OUR FATE DOESN’T DEPEND ON FRANCE

At this point, Turkey can give a single message to Paris, i.e., ‘The decision you will make in December about Turkey won’t say anything about us. With this decision, you will only define yourself and Europe’s place in the developing new world order. It’s up to you to make this definition positive or negative.’ In sum, France should come to understand that it has certain responsibilities towards history. Of course the first stage of this responsibility is the respect and loyalty of certain self-appointed dignified countries towards promises that they made on the international stage and agreements that they have signed. After all, isn’t this exactly what France has been requesting from Turkey for years?

The second stage of this responsibility is to give up post-colonial behavior which bolsters claims of superiority. It’s also difficult to say that France is putting on a positive face. French daily Liberation had a front-page headline about Erdogan’s visit saying, ‘Europe: Turkey’s Headache.’ Actually Turkey has a headache and it’s France and those hiding behind it. For this reason, Erdogan’s clear rejection of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s proposal for a ‘conditional yes’ for Turkey’s membership negotiations was very appropriate. Turkey shouldn’t accept anything less than the promises which were made under the Ankara Agreement and many platforms at the highest level. Of course an exception would be Turkey’s request for a ‘special relationship’ with the EU. Everybody in France should know that Turkey is waiting for a clear decision in December. Our future and national fate has never been, isn’t and will never be in the hands of an EU country.”