EU-Turkish membership : interethnic problems in Turkey and the impact of its EU membership

Abstract

Currently, Turkish - EU relations are very problematic. Relations date from 1959 with the application of Turkey for an European Economic Community association agreement. In 1987, after a series of agreements, the Republic applied for full membership to the Community. However, when and whether Turkey will be part of the European Union is a matter of debate. Based on the principles of democracy, the Union is trying to contribute to a solution of Turkey's major problems, impacting on democratic government, which is a prerequisite for full membership. Therefore, Turkey's current situation requires some changes in its political establishment where there are several democratic shortenings. One of these problematic areas is the current position of minorities within Turkey. Turkey has to accomplish the Copenhagen criteria, according to which the importance of human rights and the notion of minorities are stressed. The Kurds in Turkey, who are not considered as an ethnic minority according to the Turkish Constitution, are an important EU concern. They are prohibited to speak or learn their native language because the Constitution says that all Muslims are brothers and should not be distinguished one from the other. Therefore, the Kurds are considered as Turkish. Their wish for cultural autonomy, however, eventually resulted in the creation of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which brought huge internal conflict to Turkey with a growing campaign, thus fight for human rights. A similar situation is that of the Armenians who although considered as an ethnic minority, also suffer from violations of their human rights and face difficulties in exercising the special rights given to them by the Turkish Republic. This is not a new issue, but a problem that has existed nearly a century, from around the time of the WWI, when it is believed that 1.5 million Armenians died as a result of a genocide initiated by the Turkish government. Another EU concern in the context of interethnic problems in Turkey is the Cyprus question. Since Turkey invaded large part of the island in 1974, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots are living in two separate states and communication between them is very limited. Turkey has certain powers over the Turkish Cypriots and can contribute to a solution of the problem. The issue of Cyprus must be solved in order that negotiations between Turkey and the EU are resumed. The current situation of minorities in Turkey is a clear example of the democratic shortenings existing in the country. In order to gain full membership of the Union, Turkey has to improve its democratic construct in order to create space for the minorities in line with the demands of the Copenhagen criteria. This will lead the country to a step closer to the EU doors.