12th Conference of Balkan Political Club gathered in İstanbul

12th Conference of Balkan Political Club which was founded by H.E. Zhelyu Zelev - Former President of Bulgaria was held on October 9-10,2009 in İstanbul.

Turkey - EU Relations and barriers on the road of full Membership of Turkey were discussed as the core agenda items.

Presidents from various States including Former 9th President of the Turkish Republic H.E. Suleyman Demirel, presitigious parlimentarians and sociologists came together in İstanbul.

Challenging such as bottlenecks of the Custom Union, aspect of EU on Nation State, problematic issue of Cyprus and Future of Turkey – EU Relations etc. which Turkey has been facing during the full membership period, was the content of the conference.  

Dr. Akkan Suver – President of the Marmara Group Foundation delivered a keynote speech indicating the double standart of EU. Please find herewith the keynote speech of Dr. Suver.  

THE SPEECH OF DR.AKKAN SUVER RELATED TO THE FUTURE OF TURKEY  - EU RELATIONS IN BALKAN POLITICAL CLUB DATED OCT.10^TH,2009

I am here as 19^th and the last speaker of the Balkan Political Club.  

Our subject is the future of Turkey – European Union relations.

I must emphasize to your highest committee that we are proud of to be here after the performed activities in Belgium, France, Italy and Austria with our NGO identity within the scope of the campaign called “Yes to Europe” of the Marmara Group Foundation. I had been the founder and the partner of this campaign as the President of the Marmara Group Foundation.

Today, European Union is 52 years old and there is a deviation from the mentality of 52 years ago. EU has been trying to form its future with less compatible, less balanced and less fair approach than it did before.

However, Turkey has still sticked to EU criterias but EU tend to apply double standart to the Turkey’ s EU approach.

            In defiance of the EU acquis, EU tend to insist on the discrimination with the approach of privileged partnership.

            This unfair approach make Turkish Nation drift apart from the EU philosophy.

I would like to underline that;

To be considered European does not merely mean to belong to the geographic continent of Europe.. Rather, the European notion is a concept of civilization; a definition as a

system of values.

            It would be inaccurate to consider Europe as merely a continent, because this is just a geographical definition. In our opinion, any place or country which has a European life style, adopts European values, and has a European concept in intellectual belief can be considered as part of Europe.

Consequently, Europe is not only a geographical entity but also consists of its history, sociology and ethnicity with a unique life philosophy. Thus, a different map of Europe comprising of even oceans appears, when its values are represented and taken into account.

Moreover, the land which is a part of Turkey on the European Continent is quite larger than some countries, which are in the European geography.

            National plans of European countries can not be ignored in the European conception. But, to accept a minor country which has just appeared in the European scene after the Cold War and has its destiny dependent on the major developed countries, as a member state of the modern and civilized Europe; and, on the other hand, consider Turkey, which has always been independent and continued throughout its existence and history building states, to be outside the sphere of Europe, is totally unacceptable. Turkey’s rights to the European geography and history are just unquestionable.

            The above sighted premises and the philosophy which are organized to compose the European way of thinking, clearly show that there would be no doubt of the truth of Turkey’s

geographical and historical rights in Europe.

            Europe is a continent just for geographers; however the values that Europe represents go beyond its borders to include America and Africa. We regard the name of Europe as a system of values.

            We believe that a new world order could be established and launched by political, geographical and economic cooperation among Eurasian countries.

On the other hand, it would be inaccurate to view Europe as a land of common religions, languages, and nationalities. Within Europe there is an Islamic Civilization and a Greco-Latin Civilization. Europe shares many different cultures and religions, such as Turkish, German, Russian, Chinese and Mediterranean cultures, as well as Islamic and Christian religions.

            Civilization does not consist of bridges, dams, factories and houses. It is a synergy of economy, policy and conception.

In a wider aspect, the European culture is the result of a collective history. It depends on economic decisions to pass the national heritage of a country which includes its history, culture, language and conception, to future generations. The human factor is crucial to make these decisions, perpetuate the culture and sustain a modern economy. That is the main indication of preexistence of a modern European concept. There is no chance of having successful economic policies if they are not integrated with cultural values.

It would not be a realistic approach to oppose the globalization process or rather to keep Turkey outside of this process in the age of globalization in contemplation of Turkey’s current relations with European countries being sufficient. The important point is to be able to be included in this globalization process, without damaging national interests and cultural heritage.

On the other hand, there is hardly any country where all the dimensions of globalization are in force. Globalization still remains an ideal today. Nations have to work to come closer to this ideal day by day. It would be incorrect to believe that globalization is harmful or give it a tainted image as a result of its imperfections and failures in some countries mainly due to incorrect implementation methods. Keep in mind that even a perfect medicine may be useless if the patient does not know how to make good use of it.

It is impossible to resist the process of globalization whereby the whole world is under its influence. We have to establish a new global conception which will infuse the communities of today’s nation states with domestic values with a global dimension, allowing them to deal with problems locally, in a global manner. This is the priority requirement to be able to keep abreast of the level of modern civilization.

