Newspaper Article

Slamming the doorin Turkey's face

Kinzer, Stephen, Stephen Kinzer is a former chief New York Times bureau in Istanbul, author of "Crescent, Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds.

2006

Overview

Some senior commanders in the Turkish Army, which would lose most of its political power if Turkey joined the EU, will cheer this breakup. So will religious fundamentalists, who have always rejected the view that Turkey is essentially European. The EU's official explanation for this \"train wreck\" is that it is Turkey's fault, because Turkey has refused to open its ports to ships from Greek Cyprus. The Cyprus issue is, however, a smokescreen to hide what every sensate European knows. Important political leaders, notably President Jacques Chirac of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, have concluded that Turkey is too big, too poor, and above all too Islamic to join their club. By blocking Turkey's application, they are signaling to voters that they are reliably anti-Turkish, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim. Their positions stoke the fires of insular nationalism that are burning in many parts of Europe. To be sure, Turkey is less than an ideal candidate for EU membership. It limits free speech, denies aspects of its history, allows generals to intimidate politicians, and restricts the freedom of Kurds, Christians, AlawiteMuslims, and other groups. It has been steadily pulling away from these bad habits, but after being rejected by the EU, it may see no incentive to continue doing so.

• Publisher: Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC
• Subject: Democracy / Freedom of speech / Memberships / Muslims