In the editorial on Tuesday, Oct. 4, "Stop Teasing Turkey," it was stated the European Union should make a firm decision about Turkey's potential entry as a member state. The EU is being circumspect in its decision-making process to exercise judicious judgment before it opens its doors to Ankara.
Turkey, in its eagerness to gain a foothold in Europe - a dream that has eluded this basically Asian country for centuries - has multiplied its efforts to join the European Union. In strictly geographical terms, to consider Turkey a part of Europe is a stretch. The vehement opposition exhibited by some European countries, including Austria and Belgium, against Turkey's joining to the European Union is well founded.
By the time negotiations are scheduled to be completed -ten years - the country will have a population well over 85 million. Adding 20 million to the European population is a point of concern.
Anakara must resolve a slew of thorny issues that Europe regards as prerequisites for membership: the Kurdish issue, Cyprus, judicial reforms, recognition of the Armenian Genocide and real partnership with the West. The country has taken a hesitant, at best, stance on these issues. Turkish Prime Minster Tayyip Erdogan has tip-toed around these issues without adopting a decisive position. Case in point: He expressed a muted desire to normalize relations with neighboring Armenia, yet he keeps the common border with it closed, thus choking the country economically.
Even though Ankara has always pursued pro-western, secular policies, Turkey stands in stark contrast culturally to Europe. The prime minister has Islamist credentials, he was jailed on charges of incitement, yet he is the most secular leader in recent memory. He purports to be friendly with the West, yet his government refuses to provide bases to coalition forces in its offensive against Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
Ankara needs a new breed of leaders who are visionaries, not pragmatists. Turkey should emancipate itself from the past. If Ankara is determined to join the "Western Club," it should undertake bold initiatives. It should break away from dogmatic positions. Turkey should give cultural-ethnic autonomy to the Kurds, who constitute 20 percent of the population, and exhibit far more flexibility vis-? ¶is the Cypriots. How can Ankara take itself seriously when its armies are occupying parts of Cyprus?
Turkey's dismal human rights record adds another dimension to an argument for its exclusion from the EU. There should be a change in its human rights, both at the state and grass roots levels, before Europe even begins serious consideration of Ankara's application.
Turkey has imposed a blockade upon a neighboring Christian sovereign country, Armenia, while vigorously rejecting the historically documented genocide perpetrated against Armenians. Turkey should moderate its uncompromising support for Azerbaijan so the Nagorno Karabagh issue can move forward towards a peaceful resolution. It should also implement confidence-boosting measures with Armenia, including recognizing the genocide and lifting its decade old economic embargo.
Only steps such as these will inspire confidence. Ankara must also undertake judicial reforms within its penal code to show to the outside world it is serious in its efforts to reform and finally become part of the European Union.
Taleen Babayan is a senior double majoring in history and international relations with a minor in communications and media studies.
