Custom essays on Will Turkish membership of E.U. enhance European security?

For the current steps, provided by the Turkish government, there was required a great deal of courage. Not everyone, among them could be mentioned the members of the governmental coalition, supported such kind of activity. One of the most significant Turkish political force the Nationalist Movement party headed by Devlet Bahçeli, who was the deputy of the prime minister of the country in 2002 announced that they would turn into the highest legal institutions of Turkey in order to annul the new legislation
The current prime minister of Turkey, Mustafa Bülent Ecevit, estimated the happened changed as the first step towards the joining European Union. He stated that none could say that Turkey is not worth of the being fully joined to the European Union as the country has already become more free, more democratic and even more European. According to the opinion of Mustafa Bülent Ecevit Turkish political sphere corresponds to all the necessary criteria set and demanded by European Union. Turkish and International mass media also positively undertaken the happened changes in politics of the country and provided a number of the articles devoted to the question of Turkish joining of the European Union. British Observer the Independent illustrates the events in Turkey: “The far right gains will transform Turkey’s political arena. Political Islam, which has dominated the agenda in recent years, was delivered a crushing defeat. The Islamist Virtue Party, seen as Mr Ecevit’s only challenger in the run-up to the polls, saw its share of the vote plummet as it limped in third place. “The period of using religion for political purposes is over, said Mr Ecevit. Mr Ecevit is expected to remain in power at the head of a government including the MHP. Ardent nationalism is de rigueur in mainstream Turkish politics, and Mr Ecevit is no exception. With the MHP’s backing, his policies are likely to be more chauvinist than ever” (Justin Huggler, 1999).
But it should be noted that the situation is not as glorious as it may seem from the first time. Turkey has to pass through the different political collisions as it was mentioned earlier the reforms were not accepted by some members of the governing elite of the country. One of the most significant political experience for Turkey were premature parliamentary elections, which reflected the will of the Turkish nation. The whole world was waiting for results, at such a delicate moment, when the country was in the decision making process, whether or not it join the European Union. It goes without saying that at such a significant period of the history of the country there was observed certain polarization of the forces, due the approach to this key for the future of Turkey problem. The same time two thirds of the Turkish nation, according to the different questionnaires, was hailing their country’s supposed participation in European Union, expecting from this event almost automatic solutions of all their internal problems; the financial and economical problems are also among them: the country was severely damaged by financial crisis, being is severe debt of the International Monetary Fund, which it owed nearly 15 billion of dollars.
The European Commission, from the side of the European Union, hailed the reforms held in Turkey, which were aimed on the democratization of the country. The representative of European Commission executives called the happened reforms to be quite a positive step ahead. It is explained by the ratification of such important for European Union questions as rejection from the capital punishment and recognition the rights of the Kurdish national minority.
The same time European representative mentioned about the necessity of Turkey to provide certain “explanations” at first due the order of realization of the already ratified reforms. The members of European Union desired to study thoroughly, in details the complex of all the decisions undertaken, they wanted to reveal which decrees would be taken before the reforms would be fulfilled. For example, television and radio broadcasting on the other languages than Turkish. According to the European executives, this information was very important for the investigation process the European Commission would be able to provide global estimation of the whole reformation process and provide certain recommendation for further fulfillment.
European Security and the Possible Role of Turkey in It. Pros and Cons.
