TURKEY and the EU

WAISers are sharply divided over the possible entry of Turkey in the EU. The Foreign Policy Research Institute has distributed "The Turkish Problem--and Hope" by Michel Radu. Here is part of what he says: "Ever since Ataturk imported persecuted German Jewish professors to establish Turkey's first public universities, banned Islamic garb, and proclaimed that the West was the model to be followed, Turkey has pursued a clear course of moving closer to the West. Some 3 million Turkish citizens now live in Western Europe, concentrated in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A NATO member since 1953, Turkey provided excellent fighters in Korea, and today has the second largest army in the alliance (after the United States), one that has proven itself in successful combat experience since 1984 against the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). Sharing borders with Iran, Iraq, Syria, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, it may be situated in the least desirable neighborhood in the world. It has therefore been in its interests to train armies and establish military academies in the Turkic-speaking former Soviet republics in Central Asia, from Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, all the way to the Chinese borders. The Turkish/NATO air base in Incirlik is a key to any operation in Iraq, and is still used by US and UK forces in enforcing air control over northern Iraq".

RH: This all sounds fine, bit it has implications for the EU. Turkey would have he largest army in the EU, and soon would have the largest population. It aims to be the leader of Turkic people all the way to theChinese border. Turkey might become the fulcrum of a system stretching all the way from Ireland to China. Turkish would be the most common first language in this new system.

Ronald Hilton - 12/13/02