We have to create ways of excelling the high standards of modern civilization as a national objective and educate our people in light of either universal values and formations or

national and moral values without compromising national identities. Consequently, modernization and progressivism have to be handled as a struggle to enhance the development level of modern civilizations. We have to implement a national course of action using a global concept for our relations with European countries, the Eurasia and the Islamic countries, for

our responsibilities as a member of NATO, and for our relations as a partner of the USA. Then, we have to encourage our partners to consider this course of action in light of their criteria and value judgment. In this way, a strong relation based on common values would be shaped and, as a result of this type of cooperation, a wide-ranging partnership would be established.

Why do we need this synergy between European countries?

Because globalization directs us to focus on common values.

Without globalization we will be forced to face alienation, resulting in isolation, not only economically, but also spiritually. The globalization process brings young generations towards older ones, as well as rural dwellers towards urban residents.

This process also strengthens the ties between the educated and the less literate members of the society.

It prevents the rich from exploiting and taking improper advantage of the poor.

It disallows the strong ones from crushing the aggrieved members of the society creating social unrest.

It does not let cultural values come up against faith. It stops the act of hostility between different political parties.

Could globalization be able to create an ideal philosophy despite all its achievements?

Certainly not!

 There are still not enough playgrounds for children, as well as manicured sidewalks for the daily life of the people.

Shamelessness of beggars, ruthlessness of the rich, inequality among people, disobedient behavior of young generations and irregularities in lives will continue.

But despite all of these facts, I believe that we need to establish a “European Synergy” in today’s global world. Thus, we could strengthen our economic structures, and come out technically and socially stronger through this synergy.

We can only achieve a higher level of modern civilization by campaigning together with our high national moral standards and temporal force under the supervision of a “morally

incorruptible democratic government”. This type of moral government brings out the national soul which would perpetually mature, and never get corrupted. Economic structures coming to form under such national identity in a global world will be the most important vehicles for reaching the high standards of today’s modern civilizations. 

This is to say that some great changes in our social and moral life, as well as economic structures, will take place as a result of the changes brought by globalization.

This is inevitable; and, this is the true spirit of the European Synergy.

We will faithfully, carefully keep working by inspiring from this togetherness until Turkey get involved in EU. We departed this road for the bright future of Turkey, not just for EU.

I would like to emphasize another point that;

Today in the West, there are no experienced and  well-informed politicians like the statesmen of  yesterday.

            Sagacious and visionary statesmen, such as Churchill, De Gaulle, Paul-Henri Spaak, Raymond Barre, Konrad Adenauer, Eisenhower, Atatürk, Venizelos, İnönü and Demirel, are today replaced by politicians, such as Sarkozy, Berlusconi and Merkel.

            At this point, I would like to mention Atatürk in the light of the importance of the western values.

            There has always been a great international respect for Atatürk in the past as well as in the present. It is because he attributed the upmost importance to peace and because he was

a real statesman and a true visionary.

            He extended his hand to France after he signed the Treaty of Lausanne. He proved his self-confidence by adopting the French education system and legal procedure system in Turkey despite the past enmities between France and Turkey. 

            Although Italy was our enemy during the Turkish war of independence, we adopted our penal code from Italy. Our civil law system originated from Switzerland; our commercial laws were adopted from Germany.

            In addition, Atatürk cemented good relations with Greece and established the Balkan Pact of friendship between Turkey and the Balkan countries.

             He became friends with King Edward of the United Kingdom, the King of a country which lost many of its ships in the Çanakkale in Turkey. King Edward visited Atatürk in Istanbul.

            These are great examples of statesmanship.

            Leaders of countries do not take on responsibilities of this kind of statesmanship. Instead of dealing with today’s global problems, today’s leaders go in circles dealing with daily problems.

            It is important to note that we should have a sense of responsibility toward history.  Regarding to the EU and Turkey, people who deal with daily problems exclude Turkey from the EU with non-reasonable explanations.

            These people are not aware of the fact that the European philosophy is the western concept of Turkey. It is the Turkish concept of modernism and living in peace and prosperity. It is a joint cultural approach of different societies to reach the highest level of today’s modern world.

            While history is important, it deals with the past and should be left to historians.  We have to focus on today and beyond. With the responsibility of the next generations, we want to live in prosperity and freedom and be confident for a bright future just as western societies do. We want to leave a peaceful and proper geography for the next generations.

            All our works and efforts are for our future.

            Intellectuals and politicians in western societies who can understand these opinions are almost nonexistent.

             We experience some difficulties because of the lack and desire of statesmen.

            Despite current negative vicissitudes, I hope that the leaders of the EU will realize that the western norms and values are not only entitled to the countries in the European  geography. In the light of this hope, all countries of the region have to influentially work to secure the European Partnership.

            We believe that the European Union will not stand only for peace, but will stand for cooperation in energy sector, economic development and sharing of prosperity and wealth.

            I overemphasize that Turkey without Europe and Europe without Turkey can not be imagined. I salute your esteemed committee with profound respect.