At the decisive times the countries members of European Union are evaluating the mutual values that the both sides could provide for each other and it should be mentioned that the security question is one of the most discussed in the present day situation in Turkey: “Following the European Union’s decision to open membership negotiations with Turkey, the Turkish contribution to European security and defense has became increasingly important, thus requiring further analysis, both at national and European level. Turkey’s role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, especially on the south-eastern front and in the Mediterranean area, is, indeed, a very important aspect of the co-operation between Turkey and the European Union” (Giovanni Gasparini, 2007, p. 1). It should be noted that the collaborative practice within the security question is one of the most necessary to discuss and the countries members of European Union should understand the fact that Turkey would help to increase the security of the European Union and provide the same time effective strategies on the Middle East and Central Asia. One of the most noticeable position was announced by Miguel Angel Moratinos, representative of Spain and we could observe that the representatives of some countries members of European Union are welcoming Turkish joining due the certain strategic ideas, security are among them: “The Spanish EU presidency has strongly advocated Turkey’s entry into the union, but most Europeans would say No if asked in a referendum. “Turkey is part of the European family of nations. It’s better to have it inside the EU than to leave it standing before the door,” Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said in an interview with German paper Die Welt on Sunday. The minister, a former EU special envoy to the Middle East, endorsed Turkish accession on strategic grounds. “Turkish diplomacy is very well connected in the Middle East and Central Asia where it is taking on an important mediating role. Turkey is also an important partner in the dialogue of civilisations between East and West,” he said. “This is our challenge in dealing with the Islamic world: We must show that interfaces exist between Muslim societies and between universal values, which are represented by the EU, that co-existence and consensus are possible”. Spain has promised to try and open four more negotiating chapters in Turkish-EU accession talks during its six-month EU chairmanship” (Andrew Rettman, 2010). It goes without saying that additional strategic point within Turkey would add to the European Union as it would help to realize a number of programs dealing with the partnership with Middle East and Central Asian countries. It would be also very helpful to set up any negotiations with the Islamic countries, having a well experienced member within the Union. It would also help to avoid any conflict situations with these countries adding to the European security a lot: “Turkey, as an essential staging-point for European and NATO security in the last 55 years, has always had a key role in maintaining the geopolitical balance in the Mediterranean as well as in the Near and Middle East. Half a century ago it formed the frontier of NATO on its south-east edge, and it wisely exploited its position of neutrality in the Second World War to its own advantage. Its political reliability was guaranteed by Ataturk’s state system, lay and modelled on the example of European states, and by its strategic position between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, and the Mediterranean” (Giovanni Bertolone, 2007, p. 5). Understanding the role of Turkey as a strategic security partner we should remember that Turkey as mutual partner could add more to European security being a member of European Union than just a strategic partner.
The same time we should not forget about the fact that some Europeans are not ready to accept Turkey.

They could not see in this country the strategic security partner, but an invader, the representative of radical Islamic terrorist. BBC News perfectly described current prejudice of European citizens and how they are connected with Turkish nation: “No matter how “Westernised” the Turkish elite might feel, the argument goes, the Turkish masses are no more “European” than their counterparts in Morocco, Egypt or Pakistan. They see the failure of post-Ottoman Turkey to shake off its militaristic tendencies and deepen its democratic processes as a characteristic that is common to the Middle East and wider Islamic world” (David Bamford, 2002). The only thing Turkish government could oppose to such an attitude are quick democratization of the country, westernization of the Eastern country and becoming more secular than the other Islamic countries are. It should be noted that the attempts of the country on their way of democratization are valued a lot by the representatives of European Union. For example Italian government is being a strategic partner with the Turkish government for many years and they collaboratively participate in the different security programs. The same time the partnership of European Union in the collaborative security and defense programs with Turkey are sometimes interrupted, which provides the new talks over the question: “This process of drawing closer to Europe in defense is, however, undergoing worrying pauses following the institutional crises that afflicts Europe and which diminishes its external credibility in the ambit of foreign policy and defense. The Euroscepticism prevalent in certain European countries must not be permitted to distance Turkey from reaching its vital goal of full EU membership, an objective also important symbolically to make a clear point against the viewpoint that a “war of civilizations” exists between Turkey and the West. A process of convergence under the aegis of European Security and Defense Policy will be possible only if, in the decade that divides Turkey from entrance into the EU, we will be capable to associate it with existing institutions, like the European Defense Agency (EDA), and with the creation process of common forces, like the battle groups” (Lorenzo Forcieri, 2007, p. 11). It goes without saying that reliable partnership between European Union and Turkey would be possible only, when country would join the European Union. Nowadays it is very hard to speak about mutual positive effects within the alliance. The countries still do not share fully the possibilities of the development in the sphere of security.
