The major role that Turkey took in the flotilla bound for Gaza has highlighted the fact that this nation is standing squarely between east and west, geographically, culturally, and politically. The dividing line between Asia and Europe literally runs right through the city of Istanbul. In recent years, Turkey has been trying to get admitted into the European Union. Being no admirer of the EU, I have often asked my Turkish acquaintances why they would want to bother being admitted to a bureaucratic mess that has continually imposed one condition after another on them. Right now, it doesn't look like a good idea for the EU to admit Turkey.
I have visited Turkey on two occasions (Ankara and Istanbul on both visits. ) At that time, I was on official business with DEA (working drug cases with the Turkish National Police). I enjoyed the country, liked the people and valued by relationship with the head of the Turkish National Police drug department in Ankara (Attila Aytek). He was an honest and dedicated cop, who worked closely with his international colleagues.
In addition, Turkey is a beautiful country with friendly (and tough) people, fantastic food and world-class beer. Though Muslims, the Turks had been secular since the rule of Kemal Ataturk, who changed the Turkish alphabet from Arabic into Latin and generally reduced the Islamic influence over Turkish life. Turks are unabashed drinkers, who love their Raki and as stated, one of the world's great beers.
In recent years, with the breakup of the ex-USSR, Turkey established links with the Turkic-speaking, newly independent states of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Now, with world events being what they are, Turkey is changing. The hijab is coming back and Turkey, under the pro-Islamist rule of Recep Erdogan, is moving farther and farther away from Europe and the West in general. Turkey, heretofore, Israel's only Muslim ally, is now close to breaking that bond. Rather than integrate into Europe, many are harking back to the old Ottoman Empire.
Turks mourning flotilla dead
The question for Europe is now whether they want Turkey, in its current makeup, as part of the European Union. Far be it from me to advise the Europeans, but it seems that now even more time is needed to assess what the advantages and disadvantages would be to admitting Turkey. Right now, with the prospect of the country drifting in the direction of Islamic influence, it looks problematical. It would be with much sadness to watch the west lose its friendship with Turkey.
7 comments:
Ataturk is spinning in his grave.
You're forgetting that it was the EU that rejected turkey. Turkey has been trying (or was being) join the eu since the sixties and they have been treated in a condescending, humiliating way. it was only a matter of time before such a proud nation would look for other partners. The biggest cosying up hasn't been to Islamic or Arab countries, but to Russia btw.
Erdogan is bit of a loose canon and prone to the occasional emotional outburst. what we have to see is how much he's going to tone down Turkey's ties with Israel
- Tolgahan
Great post! Very informative.
Norm
I am not fully up to date on the EU acceptance, but I did mention that I thought the EU was for a long time laying down conditions.
I looked up Turkish beer, and apparently business is booming. Hopefully that's a good sign. (As beer-drinking and fundamentalism don't really go hand-in-hand.) Maybe we should attack all of these fundamentalist countries by sending them kegs of cold beer. That'll lighten them up a bit.
One must consider how the U.S. can best influence
a) the Turkish government,
b) the Turkish opposition, which may eventually be the government again,
c) the Turkish people, which may have the opportunity to elect the next government,
in a manner which does not violate essential principles, but does not drive them into the arms of more hostile allies and programs.
A calculated measure of criticism of ill considered Israeli actions might do more good than harm. Remaining silent, or implicitly supporting Israel, might do more harm than good.
Ingrid,
You are correct although one should add that Turks in Germany have faced considerable discrimination. Having said that, I no longer support Turkey being in the EU-for now.
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