‘If the EU Doesn’t Want Us, They Should Say it Now’
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SPIEGEL: But the language you use to describe your relationship with, for example, Saudi Arabia is striking: “We are not only bound by friendship, but by ties of brotherhood, as people of the same civilization.” Erdogan: What is wrong with it? We all want an alliance of civilizations, don’t we? Turkey and Spain are co-chairs of the United Nations initiative with this name. Turkey is the gateway to the east for Europe, and the gateway to Europe for the east. We have a bridging function that Europe shouldn’t underestimate. SPIEGEL: Would there be an alternative to Europe at all for Turkey? Erdogan: Look, about 60 percent of our trade is done with the EU and not with the Gulf states, up to 10 percent with US, around 6 percent with China and the rest is done with other countries. Don’t forget, Turkey’s path toward Europe started back in 1959, almost 50 years ago. But we have been pushed to the side ever since. Despite all the hurdles we will not deviate from our course towards Europe — even by one step. SPIEGEL: Out of frustration, the Turkish population is increasingly turning away from Europe. Erdogan: Unfortunately, our European friends are instigating this negative view with their discouraging statements. When the opening round of negotiations began in 2005, 70 percent of Turkey’s citizens favored the EU; today it is only 50 percent. If you ask if they want Turkey to become an EU member, 60 to 65 percent still say yes. But if you ask: Do you believe Europe will accept Turkey, 60 percent say no. SPIEGEL: What are you saying? Erdogan: We want to be treated by the same standards as other countries. If you compare us to some other newly accepted EU members our performance, especially in terms of the economy, is much better. SPIEGEL: Turkey wants confirmation now that it will finally become a member of the EU? Erdogan: We would like a clear target date, a road map, a timetable for negotiations. With that Europe could prove to our people that they are sincere. SPIEGEL: Which date do you have in mind? Erdogan: One could set 2014 or 2015 as a date for our accession to the EU. But above all I am calling on the EU to be honest: If the EU doesn’t want us, they should say it now and clearly. If we are not wanted, then both sides don’t need to waste their time with negotiations. Is Europe a home for an alliance of civilizations or is it a Christian club? If the former is true, then Turkey should be part of it. SPIEGEL: Brussels complains that the pace of reforms in Turkey has slowed. For example, you still have the infamous Article 301, which makes the denigration of Turkishness prosecutable and limits freedom of opinion. The EU is also demanding complete freedom of religion. Erdogan: In Turkey the religious minorities have more rights than they do in Europe. What aspect of their faith are they not allowed to live out here? Do we tear down their churches? SPIEGEL: Churches are not allowed to own property, they are not a legal entity. Churches have been expropriated from many Christian communities. Erdogan: We changed the construction law. Before, there were only “mosques,” but now we have “places of worship.” New churches are opening. We wanted to change the law on religious institutions, but the president didn’t sign it. Now we’re sending it through parliament again. The courts have also started to return property of minority institutions that has been seized. SPIEGEL: Why are churches still prohibited from training their own priests? The EU has been calling for the famous Greek-Orthodox seminary on the island of Halki near Istanbul to be reopened. Erdogan: If they don’t accept us into the EU because of Halki, so be it! This is a different situation. We have problems with Turkish law in this case. It used to be a high school, but now they want to transform it into a kind of university, but the high council for universities doesn’t permit this. More : nytimes.com |