Re: [A-List] Turkey & the EU

["Salaam Blackmore" <salaamblackmore@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Sabri

Well, I am a EU citizen, but I live in Switzerland, because for me - at the
moment, anyway, it's safer.

I do not know enough about Turkey. There is not enough in-depth reporting -
quite a lot about economic matters, but almost nothing about social
conditions or about the thinking of the 'ordinary' people in Turkey.

Despite this small knowledge, I detect a crucial anomaly in the American/EU
puppet strategy in relation to Turkey.

The impression given - from statements by EU Commissioners et al - is that
the US and the EU are pressing Turkey to 'reform' and become more
democratic, because this is regarded as a requirement of joining the EU.

However, my understanding - please correct me, if I am wrong - is that
Turkey has a secular government, because the Turkish army wants it that way.
The army, in other words acts as the guardian of the secular revolution of
Kemal Attaturk.

Were the army not to act in this way and were Turkey to become more fully
democratic, it is probable that voters would elect an Islamic government
that would enact laws that would run counter to the civil and human rights
laws enshrined in the constitutions of the member states and of the European
Union itself.

Therefore, even if it were organised for Turkey to join the EU, it might
well have to leave again, because the sort of laws likely to be enacted by a
fully democratic Turkey would run directly counter to European civil rights.

Salaam






----- Original Message -----
From: "Sabri Oncu" <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <a-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 9:28 AM
Subject: [A-List] Turkey & the EU


> Dear Tolga and the rest,
>
> It is my great pleasure that for the first time someone from Turkey other
> than me and Mine shared his opinion with the list. I have tried to share
> what little I know about Turkey with some English speaking lists for a few
> years and, to be honest with you, I am running out of steam. Furthermore,
> given that I live in the US, neither do I have the real experience, nor
> the
> up to date information about what is happening in my country.
>
> In the current global conjecture, Turkey appears to be one of the
> frontline
> countries and I feel that it would be to the benefit of our subscribers to
> hear more about the developments there and its neighborhood from those who
> live there.
>
> If we can start a conversation among those who live in Europe and Turkey
> regarding the Turkey-EU relationship, it would be even better.
>
> Best,
>
> Sabri


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