There should be noted that largely on the developed prejudice impacted the terroristic acts of 9/11 against the United States. Turkey as the single Islamic member of the NATO could not avoid criticism and that activity of Islamic terrorists also raised a wave of suspicions. It goes without saying that the democratic development of the country proves its good intentions and Turkish Investigator Meltem Müftüler Baç (2007), examining the perspectives of the security and defense relations between EU and Turkey noted that: “The Strategy document for European security focused on the dangers of instability in the perimeters of the EU, especially in the Mediterranean and the Middle East region. Instability in the Mediterranean Region carries significant security threats for the EU, as it would have the capacity to diffuse into European territory. In addition, stability in these regions is essential to prevent unwanted migration from the Mediterranean to Europe. Similarly, terrorism in these areas constitutes a major threat for the EU. This is a very important development as it ties the EU’s future plans for its own security to the region where Turkey is located. In these areas, Turkey’s role will be highly important for the EU. It is in line with these institutional changes that the EU is adopting in order to enhance its role as an international actor that Turkey’s membership to the EU has become important. The next section addresses the possible impact that Turkey will have on these institutional developments with regards to the EU’s international role” (Meltem Müftüler Baç, 2007, p. 20). It goes without saying that the increased impact with Turkey assistance in the Middle East region would help European Union to enhance its role as an international participant and also provide successful preventive measures within the anti – terrorism campaigns. The understanding of the Islamic world and the reasoning of it make Turkey very efficient partner in the development of security and defense plans for European Union. It goes without saying that social and religious prejudice impacted a lot the relations between the European Union and Turkey, but uynderstanding the number of advantages that would be provided by Turkey as an equal partner of European Union in the field of security programs is obvious.
In the end I would like to return to the very beginning and evaluate the provided arguments. It goes without saying that the negative experience in the sphere of defense and security would not be a good solution for the European Union. The same time religious and social prejudice could not impact significantly the question of critical evaluation of the increasing security programs of EU, with Turkey as a member of the Union. It should be noted that Turkey Recommended as reliable partner in different NATO programs and the terroristic act of 9/11 is not the reason, to blame the Islamic country: “As a long-standing NATO member, Turkey has been a crucial part of Europe’s defenses. It has been a beacon of good sense in a combustible bit of the world. Turkey is, in response to the requirements of this change, transforming its military. Instead of a large, heavy, and cumbersome army, Turkey is transforming its armed forces into a swift, mobile, flexible cadre with rapid deployment capabilities available for out of area operations. Thus, Turkey’s military capabilities will increasingly adapt to the EU’s new strategic objectives and enhance the EU’s military operability” (Meltem Müftüler Baç, 2007, p. 23). It goes without saying that there could be mentioned a number of significant reasons, including modernization and westernization of the security and defense programs of Turkey. Its participation on the international level as the core player would add to the European security and defense policy a lot. The influence and role of Turkey in the Middle East and Central Asia would also let the European Union to increase its role in this area and provide the terrorist preventive strategies, assisting in avoidance of even possibility of their occurrence. It goes without saying that democratization of the Turkish society is playing quite a significant role in the development of the strategic partnership between the both sides. Now, it should be noted, Turkish society is differs a lot from less secular Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. It goes without saying that geopolitical situation in Turkey would also be a significant benefit to EU: “Javier Solana declared in 2003 that the integration of acceding states increases our security but also brings the EU closer to troubled areas. Our task is to promote a ring of well-governed countries to the East of the European Union and on the borders of the Mediterranean. Thus, Turkey’s accession to the EU would be a perfect instrument in achieving this goal as declared by Solana for the Mediterranean” (Meltem Müftüler Baç, 2007, p. 24). It goes without saying that the assimilation process would not be an easy task for Turkish society and European society also. But the benefits provided by Turkish joining of European Union in the sphere of defense are really significant and help EU to solve a number of already raised questions. Nowadays the relations between the both sides should be regulated according to the norms provided by EU.

 
References
1. Meltem Müftüler Baç. Turkey’s Accession to the EU: Its Potential Impact on Common European Security and Defense Policy. Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation: Istanbul, 2007
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