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A critical view of Turkey's acceptance into EU

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  • #1

    A critical view of Turkey's acceptance into EU

    As an Armenian, I'm going to critically review the acceptance of Turkey into the European Union:

    Turkey has been wanting to join the European Union for several reasons, the most prevalent reason being the economy. If Turkey can be accepted into the fraternal bonds of Europe, they will able open to Europe's vast job market, which will greatly benefit Turkey, considering that some of that money will filter back to Turkey itself. But there's also a political basis to this acceptance: if a Turk can be a European, than Turkey can have a much larger say in world affairs, especially those in the Middle East considering it's proximity.

    However, there are several obstacles in Turkey's way which prevents this from ever happening. One of the prerequisits for Europe's acceptance into the European Union is to put a stop to the denial of the Armenian genocide. The Turkish government has been less than willing to cooperate. When Mein Kampff became a best-seller in Turkey, it became clear the Turkish population was also less than willing to cooperate. This is not to say all Turks oppose the genocide: Scholars such as Tamer Akcam actively pursue ending the denial.

    However, let's consider, hypothetically, that Turkey did join the European Union. How would this affect Armenia?

    Pros
    Turkey's acceptance into the EU would open borders for Armenia, allowing for increased trade and possible improving relations, even if slightly. The end of Turkey's denial would allow for a change in political attitude, and essentially help both nations. Increased human rights would allow for more open travel between Armenia and Turkey. Also, Armenia can ask for compensation for the genocide through lawsuits, insurance, and international law.

    Cons
    Turkey's increased power would allow them to pursue any agenda towards Armenia. Russia might decide that Turkey, as a European country, might be a better stepping stone into the Caucasus than Armenia, leaving Armenia (though not entirely, Russia has too many ties in Armenia to withdraw completely). Turkey might not live up to its ideals of human rights or open borders. If Armenia brings this case to the world, Turkey has the upper hand.

    Do the advantages of Turkey's acceptance outweight the problems?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Originally posted by Kharpert
    Pros
    Turkey's acceptance into the EU would open borders for Armenia, allowing for increased trade and possible improving relations, even if slightly. The end of Turkey's denial would allow for a change in political attitude, and essentially help both nations. Increased human rights would allow for more open travel between Armenia and Turkey. Also, Armenia can ask for compensation for the genocide through lawsuits, insurance, and international law.

    That's wishful thinking.

    Opening the border is not an option with Turkey's current government, member of the EU or not. According to Turkey, Armenia needs to drop the genocide recognition and give back Karabakh and Azeri territories to have the border opened. In another word, never.

    That said, I'm against them joining the EU.

    Comment

    • #3
      Opening Border to Armenia?

      I think you guys are pretty much confused.

      1) Armenians do not recognize Turkish sovereignity, and do not recognize the Turkish Armenian border.

      2) Armenian constitution claims land from Armenia, so called western Armenia

      3) Armenian constitution does not recognize Gumru Treaty, and they still think that Sevres Treaty(which was aborted by West some 80 years ago) is valid.

      4) Eventhough the Armenian state wants to recognize Turkish-Armenian border the diaspora presses(using their economic power upon Armenia) not to accept the border.

      I just am wondering if there exists any state in the world that will open their borders to another country even though that country denies your existence,your borders and sovereignity.

      I think the first step should come from Armenian state by recognizing the border first and then ask the border to be opened.

      And secondly Armenia is occupying %20 of Azerbeyjan, and the opening of the border is based on this occupation. Why not pull your occupying forces out first and then ask for something reasonable.

      And right now the so called ambargo or border closure is a weak one not a fully implemented embargo. The trade between Armenia and Turkey is 200 million dollars, and tens of thousands of Armenian citizens work in Turkey as guest workers. And the Turkish airspace is open to Armenian airliners. And all of these are not even acknowledged by Armenian state and they keep on asking more and denying Turkish positive attitude to bi-leteral relations.

      SO if the Armenian state keeps on ignoring all of the things above, and does not even acknowledge these to its citizens, so I think the embargo should be implemented fully, and Armenian state should be fully isolated until they come into terms of recognizing Turkish borders and stop the occupation of Karabag. I see no reason of having these positive attitudes, if this does not mean anything to the other side, so just leave them alone and let them initiate something first.

      Give me just a tiny reason why should Turkey to open its borders.
      And one more question, if you were Turkey would you open your borders?

      It is not the EU thing, this is bi-leteral relations, and right now Armenia does not even recognize the borders of the other side, this is not a bi-leteral relation, this is uni-leteral initia

      Originally posted by Tongue
      That's wishful thinking.

      Opening the border is not an option with Turkey's current government, member of the EU or not. According to Turkey, Armenia needs to drop the genocide recognition and give back Karabakh and Azeri territories to have the border opened. In another word, never.

      That said, I'm against them joining the EU.

      Comment

      • #4
        Border Issues

        As you can see the diaspora actually wants this isolation not the Armenian state, so that they can impose their policies upon citizens of Armenia.

        This border issue is not related with EU membership.
        But if we join to EU, which I really doubt, may be Armenia will have to recognize the Turkish sovereinity and the borders. And if we join to EU, the so called land raparations will mean that EU should give some of its land to Armenia, may be some Armenians are against the Turkish membership just because of this reason.

