, we can say that during UBP government about 2,000 citizenships [1,500-2,000]
were granted. And this number increases to at least 5,000 with their
families. […]”
(I/Ts.)
4. TDP, BKP and the YKP evaluated the outcome of the New York
summit
Under the title: “BKP and the YKP are not satisfied from the New York
summit”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (28.09.16) reports that
the chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan, in a written
statement evaluated the outcome of the New York summit and argued that it became
clear that no international conference will take place before a progress is
achieved on the chapters that remain open. “Instead of discussing the procedure,
it would be better for the two leaders to continue with determination the
discussion of the substantial issues in order to pave the way for the solution
of the Cyprus problem and also to brief their communities about the current
situation”, Izcan said.
Supporting that the solution will not be found by the foreign powers
and that the factor of timing is very important, Izcan said: “The negotiation
process without artificial timetables and arbitration belongs to the Cypriots.
The solution will be found not by the external powers but by the Cypriot
negotiators”.
Meanwhile, commenting also on the same issue, the New Cyprus Party
(YKP) in a written statement argued that it was proven that the negotiation
process continue with the aim of resisting to the external pressure and without
the necessary progress in the substantial issues.
Calling the two leaders to continue the negotiation process with
goodwill, the YKP underlines the need for the sides to allow approaching their
redlines. “The YKP wants a solution not only for Cyprus but for peace in the
whole world”, added the statement.
Moreover, according to illegal Bayrak television (27.09.16) the
leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit, stated that the month
of October will be determinative for the future of Cyprus.
In a written statement evaluating the trilateral meeting in New York,
Ozyigit said that it would be wrong to become pessimistic about ongoing efforts
to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that the efforts to reach
settlement which will enable the Turkish Cypriots to integrate with Europe and
the international community will continue to the end.
Stating that the TDP maintained its cautiously optimistic stance
towards achieving a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal settlement on the basis of
political equality, Ozyigit explained that the two leaders will be engaged in a
new round of intensified talks in October to reach agreements in areas where
disagreements exist.
Ozyigit accused also the circles opposed to a settlement of trying to
strip the people of hope by repeatedly giving false messages that the process is
blocked.
“Statements made in New York have reaffirmed the goal of reaching a
settlement in a short period of time. Even though it has not openly been stated,
a natural timetable has been set” he said.
He also underlined the importance of both sides embracing any
settlement agreement to be reached and how both sides should take into
consideration each other’s rights and sensitivities while seeking to safeguard
their own.
(AK)
5. Turkish FM stated that that there is "cautious optimism" on the
Cyprus problem
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.09.16) reports that Boris
Johnson U.K. Secretary of State stated during his visit to Ankara that there is
"cautious optimism" on the Cyprus problem. He made these statements speaking
during a press conference with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut
Cavusoglu.
Johnson noted that the U.K. and Turkey have very similar positions on
Syria, saw grounds for "cautious optimism" on the Cyprus issue, and vowed to
continue supporting Turkey's bid for European Union membership.
He also said that his Turkish hosts had not brought up the
controversy caused by the crude poem he composed mocking Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan earlier this year. He was yet to meet Erdogan when he made the
statement. When a reporter asked during the news conference whether he would
apologize for the poem, Johnson simply said no one had yet brought it up.
He added that he hoped for a new "jumbo" free trade deal with Turkey
after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, adding that "We are leaving
the EU, but we are not leaving Europe."
On his part Cavusoglu stated that cooperating with the Syrian Kurdish
People's Protection Units (YPG) in any potential operation against the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria's Raqqa would mean "putting Syria's
future at risk,".
He also criticized the U.S. for not meeting its promise of securing
the withdrawal of the Syrian Kurdish fighters from the region.
6. Ertugruloglu carried out contacts in
Washington
According to illegal Bayrak (28.09.16,http://www.brtk.net/ertugruloglu-washingtonda/) self-styled minister of foreign affairs Tahsin Ertugruloglu,
who continues his contacts in Washington D.C., gave an interview to the
Washington National Public Radio reporter Michele Kelemen
yesterday.
Evaluating the latest developments on the Cyprus problem,
Ertugruloglu argued that everyone hopes that the negotiations will end with a
just and permanent settlement based on the equality of both sides in the island.
He added that apart from the two sides in Cyprus, the international community
should be prepared for both the success and the failure of the on-going
negotiations. He claimed that the Turkish Cypriot “people” have the need to free
themselves of the reportedly international isolation and the political
uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Ertugruloglu also met with officials from the U.S.
Department of State, “BRT” reported.
Attending a lunch offered by Turkey’s Ambassador in Washington Serdar
Kilic for his honour, Ertugruloglu evaluated and exchanged views on the latest
stage of the Cyprus issue.
Later, attending a round table meeting at the think tank Brookings
Institute Ertugruloglu made a representation.
(DPs)
7. Religious official to be appointed to students’ dormitories in
the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (28.09.16) reports that a
religious official will be appointment in students’ dormitories in the breakaway
regime.
This will take place in the framework of an agreement reached last
March, between the General Directorate Higher Education Trust and Dormitories of
the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Directorate of Religious
Affairs, according to which the project for the “spiritual guiding” at the
students dormitories is expanded. The project was first applied to 83
dormitories in 43 regions.
The paper writes that the aim is this to be applied to the students’
dormitories “Necmettin Erbakan”, “Bulent Ecevit” and “Refika” which are located
in the breakaway regime in order for the “spiritual world” of the students to be
enriched.
Commenting on the issue, Huseyin Ekmekci in his column in daily
Havadis (28.09.16) strongly criticizes this development and wonders why there is
not any “official reaction”, either by the “ministry of education” or the
“Religious affairs directorate” in the breakaway regime against this. “(The
universities) may be located here but we do not administrate them”, he writes,
adding that the aim of the development is the production of a religious
youth.
(CS)
8. Cavusoglu holds Ankara contacts
Illegal Bayrak (28.09. 16) broadcast that self-styled minister of
agriculture and natural resources Nazim Cavusoglu held contacts in
Ankara.
Cavusoglu met with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of
Cyprus Affairs Tugrul Turkes, the Turkish Minister for Food, Agriculture and
Livestock Faruk Celik, the Minister for Forestry and Water Works Veysel Eroglu
and the
Turkish Minister for Finance Naci Agbal.
Important decisions were taken during the meetings, Bayrak
broadcast. An agreement was reached to speed up the tender process for the
“water transfer project” as well as other additional investment
projects.
An agreement was also reached with the Turkish Minister for Forestry
and Water Works Veysel Eroglu to prepare projects for rain water and
sewage.
Delegations from Turkey will be arriving in the breakaway regime in
the coming days to meet with “officials” from the “ministry of
agriculture”.
During his meeting with the Celik, Cavusoglu discussed the
establishment of a farmer registration system, livestock purchases and other
issues of cooperation between the two “ministries”.
Celik who spoke during the meeting stated that the water from Turkey
will have an important and positive impact on farming in the breakaway regime.
9. Turkey finances the infrastructure in the occupied area of
Cyprus
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.09.16),
self-styled minister of public works and communications Kemal Durust, who is
currently in Ankara for contacts, met yesterday with Turkey’s Minister of
Transport, Maritime and Communications Ahmet Alsan and discussed the ongoing
projects included at the “Land roads Master plan 2012-2020”. Aslan said that
44 million TL were sent this year to the occupied area of Cyprus for the
construction of roads.
In a statement prior to the meeting, Arslan stressed that Turkey will
continue its full support for the existence, security, rights and prosperity of
the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of
Cyprus). He added that during the period 2004-2015, a total of 500 million TL
at current prices were transferred to the “TRNC” for the “transportation and
communication sector”. He explained that they support many investments with
the aim of completing the highway network, the improvement of the aerial and
maritime transportation as well as the development of the communications
infrastructure. He further said that this year 123 million TL were sent for the
transportation and communications sector, adding that they aim to construct
400Km new roads, from which the 145km will be for single route and 255km for
dual carriageway.
On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (online, 28.09.16)
broadcast that Durust, speaking after the meeting, said that he had invited
Minister Arslan to the “TRNC” and added: “Hopefully Mr Arslan will be visiting
us next month. He has given his word that all necessary financial and technical
contributions will be made to speed up ongoing projects in the
TRNC”.
Stating that the state e-project was also discussed during the
meeting, Durust said that he had briefed his Turkish Minister on the work
carried out on the project in the past.
In his meeting with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of
Cyprus Affairs Tugrul Turkes, Durust said that he had conveyed the
“government’s” short-term expectations and requests regarding ports and
motorways in the “TRNC”. “Our meetings were quite productive. We shall continue
to receive Turkey’s strong support in upgrading our infrastructure”, he
concluded.
(DPs)
10. After the fraud in the occupied area of Cyprus, “Beirut Life”
real estate company advertises a project in Paphos
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (28.09.16) reports that
when the fraud of “Beirut Life”, real estate company, which would have built
17-storey residence buildings in the occupied area of Cyprus and was misleading
the people of Middle East origin with false promises that they would get a
Turkish passport and “permanent residence permit” when they purchase a house
from the project, was unmasked, turned to “south Cyprus”.
The paper explains that the company removed from its account the
advertisement regarding the project in occupied area of Cyprus and replaced it
with a project in Paphos. “Beirut Life” advertises that it will build villas
with swimming pools in Paphos and the project will be completed in three years,
adding that according to Cyprus law, those who invest three million euro can
obtain a passport.
(DPs)
11. AIA Europe to organize a conference in occupied
Keryneia
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (28.09.16) reports that the
annual meeting of the EU department of the American Institute of Architects (AIA
Europe) will take place in occupied Keryneia between September 29-October 2.
According to the paper, a conference will also take place on the
issue: “Communicating Across Culture”, where more than 60 architects from the EU
and the USA will participate.
