Time of reckoning is nigh

They will meet on Wednesday and put the final touches to the report. Verheugen, if he doesn’t encounter any unforeseen disagreements, will brief the European Parliament on his decision.

Most expect this report to be positive. However, nothing is certain. A commissioner may oppose the report so much that things may go awry.

No matter what happens, this report will take us either a bit or a long way towards Turkey’s negotiations with the EU.

Commission report is behind us
Everything is happening at a lightening pace. Look at what has happened. Only a few weeks ago there was considerable tension. No one knew what the report would say. Markets were nervous. Everyone was making assumptions and conspiracy theories dominated the agenda.

Some speculated that the commission would not be recommending the start of Turkey’s negotiations, while others claimed just the opposite.

It was a time of great confusion. Still, all eyes were on the commission and every utterance of Verheugen was analyzed in great detail.

Let’s look at today.

The Turkish public is feeling safe having been guaranteed a positive report and is now talking about the start of negotiations. The pessimism that dominated is no more. It has been replaced by winds of optimism.

This is the closest Turkey has been to the EU in 41 years. This is the first time we are talking about negotiations. It’s unbelievable.

Turkey is surprising everyone and it appears it will continue to do so. We should be happy. Let’s stop complaining. We need to see that better days are on their way. Let’s be optimistic.

First Putin, and then Khatemi
We were supposed to host two very important world leaders in September. All the preparations were made, but things happened and neither took place. One such leader was President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Chechen terrorism forced him to cancel the visit. However, his visit was very important in terms of relations between Russia and Turkey. It was to be the first visit by a Russian leader and decisions that would have broadened bilateral relations were going to be taken. I heard Putin himself say how important this visit was. Both economic and political advances were to take place during the visit.

The other was the postponement of the visit by Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami. Turkey’s relations with Iran are as important as our relations with Russia, especially when we consider the growing Iranian influence in the region. Due to what’s happening in Iraq we will better realize how unfortunate this postponement was. There is an election in November. Next time we see Khatemi, he won’t be the president. The earliest date any such Turkish-Iranian meetings will be held at this level is next year. That is a pity.

Why can’t say I’m an Alevite on my ID?
Sinan Isik, an employee at the Konak Municipality in Izmir wanted to change what was written in the religious section of his national identification card from Islam to Alevi. The Religious Affairs Directorate said: "Alevi is not a religion. It is a sub-interpretation and grouping based on Sufi and cultural characteristics." It also said that the stating of such a matter on the ID card would be a violation of the Constitution and one’s rights as a citizen.

The last sentence alone means: "I don’t agree. You can’t call yourself an Alevite."

I’am sorry, but this is no business of yours.

If I want, my ID card should be able to say that I am a Buddist, an Alevi or even an atheist. What does this have to do with being a citizen or secularism?

Will the state never get tired of interfering in one’s private life? Constant supervision = forced to live between set guidelines = constant fear.

Enough is enough.

Foreign investors’ take on Turkey
Lately, foreign investors are very interested in what’s happening in Turkey. I talked to some of them. Their common perception can be summarized like this: They are seeing a very different Turkey.I have heard the same statements over and over.

– There is a new self confidence among Turks … This is the first time we are hearing people talking about hope … A stable government changed everything… The outlook of the entire country has changed.

We never used to hear such utterances. They almost always saw us as pessimists, always down and closed. That was why they feared investing here. The winds of the EU are changing things greatly it seems.