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Radical
powers from the political right are growing day by
day in the new member states. They misuse anti-EU
slogans and spread fears of job losses and social
decay, demanding immediate withdrawal of their
countries from the union. For some experts, the
intense extension of the EU came too fast. In their
view, the EU was blinded by the naive "EUphoria" in
Eastern Europe during the 1990s.
Nevertheless, a majority of observers of the
European integration expect the EU will overcome
these problems in time. In terms of Turkish EU
membership, they are more than unsure. And
meanwhile, the pre-accession process is watched
closely by human rights-organizations like Amnesty
International.
Turkey's weak economy has the devastating potential
to infect the EU with a precipitous nosedive.
Turkey's GDP is about a fourth of the European
average. Investors still have to cope with
high-profile corruption, poor infrastructure and
Turkey's economy and traditions which are
reminiscent of countries like Afghanistan.
Moreover, the problems between the Turks and the
Kurds have yet to be solved. About 20 million Kurds
are spread over the Middle East, most of them in
Turkey's border region to Syria, Iraq and Iran.
When in 1918 the victorious nations of World War 1
reorganized the face of the Middle East, they failed
to give a state to the strong and proud Kurd people.
For a long time Turkey brutally fought every Kurd
separatist attempt, resulting in bloody terrorism
from the Kurd side, targeting even Istanbul, the
heart of Turkey's modern West.
Today there are still serious cases of repression of
the Kurd minority -- including torture -- which is
completely incompatible with the requirements for EU
membership.
Courageously, Turkey's moderate Islamic government
in the capital city of Ankara fights to overcome
these bad states. This past week, the Turkish
Parliament passed a package of 350 wide reaching
reforms of the law. Following its agenda, corruption
will be stamped out more effectively and torture
will not be permitted.
In order to keep radical Islamists and
traditionalists quiet, the government also tried to
implement a law which criminalizes adultery. After
enormous pressure from Turkish women's and human
rights organizations, as well as diplomatic pressure
by the EU, the government decided not to pass this
law. Instead, a "little revolution," as it is called
by several women's rights organizations, will be put
in place within this reform package.
The domestic violence and spouse rape are now
considered serious crimes. This clearly breaks with
the country's male-dominated tradition. So-called "honor
killings" by family members will also be pursued
harder. Incredible stories of such crimes not being
prosecuted routinely reach Germany, disconcerting
citizens and casting a shadow on the realistic
chances of Turkish EU membership.
German Foreign minister Joschka Fischer estimates
concrete accession-talks between Turkey and the EU
are about 15 years in the future -- at the earliest.
Though there are many problems to be solved, most
geopolitical experts agree with the view that within
the next decade Turkey has to become an EU member
state. They point out the great benefits of a
democratic and EU-integrated Islamic state. By
reaching this aim, the so-called "clash of cultures"
could be transformed into cooperation of cultures
and peace in Europe.
http://english.ohmynews.com
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