In statements on the issue, the “mayor” of occupied Keryneia Nidai
Gungordu described the event to take place in as very important and said that
more details on this could be found at the website www.aiaeurope.org.
(AK)
12. Turkey looks to boost defense ties with
Azerbaijan
Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.09.16) reports that Turkish Defense
Minister Fikri Isik attended the opening ceremony of the International Defense
Industry Fair (ADEX 2016) along with his counterparts from Azerbaijan, Djibouti,
Serbia, Belarus and the United Arab Emirates.
Isik said the fair would help to boost cooperation between Turkish
and Azerbaijani firms. The ADEX 2016, which will run until Sept. 30, is hosting
216 defense companies from 34 countries. Turkey is participating with 42
companies.
Isik has called for further enhancement of defense ties between
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
13. Turkey hits dozens of Daesh targets in northern
Syria
Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.09.16) reports that Turkish forces
hit dozens of Daesh targets as part of its ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield in
northern Syria, military sources said on Tuesday.
A Turkish General Staff statement said 30 Daesh targets had been hit
with 57 artillery rounds.
A total of 1,337 detected targets have been hit since the beginning
of Operation Euphrates Shield, the military added.
14. “How to forge ties with post-Brexit
Europe?”
Under the above title, Selin Nasi writes the following in Hurriyet
Daily News (28.09.16):
“Former European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein once said Turkey was
too big, too poor and too different to become a full member of the European
Union.
Indeed, the opponents of Turkey’s EU membership have always come up
with plenty of arguments to undermine the process. Some claimed that Turkey was
geographically more Middle Eastern than European, some focused on the income
disparity and the army of unqualified poor workers waiting to invade Europe’s
job market, while others stood against Turkey’s membership simply because it is
Muslim.
Turkey has indeed lost its appetite for reforms and moved further
away from the Copenhagen criteria since it started accession negotiations in
2005. Yet, looking back over the years, the blunt statements of European leaders
mocking Turkey’s accession ideal were of little help either.
The same goes for the EU decision to accept Greek Cyprus as a member
in 2004 despite the lack of a settlement on Cyprus. Ultimately, the decisions
fueled suspicions among Turks that there was no place for Turkey in the EU –
even if it fulfilled all the requirements one day – since the EU was a Christian
club and would remain so.
The long-stalled negotiations between Ankara and Brussels were
reinvigorated last November as a result of the contentious refugee deal. Under a
May agreement, the EU agreed to provide financial aid for refugees in Turkey,
liberalize visas for Turkish citizens and revive Turkey’s EU accession process
in return for Turkish moves to limit the number of asylum seekers coming to
Europe.
But in reality, the domestic political contexts in both Europe and
Turkey are not conducive to Turkey’s EU membership.
Given the rise of populist, anti-immigration and anti-Islam movements
in Europe, the issue of enlargement no longer seems to be on the EU’s
agenda.
Regulations which were put into force under the state of emergency
declared after the failed coup of July 15 have drawn criticisms from the EU, and
the visa deal was subsequently postponed until the end of the year.
Today, Turkey’s accession negotiations have turned into a blame game
on both sides. A number of crucial accession chapters are blocked by Greek
Cyprus’ veto, and Europe is also dragging its feet because Turkey does not meet
EU standards on democracy and the rule of law. In contrast, Ankara argues that
the opening of new chapters would provide an impetus to improve democratic
standards in the country.
Faced with such a stalemate, is there a way to define a new
relationship between Turkey and the EU? This was one of the hot topics discussed
at the latest Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSİAD) Foreign Policy
Forum panel last week. Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Center for Economics and
Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) and a visiting scholar of the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace, reflected on the current state of EU-Turkey ties from a
historical perspective, presenting an alternative strategy to end this vicious
circle.
Ulgen considered Brexit a window of opportunity to build a new
narrative between Ankara and Brussels. “Even though Britain wants to exit
Europe, it wants to maintain full access to the single market. This is going to
push Europe toward a direction that it had resisted before. Whatever model the
U.K is going to negotiate with the EU may actually be a blueprint for our
relations.”
For Ulgen, Turkish-EU ties would be highly transactional and based on
mutual benefit rather than a convergence of values. “The membership process was
designed to drive a convergence of values. But the new framework will miss this
important component,” said Ulgen.
Certainly there are questions to be raised. Is it possible to defend
such a framework at the domestic level, given that negotiations will no longer
have any transformative power over Turkey?
Ulgen gave the refugee deal as a perfect example of such
transactional understanding already taking shape.
But how is that any different than German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
infamous offer of “privileged partnership” in 2004? Ulgen asserted that the
privileged partnership was an ambiguous concept. What he proposed instead is a
complementary framework based on economic integration without abandoning an
ultimate accession target.
“Accession dynamics have lost their credibility to the extent that
they generate acrimony and hostile feelings on both sides. We cannot build a
constructive relationship on that basis anymore, unfortunately. When the
political environment both in Turkey and Europe changes in our favor, we can
reinvigorate accession.”
Sounds like a realistic and constructive antidote to political
naïveté.”
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/AM)
