EU Process will not Stand any more Mistakes

Christian Democrats, Armenians, and Greeks were madly pleased. This debate showed the real face of Turkey, they said, and Europe was barely saved.

Turkey on the other hand tried to decipher the profound diplomatic secret code in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s insistence [on the adultery issue]. In the end, the issue was resolved with European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen’s statement, "No more obstacles before Turkey." Perhaps Turkey’s 45 years of hope were saved in the nick of the time.

By looking at positive and negative aspects of the last 15 days, we should draw a road map for ourselves over the next three months.

Let’s try to see this crisis from a positive angle. Even if, as it is written in the Financial Times the other day, Erdogan jeopardized the biggest strategic objective of the country simply to test his personal authority, he prevented the EU from imposing other conditions with a single strategy. Therefore, the requirements were clarified in order for the progress report to come out "clean" and no more gray areas remain. Because of the adultery issue, the camps for and against Turkey crystallized more. Those who could not speak before now had the chance to show themselves by taking on the "adultery" issue. We have seen our enemies and friends once more and now can better identify friend and foe. With this crisis, we have seen that regardless of how well Turkey does its homework, little things will be made to turn into bigger issues; the tolerance that has been shown to some [EU] candidates will not be shown to Ankara; Turkey will crash if it trembles, and the biggest friends of Turkey will start to sway in the moments of such crisis. Ankara saw once more that it has to take these realities into consideration and play its role before the EU.

The most negative side of the crisis is that the reliability of Erdogan, who has been regarded as the most "reformist" politician according to some after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and to others after Turgut Ozal, was harmed.

His easily taking a step back in Brussels reinforced Erdogan’s former style of politics. For a while it seemed as if he had adopted a political path from the past. Even if the crisis ends, its harm continues. Since November 3 [2002], the Justice and Development Party (AKP) had never let Turkey be looked down upon until it let the initiative to EU in the subject of reforms that made Ankara a candidate take a hit once again with this crisis. The "adultery" discussion paved the way for the anti-Turkey campaigns to begin early.

We will discuss for a long time whether this debate stemmed from the personal ambitions of Erdogan or appeared out of profound and subtle tactical calculations; however, the most important lesson to be learnt is that Turkey must tread carefully, knowing that the upcoming three months will be very sensitive and unlikely to stand another crisis.

As The Times wrote, enemies should be served equipment while the EU has started to dig the trenches for the toughest fights through Turkey.