Obama Pushes for Turkey’s Acceptance to the EU

Obama’s last stop on his European tour was to Turkey.  During his brief stint in the country he gave another campaign/stump speech and pushed for Turkey’s acceptance into the European Union.

Some of Obama’s quotes:

“Let me say this as clearly as I can,” Obama said. “The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical … in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.”

Calling for a greater partnership with the Islamic world in an address to the Turkish parliament, Obama called the country an important U.S. ally in many areas, including the fight against terrorism. He devoted much of his speech to urging a greater bond between Americans and Muslims.

I seem to remember that in March 2003, the Turks refused to allow the U.S. Army’s 4th infantry Division to disembark there and attack into Iraq from the north. That decision left Saddam and his cronies an escape route once Baghdad fell, and ultimately cost (at least) hundreds of American lives in the insurgency that broke out later that year.

“We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country,” Obama said. (which country? Giggle…)

Al Jazeera and Al Arabiyia, two of the biggest Arabic satellite channels, carried Obama’s speech live.

Upon hearing of Obama’s words, President Sarkozy of France, a long time opponent of Turkey’s acceptance, said “I have always been opposed to this entry and I remain opposed.”

Sarkozy’s love-in with Obama was brief if it was even true to begin with.  In layman’s terms he basically told Obama to mind his own business and leave Europe to deal with the European Union.

One of the issues that those in Europe, opposing Turkey’s acceptance, have is that Turkey would become the largest and most populated country in the Union.  Their Union acts in much the same way our states do.  The more populated the state, the more representatives you can have in Congress.  This could mean that Turkey would have more influence over Europe because it would have more MEPs and more power over European decisions and policy-making.

Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, have deep reservations about Turkey’s acceptance.  Austria and France are completely and openly against it.

Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rejected attempts to call Turkey the representative of moderate Islam. “It is unacceptable for us to agree with such a definition. Turkey has never been a country to represent such a concept. Moreover, Islam cannot be classified as moderate or not,”Erdoğan said, speaking at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies last Thursday.

Olli Rehn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, called last week on Turkey to renew its focus on reforms to meet Union entry criteria for democracy and workers’ rights. “The pace of negotiations depends on the pace and intensity of the reforms in your country,” he said.

The Turkish press said yesterday that the country had secured concessions for dropping its objections to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, becoming the next Nato Secretary-General.

I have actually met and smoked a hookah with a Turkish Diplomat while visiting Turkey last year.  He is stationed in Brussels and is an advocate for acceptance into the European Union.  He disclosed to me that the sentiment around Europe has changed and many have given up on ever being let in and don’t really mind.  He does; however,  believe it can still happen.  The difference is that he is modern, but he understands that many in the country are not.  When Europe speaks about meeting the qualifications and requirements for entry it means, in a roundabout way, that they must reform their views of women and treat them as equals.  There is also a lot of historic turmoil and controversy in regard to Turkey – i.e., calling for the genocide of Armenians and the amusing, but also serious, conflict with Greece that has lasted centuries.  They also would like for Turkey to become more economically advanced before letting them in and possibly devaluing their currency.

Turkey had reservations about Mr. Rasmussen becoming the next Secretary-General due to the fact that Denmark allows a pro-Kurdish television channel to air in their country.  This bigoted behavior is one of the main reasons why Europeans are still wary about letting them in.

Do you remember the cartoon controversy in Denmark as well?  There was a cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad and it became this huge uproar in the Middle East, and Turkey, being the passage way between Europe and the Middle East, was also upset by this.  They did not like how Rasmussen handled himself during the cartoon controversy and how he never directly apologized for it.

Finally, after a face-to-face meeting between Mr Rasmussen and Turkish President Abdullah Gul and a significant push from Mr Obama, the Turks gave way.

But it looks as though they have won a significant package of inducements.

Sources close to the Turkish delegation say that Turkey will secure not just the post of Nato assistant secretary general but also that of the alliance’s new civilian envoy to Afghanistan.

The key role of the US president is interesting here.

He is eager to reach out to the Muslim world, and Turkey’s enhanced role in Nato is clearly intended as part of that effort.

As a leader, Obama needs to remember that he cannot be all things to all people and appease everyone.  If you look at personal experiences with appeasement or speaking out both sides of your mouth, you will probably recall a falling out with a good friend or a fight that lasted a long time.  The same holds true for leaders who do the same thing and change direction and principles like the wind.  This could cause a lot of mis-communication and bad relations between us and some of our oldest allies if he keeps this up.

To end this let me provide you with a little anecdote about Turkey:

I’m not sure how many have actually been to Turkey, and I’m no expert, but my best friend from college is living there and I went to the country last summer.  When I arrived in Istanbul, transferring to another plane to Antalya, I found myself surrounded by a diverse culture, ranging from the traditional Muslim garb (burkas) to young urbanites dressed in modern European/punk clothing.

I found myself on a shuttle from one terminal to the other to make my next flight.  The shuttle was over crowded and they jammed on as many people as they could.  I wound up needing to grab onto a pole just to keep my balance and when I looked down there was a cute boy (around 8 years old) standing next to me holding on to the same pole.  I looked in front of me and saw his family. They were traditional Muslims and the mother and daughter sat quietly wearing their burkas.  The father saw me standing next to his son and quickly pulled him away from the pole and held onto him. He gave me a look as if to say, ‘you are a woman and my son has more right to that pole than you do. I won’t have him standing near a woman holding the same tainted object.’

My bags never made it through Istanbul.  I had to borrow some clothing from a British woman with whom I became friends with during my stay.  My bags had been held at customs for nearly 2 days and I was wearing the same borrowed outfit for that time.  Let me tell you, Turkey near the Mediterranean in the August heat does not create a pleasantly scented atmosphere… I was definitely ripe at this point!

Luckily there was a caravan heading toward the airport and the owner of the hostel was going as well.  He spoke to me briefly and acknowledged my presence but most of the time he was on the phone with his friends and customs agents.  I was not privy to what they were discussing as it was spoken in Turkish only.

When I arrived at customs no-one would speak to me.  They spoke to the owner through me, but even then, he barely acknowledged my presence.  I was nearly crapping myself, because this reminded me of Midnight Express and I figured I was heading for a Turkish prison although not having done anything wrong.  I sat in the customs office for 6 hours.  The men were offered drinks like tea and booze while I was offered nothing and told to sit the in the corner.  I said nothing the entire 6 hours and couldn’t understand anything anyway.

Finally, I was released with my bags and surprised when I didn’t have to pay anything.  Nobody seemed to care all of the sudden.  Meanwhile, I found out I was held because I had vitamins, from the Vitamin Shoppe, in my bag (dumb? Maybe… but they aren’t illegal – especially when steroids are legal in Turkey).

I was fortunate to have a guy friend I was visiting in Turkey, we stayed together the entire time.  I was advised to steer clear of the Turkish men at night while people were consuming beverages – there were stories of rape that took place at this particular summer hostel.  I also went to a Turkish bath but only did so w/ my male friend.  Many of the females who have gone by themselves or with other females, have come back with frightful stories.  Two British women, who actually showed up at the same bath as my friend and I, left abruptly and incredibly upset after being touched inappropriately by one of the workers.

I was also told that many of the Turkish women who vacation in the area look for “western” men to hook-up with.  So many of them want to get out of the country and away from that objectified, male-dominated culture, they desperately search for love and a “western” boyfriend.  That’s why my friend was so popular with the ladies

I’ll put it to you this way.  I did have a lot of fun – but I would never want to live there.  Turkey may be a great place for men, but it’s certainly not for women.

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