Turkish Media Reaction Mixed on EU

With a European Union deal finally in hand, Turkish officials are riding high, but the media's reaction is decidedly mixed. Some are championing opposition criticism that Brussels' terms are unacceptable, while others have heralded the agreement as a sign that Turkey's future is "bright."

"We have a different Turkey now than two days ago," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told a crowd of several thousand in Ankara on December 19. "Turkey will become different in every way. From now on, democracy will have a different meaning and human rights and freedoms will be practiced in a more meaningful manner. The economy will perform better."

For now, though, Turkey's press appears divided on whether or not to buy that upbeat message. With headlines proclaiming "European Revolution" and "New Europe, New Turkey," many papers the day after European Union leaders' December 17 decision to start membership talks with Ankara opted for the optimistic route. Far-right or far-left wing newspapers, however, took a different approach, focusing on the EU's stipulation that Turkey recognize Cyprus as an EU member before its own membership negotiations could begin, with headlines that proclaimed "Dishonored" and "We Gave In."

Under the draft agreement with Brussels, Turkey must sign a customs accord with all EU member-states, including Cyprus, by the start of membership talks in October 2005. Turkish workers may also be prevented from freely entering the labor markets of EU member-states. At the same time, Ankara must continue with political and economic reforms or risk seeing the talks end. Brussels has said, however, that such an outcome would not spell an end to Turkey's association with the bloc. No definitive deadline has been set for the negotiations' conclusion.

Most of the press, however, emphasized what had been accomplished: the start of accession talks after 41 years of negotiations. For some, merely securing a definitive month for the start of membership talks was sufficient. These commentators argued that obstacles on the path to membership – such as ongoing opposition from Austria and France – may still be overcome.

"Can we say now that we have a path in front of us without any thorns? No," wrote columnist Ferai Tinc of the daily Hurriyet on December 18. "But at least there is a place to walk." Sami Kohen of the centrist daily Milliyet agreed, saying that although the agreement did not satisfy all of Turkey's demands, it "satisfies Turkey's wishes and expectations as much as is possible."

Other papers, however, also criticized EU leaders for not honoring earlier promises that no conditions would be imposed on Turkey in addition to the so-called Copenhagen criteria of human rights, minority rights and political reforms, and for not starting accession talks "without delay" once Turkey had met those criteria. Fears were also expressed that membership talks will prove open-ended – the process is expected to take roughly 10 years – and ultimately result in a two-tiered membership system that places Turkey at a disadvantage compared with other EU member-states. "2015 (maybe) for Turkey, 2005 for Bulgaria and Romania," read the headline of a December 20 opinion piece by Milliyet commentator Gungor Uras.

Some columnists, however, were more concerned with what the deal meant for Turkey as a part of Eurasia. One former government minister, Hasan Celal Guzel, praised the agreement for facilitating Turkish ties with the Caucasus and Central Asia, regions with which military assistance and business investment have increased in recent years. "New Turkey's full membership in the EU will not cut off its ties outside Europe," Guzel wrote on December 19 in the daily Tercuman. "Turkey's value in Central Asia, the Middle East and the Caucasus will increase."

Others predicted that the strain of continued reforms and concessions on Cyprus could ultimately lead to "a process of erosion" for Erdogan's government. "The history of the EU shows that no [ruling] political party that started talks with the EU lived long enough to see it through to the end," wrote Milliyet commentator, Can Dundar, on December 19.

Yet some more conservative publications appear to welcome signature of the deal with Brussels just as a task accomplished. "By getting a start date from the EU, Turkey has passed a vital milestone," Tamer Korkmaz of the daily Zaman wrote. "In addition to that, the conditions that the EU included in the agreement will lead to heavyweight wrestling, and some very difficult years."

That prospect explains the mixed feelings among many Turks about the deal, wrote Aksam commentator Sakir Suter on December 18. "This