Today is the day to rise up

If there happens to be an accident on Dec. 17, things will get a little confused.
We will be very upset. The markets will be affected negatively and political uncertainty will deepen. We will be transformed into a country dominated by nationalist rhetoric.
In other words, we are at a point in time when we can’t afford to take any risks. That’s why everyone needs to rise up. No one has the luxury of sitting this out.
Call those who can influence. Knock on any door that may affect the decision. We have until Thursday to do our outmost.

Turks in Europe! You can’t ignore what’s happening
I first would like to address the Turks living in Europe. They have thousands of associations, unions and groups.
Where are you?

Why are you silent?
For years, whenever a Turkish official or minister came to the city you were living, you would crowd around him or her and do nothing but complain. You usually would ask for a mosque, complain about the lack of imams and bureaucracy.
Today, you are nowhere to be seen.
How many of you wrote a letter? How many of you called the foreign minister or prime minister to demand Turkey be let in? You will be the ones who will benefit from this in the short-term.
You have only yourselves to blame for this conduct. You should at least do something in the next few days. Either do something or never speak again.

Associations, universities, celebrities and ordinary people

I would now like to talk to those who think too much of themselves.
Apart from a few, you all were silent throughout the process.
I am talking to those associations with or without money, unions, universities, vocational organizations etc., which always have something to say.
What are you waiting for?
Are you just going to ignore what’s going on? Don’t you have anything to contribute?
You need to start somewhere.
Some can write letters, others can put advertisements in newspapers. You can make phone calls or send e-mails. We all need to do something. If you don’t want to regret the missed opportunities, you need to make your voice heard before Thursday.
You need to get into action if you want to protect and preserve the future of this country and its democracy. If you are not a participant, you will always remain where you are. When your children or grandchildren ask you, “Where were you and what did you do in the EU fight?” you need to have an answer.
Ladies and gentlemen, today is the time to rise up.

Kurdish issue can’t be resolved via Brussels

The advertisement published in Le Monde last week is unfortunate for all interested in the Kurdish problem. The impression the ad gave was that some were trying to utilize Turkey’s EU membership process for their own advantage on the eve of the date decision. They tried to send their message to EU capitals (especially the French public) to ensure a few sentences about themselves would appear in the Dec. 17 summit declaration.
Those who signed the ad tried to solve the Kurdish issue via Brussels.
It was even more unfortunate for them to compare themselves to Turkish Cypriots. They gave the impression that their aim was autonomy, federation and even independence (in parallel with Turkish Cypriot demands). Moreover, their calls for a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) type measure have shown how narrow their vision is.
More important and probably more dangerous, this advertisement awakened the deep suspicions and fears in Turkish society. The Republic of Turkey was forced to go on the defensive.

Kurdish Diaspora harming itself

They have shown they are yet to realize the fact that the Kurdish issue can’t be resolved in Brussels and the only route to a sound relationship passes through Ankara.
The clever thing to do would have been for them to ask the EU to give Turkey a clear date to start negotiations that would result in full membership. They should have explained that Turkey’s EU membership would also be beneficial to them. Such an attitude would have positively influenced the attitude of both Turkish society and the state.

Those who sent that advertisement (from outside, it appears it came from the Kurdish Diaspora) should know that they damaged the perception of the Kurdish issue, made things much harder to do and harmed those who live in Turkey.
This stance shows these people have no idea about where their true interests lie. What really surprised me was Leyla Zana and her friends also signing it. We used to think they saw the larger picture.
Kurds should decide on a route to follow. They can either behave like an integral part of the nation, not a minority, they claim to be and adapt to the system or tie all their hopes to the EU and eventually be disappointed.
The EU is a realist and for Brussels, it always will be Turkey that comes first. Especially if Turkey sits at the negotiation table, its integrity and stability will be very important for Brussels.