By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
The European Parliament has approved the “Progress Report” on its relations with Turkey.
For those who see Turkey and Turkish Cypriots’ future within the EU, this document is like a student’s report card filled with “poor grades,” much like a lazy student’s report card….
It is, by far, the worst of the reports published so far…
Of course, those who prefer to see Turkey not in the “West” but as an “Eastern” country within Eurasia, intertwined with Turkic countries and Arab nations, are quite satisfied with the situation…
They spare no words in criticizing the outside world and Europe…
They spread hatred and resentment with their customary statements of “condemnation”…
They utter the same defying phrase every time they receive a devastating blow: “[This report] is null and void for us.”
Turkish President Erdoğan, reacting to the report, said, “We can part ways with the EU”.
In reality, it is not Turkey but the EU that has truly reached a “crossroads”…
The most significant difference in the Progress Report from the past is the new message it conveys to Turkey…
The report now talks about a “partnership” status for Turkey instead of “membership”…
It says that unless Turkey makes “a drastic change of course,” the EU “accession process” cannot be resumed…
In short, it is implying, “Give up your ambition with membership”…
It calls for moving towards a “closer, more dynamic, and strategic partnership” with Turkey…
The [EU] Parliament’s report mentions that the European Commission should draw up a “comprehensive and inclusive process such as a modernized partnership agreement in order to develop a framework that would be mutually appealing”…
It says, let’s “start a reflection process” and find a new model that encompasses the interests of all parties. Just recently, President Erdogan said that Turkey’s strategic goal was full EU membership…
He was saying, “The EU is our strategic priority.”
At times, when he gets angry he has even said, “You go your way, and I’ll go mine,” but at this point, it is the EU that is ”showing the way out”…
The report systematically lists how far Turkey is from the EU’s values and norms without being harsh…
It talks about Turkey’s “weaknesses” in areas such as democracy, the rule of law, respect for the sovereignty of other countries, international law, and minority rights… It does not exclude or dismiss Turkey but suggests cooperation rather than conflict, recognizing its “worth” and importance and proposing “good neighbourly relations”…
According to the report, Turkey is of strategic importance in terms of the economy, energy, and foreign policy…
A key partner…
An important ally within NATO…
However, this is not enough for “EU membership”…
The 40-point report reveals that Turkey is decades away from getting “closer” to the EU…
So, will Turkey abandon this “strategic priority”? Can it truly part ways with the EU? That really depends on Turkey…
Turkey could fix its “poor grades” and move closer to the EU…
However, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to be “optimistic” at the moment…
The regime in Ankara is looking at the situation from a completely different ”perspective”…
It has a “vision” as if it’s not Turkey that is joining the EU but vice versa…
Ankara doesn’t seem interested in addressing its own “shortcomings” mentioned in the report; it’s ignoring them and trying to create a public perception that “the EU is just wasting our time”…
After this report, what will Ankara do? Will it open up to reforms, and embrace Western standard democracy, human rights, freedom of the press, and the rule of law?
At least for now, it doesn’t seem so…
So, what about us, the Turkish Cypriots, what will become of us? Member of the European Parliament Niyazi Kızılyürek recently provided detailed information about the report to some members of the media. Kızılyürek is one of the few members of parliament who did not vote “yes” on the report because he supports Turkey’s EU membership…
He is waging a serious “struggle for rights” for Turkish Cypriots in EU institutions…
And he has achieved important successes on some issues…
But he is not at all pleased with the situation…
He says that Turkish Cypriots need to be much more “visible” in EU institutions and points to the European Parliament elections…
He calls on civil society, political parties, and intellectuals…
He emphasizes the importance of Turkish Cypriots participating strongly in these elections and sending at least one representative to the parliament…
He even relates his candidacy to the will, desire, and participation of Turkish Cypriots in this matter…
He is trying to say, “If you are there, count me in too.”
Niyazi Kızılyürek was not elected to the European Parliament with Turkish Cypriot votes only.
But he became our voice and ears there. He worked like an army on his own… I agree with Niyazi Kızılyürek.
We need to succeed in becoming more “visible”.
The EP report contains many positive aspects about Turkish Cypriots that can be used…
The report sees Turkish Cypriots as “a European community” and tells Turkey:
“The rights of the Turkish Cypriot community are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. They are a legitimate community on the island. Their place is in the EU.”
The report also tells the Commission, “Intensify your efforts to establish relations with them”.
As for the Greek Cypriot side, the report tells them, “You are responsible for facilitating the relations of the Turkish Cypriots with the EU”. I guess the rest is up to us…
Source: TURKISH CYPRIOTS NEED TO BE MUCH MORE “VISIBLE” WITHIN THE EU
