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Turkish president's statement on possible non-entry into EU not to change country's policy on European integration: Chatham House expert

Politics Materials 9 October 2009 09:00 (UTC +04:00)
Turkish President's statement on the possible failure of the country's plans for joining the EU is more emotional statement than a statement that means real change of the country's policy, European Expert on Turkey's integration into the EU, Fadi Hakura believes.
Turkish president's statement on possible non-entry into EU not to change country's policy on European integration: Chatham House expert

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 8. / Trend E.Ostapenko /

Turkish President's statement on the possible failure of the country's plans for joining the EU is more emotional statement than a statement that means real change of the country's policy, European Expert on Turkey's integration into the EU, Fadi Hakura believes.

"I think it was more emotional statement than a statement of policy," Associate Fellow at Chatham House Fadi Hakura told trend News over the telephone.

On Wednesday, during press conference prior to departure to Paris, Turkish President Abdullah Gul highlighted the possibility of Turkey's refusal from the integration plans into the European Union.

"Perhaps in the future Turkey will not want to become a member of the EU and go in Norway's way," said Gul.
During the discussion on Norway's membership to the EU, citizens of this country opposed against the entrance to this structure. As a result, despite that Norway complies with European standards, it is not a member of the Union.

Negotiations on Turkey's joining the EU have been continuing since 2005. At present the talks at an impasse because of the unwillingness of many European countries, particularly France, to accept Turkey in the EU, which has the problem of human rights, but also because of Turkey's refusal to recognize Republic of Cyprus as the EU member and to open transport connections with it.

The statement by President Gul should be seen in the light of negative reaction that Turkey receive from the European Union, particularly in France, Germany, Austria and some other countries that are against Turkish accession, said Hakura. However it will not entail genuine policy reversal in Turkey's desire to join the European Union.

Regarding the possibility of creating an alternative alliance to the EU, as Turkey's official circles repeatedly stated, Hakura doubted of the implementation of such initiatives.

The reason for that is the complicated political situation and the differences among the Arab countries and among the countries of South Caucasus, Hakura supposes.

"Because of the differences among the countries in the region [of Middle East and Southern Caucasus] it seems to be a difficult idea to form any kind of a union like the European Union", - Hakura, Director of the Turkish Project in Chatham House said.

The same difficulties Turkey would face in forming an alternative alliance with Russia, because "Russia - Turkey relations are defined by energy and trade, but cultural ties between both countries are not as strong as Turkey's relations with Europe".

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