December 10, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 5,1423

BRUSSELS, Dec 9: Turkey’s drive to secure a date for starting European Union entry looks set to be a key issue at the bloc’s summit in Copenhagen this week, with EU politicians divided on whether the Muslim nation should be asked to join the 15 nation Union.

Ankara’s long-standing bid to become an EU member has long been shrugged off as inappropriate by many European leaders who have used a range of varied arguments to justify their hostility.

Many conservative politicians including former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing make no secret of their conviction that an Islamic country, albeit one with a secular constitution, has no place in Europe. Turkish membership would be the end of the Union, Giscard warned recently.

But others have complained about the preponderant role of the Turkish military in the country’s political life and also criticised Ankara’s human rights record and failure to protect the Kurdish minority.

As Turkey’s new government speeds up political reforms, however, many critics admit that their earlier views of Ankara are changing fast. In fact, say EU insiders, many of the bloc’s politicians are now competing with each other to become Turkey’s “best friend”.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac, for instance, used to be little more than lukewarm to Turkey’s long-standing membership request. Last week, however, both men put their collective weight behind a decision by EU leaders in Copenhagen on December 13 to launch membership talks with Turkey on July 1, 2005 — provided Ankara moves ahead as promised on political reforms.

Other pro-Turkey EU leaders include British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi and Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar.

There are several reasons for Europe’s change of heart on Turkey. Persistent pressure from the United States which sees Ankara as a key ally — especially in the event of a war against Iraq has clearly spurred some EU governments to review their attitudes towards Turkey.

Turkey’s support is necessary to secure agreement on a new United Nations plan on reunifying Cyprus. The divided island is set to join the EU in 2004 and while EU governments have made it clear that they will not make Cyprus’s entry conditional on a political settlement, they make no secret of their preference for the accession of a united Cyprus.

Ankara’s refusal so far to give its go-ahead to a NATO-EU agreement which would allow a future European Rapid Reaction Force to have automatic access to NATO strategic assets is also a problem. EU diplomats admit that giving a date for negotiations with Turkey could change Ankara’s attitude towards such a deal.

Crucially also after much initial wariness about allowing an Islamic country into the EU, many of the bloc’s policymakers now argue that Turkish membership would actually improve the bloc’s international standing, especially in the Muslim world, and put an end to the outdated notion that the Union is a Christian club.

Most crucially EU policymakers are impressed with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and his commitment to democracy.

“If the new Turkish government can reconcile Islam and democracy, it will be a positive signal for the entire Muslim world,” said an EU diplomat.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Copenhagen summit host and current EU president therefore has the challenging task of coming up with the right summit message for Ankara.

Most analysts stress that EU leaders are unlikely to set a firm date for opening membership talks with Turkey. But there is a growing consensus that Ankara could win a conditional date, with EU leaders agreeing that discussions could open in 2005, provided key political reforms are implemented.