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The report of the European Commission on the state of implementation of reforms in Turkey will be published on 6 October. It will contain a recommendation on whether it is appropriate or not to open negotiations with the country for membership of the EU. Ankara will have to meet the democratic criteria laid own by the Union (rule of law, respect for human rights and of minorities, separation between political and military power…). Turkey’s application for EU entry dates back to April 1987. However, the first statements of the new President of the Commission, Barroso, to the effect that “in spite of the efforts it has made, Turkey is not yet ready”, would seem to dampen the optimism of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In recent weeks, in an interview published in “Le Figaro Magazine”, Cardinal Ratzinger had declared that “Turkey could try to form a cultural continent with neighbouring Arab countries”, an idea “that is not opposed to forms of association and close and friendly collaboration with Europe”, with the aim of giving rise to “a joint effort against all forms of fundamentalism”. The final decision on the opening of negotiations with Ankara will be left to the summit of European heads of state and of government on 17 December. SirEurope has asked the spokesman of the Turkish bishops, Monsignor Georges Marovitch, for his view. Are you favourable to Turkey’s membership of the EU? “All the non-Moslem communities are favourable to the country’s entry into the EU. They openly support the great efforts being made by the government to achieve the standards of democracy laid down by the EU, without drawing any distinctions between citizens”. What could be the advantages for the EU and what those for Turkey? Present-day Turkey is the heir of the great Ottoman Empire that had its civilization and that still preserves spiritual and moral values that the world has lost as a result of its gradual abandonment of the teachings of the Church. From an economic point of view, Turkey’s entry into Europe will undoubtedly cause a growth in material prosperity. Europe, as I have said, could receive spiritual enrichment from it. Turkey is a bridge between West and East and could also facilitate relations between Islam and Christianity. We ought not to forget that the ways of peace in Europe and in the world depend especially on sincere dialogue and collaboration between the religions that derive their inspiration from the faith of Abraham, from respect for the commandments and for human rights”. Nonetheless, on this latter point there are also problems, as also on the role of the army, on the Kurds and the question of secularism. Could not these difficulties obstruct or retard the opening of membership negotiations? They are still problems that remain open. But laws have been issued by the Turkish Parliament to try to resolve them. Only time is needed”. Another problem that stands in the way would seem to be linked to religious freedom. Is this a situation that is destined to improve with EU entry? “We don’t have problems concerning freedom of worship. But since the juridical personality of our various Churches is not recognized, we have encountered problems with our real estate. At times we lose these properties that represent a source of revenue for the upkeep of our churches and for our charitable institutions. Our real estate has often been confiscated by the Treasury or by the Vakifs (a State religious foundation). So we await the government’s reforms as a condition for EU entry”. The fact cannot be disguised that some leading ecclesiastics have also raised doubts about Turkish membership of the EU… “Everyone is free to have his own opinions. But I would like to recall that John XXIII knew Turkey well, having lived there for ten years. In his “Journal of the Soul” he wrote that he loved Turkey and that the Turks have their place in human civilization. Even then he had foreseen Turkey’s entry into the European continent”.