        So the question is, should we really care about Armenia? This is for their benefit to recognize Turkish borders. This is kind of deception that Armenia uses, they say Turkey closes the border just because of Azerbeyjan, this is true but partially true. They do not say that they dont recognize internationally reconized Turkish borders, one reason of the closure is just because of that. So we can say that the border is closed by the Armenian state not the Turkish state.


        Originally posted by Tongue
        That's wishful thinking.

        Opening the border is not an option with Turkey's current government, member of the EU or not. According to Turkey, Armenia needs to drop the genocide recognition and give back Karabakh and Azeri territories to have the border opened. In another word, never.

        That said, I'm against them joining the EU.

        Comment

        • #5
          Positive Border Relations

          I think if Armenia begins to recognize the existence of Turkish borders and denounces Sevres treaty, we can improve our relations.

          I think we can give daily permissions to Armenian citizens to visit historic places in Eastern Anatolia, like Mount Ararat (Agri Dag), Kars, Van etc.
          So the citizens of Armenia will have positive relations with the people in Turkey, and they will have more positive thinking of bileteral Turkish Armenian relations.

          This is important because as the citizens become more aware what's going on in outside world they will be more critical about State policies and Armenian diaspora leaders in USA and France. I think this border closure benefits the diaspora and their control over Armenia. By lifting the border closure we can directly communicate with Armenian people. Today avarage Armenian have the image of a Turk that is depicted by diaspora Armenian leaders or Karabag's occupier army commanders.


          Originally posted by Tongue
          That's wishful thinking.

          Opening the border is not an option with Turkey's current government, member of the EU or not. According to Turkey, Armenia needs to drop the genocide recognition and give back Karabakh and Azeri territories to have the border opened. In another word, never.

          That said, I'm against them joining the EU.

          Comment

          • #6
            Kocharian Conceals Occupation with So-Called Genocide

            ERHAN BASYURT
            06.07.2005 Tuesday - ISTANBUL 18:25

            Kocharian Conceals Occupation with So-Called Genocide

            I don't know why, opening the Armenian border gate has become a "blind love" in Turkey. Lastly, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has fell in this "blind love". While no conditions have been changed on the Armenian side, Ankara has carried on building diplomatic relations and opening the border gate to the issue.


            Armenian President Robert Kocharian; however, showed once again that they do not seek dialogue or a solution at the Summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw.


            Kocharian repeated to the top-level representatives of 46 European countries that "recognition of 1915 events as genocide is our main policy." While it was highly expected that Prime Minister Erdogan and Kocharian would come together at that summit, Kocharian's statements had a cold effect on the Turkish side.


            Kocharian has become Armenian President thanks to the effective "Karabagh Clan" when he was one of the Armenian rebel leaders carrying out an armed conflict in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabagh region. Kocharian's biggest supporter is the Dashnak Party, which has destroyed the democratic structure in the country. What brought Kocharian up to power is not the Armenian people's support but financial and political support provided by the Armenian Diaspora, who seek the dream of "Greater Armenia". If Kocharian gives up his so-called genocide allegations, he will lose the Armenian Diaspora's support that has been constructed on "Turcophobic Animosity". Under these circumstances, it would be naive to expect Kocharian to give up his so-called genocide allegations and to withdraw from 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.


            Certainly, this is not the only reason for Kocharian's insistence on a so-called genocide. If it is noticed, campaigns of so-called genocide have accelerated after 1990. The end of the Cold War has facilitated the international pressure over Turkey and this has played a crucial role in it. The main reason; however, is that the so-called genocide barking conceals Armenian's occupation and massacre in Azerbaijan. Adapting the role of the oppressed and the aggrieved, Armenians, who constantly carry the so-called genocide allegations on the agenda at European and US parliaments, conceal the Karabagh massacres and the occupation of Azerbaijan in this way. They describe the immigration of 413,000 Armenians from the Ottoman territories as "genocide"; however, show their exile of 800,000 Azerbaijanis from their homelands and committing ethnic cleansing, primarily in Hocali, as just.


            Kocharian's speech at the Council of Europe is very thought provoking from this point of view as well. The Council of Europe's Assembly of Parliamentarians has accepted Armenia as a country occupying Azerbaijani territory on January 25th 2005, that is to say four months ago. It also accepted a comprehensive report envisioning a peaceful withdrawal from it. Kocharian, who is the architect of the occupation that blocked four different resolutions by the United Nations (UN) and solutions projects by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE), now plays the role of the "oppressed" by carrying the so-called genocide allegations on agenda at the Council of Europe. He, therefore, keeps the international community and the Council of Europe from undertaking an active role in the solution of the problem.


            Turkey should speak with Kocharian in the language that he understands at this stage. That is to say, it should push Armenia into corner at international platforms and take initiatives to allow it to end the occupation and to establish peaceful relations with its neighbors. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) might easily carry the Karabagh problem to the agenda. Turkey should use all its opportunities in the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is naturally not possible that these policies can be successful only with Turkey's efforts. Turkey and Azerbaijan should set up a very close dialogue and co-operation mechanism at this stage. They should direct their lobby opportunities to the same point. Armenia should be put under international pressure by gaining the support of friendly countries as well.

            If these are achieved, not only the so-called genocide allegations will occupy the agenda as such, but also Armenia will seek ways to approach Turkey as a solution to get rid of international pressure. Turkey-Armenia relations will mostly benefit Armenia, so the "blind love" of opening the border gates and establishing bridges should be theirs.

            May 20, 2005



            05.20.2005

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            • #7
              http://www.armeniangenocide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544

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