Turkey’s EU bid haunted by Armenian ghosts
Daily Editorial
The Tufts Daily, MA
Oct 12 2004
Turkey’s desire to join the EU was boosted last week, when the European
Commission recommended opening membership talks with the country. EU
membership promises increased foreign investment and expanded trade
within Europe for Turkey.
The EU must hold Turkey to strict human rights standards, as Dr.
Glendale-Hilmar Kaiser’s speech on the Armenian genocide reminded
students. The Turkish government continues to refuse to recognize
that there was a state-sponsored genocide against the Armenians at
the beginning of the 20th century.
Additionally, Turkey has not won praises for the treatment of its
Kurdish minority. It has recently been easing its restrictions on the
group – it is no longer illegal to broadcast the Kurdish language on
television, and some Kurdish leaders are able to call for more rights
without being thrown in jail. But there is still a way to go.
Fears have recently risen that Turkey may move in the wrong
direction. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to re-criminalize
adultery, which drew enough European criticism to drop the efforts
in the 23rd hour. The country has been condemned for a poor record
on religious freedom and women’s rights. Turkey will have to meet
stiff economic and legal criteria to gain admission to the EU.
The prospect of joining the EU will be an impetus for Turkey to
modernize both its economy and legal system. Entrance into Europe’s
elite club is a popular goal with the Turkish population, if the
press is anything to go by, and politicians can find support to pass
the necessary measures.
Adding Turkey would reflect well on the EU, if only because it
will show that the EU is not a Christian organization. Millions of
Muslims already live within the EU, but Turkey would be the first
majority-Muslim nation to join the Union. It is quite a secular nation,
but it would be a step towards proving that liberal democracy and
Islamic cultures can mix.
Critics of Turkey’s admission cite fears that large numbers of poor
Turks will flood into Western Europe. The free movement of people,
however, is a necessary tenant of the EU to allow for complete
economic integration. However, there were similar fears concerning
the 10 Eastern European countries that joined this past May. Western
Europe was not swamped with economic migrants from Eastern Europe,
nor were they inundated with those from Turkey.
Others fear the economic ramifications of inviting in a poor
country like Turkey, where nearly a third of the population works in
agriculture. The point of the EU is to benefit all of the countries
that join, not just rich ones like France and Germany. Membership
turned Ireland and Spain into strong economies, and will hopefully
do the same to new member countries. Turkey’s large population and
resources show that there is potential for growth.
The biggest obstacle that could block Turkey’s EU bid is its human
rights record. It needs to continue easing up on the Kurds and
expanding women’s rights. It also needs to admit its involvement
with the Armenian genocide once and for all. If Turkey is to spend
its future in the EU, it needs to come clean about its past.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress