Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la .Prensa-BasIn Özeti
Turkeyunder. world'
Germany's Klaus.
Kinkelleaves EU
question hanging
SEMÎH D.IDiz
Ankara- Turkish Daily News
., German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel
ended his controversial visit to Turkey on
Thursday by tryin~ to assure Turks that their
country's place is 10 Europe, and that Ankara
is on the "main track" in terms of its bid for
European Union membership. '
But it was noteworthy that
what he gave with his
right hand was all too
readily taken back
with the left, an
approach that appears
to have become a
"characteristic" of
Bonn' s position vis-a-'
vis Turkey.
"Turkey will not be
able to become a member of the
European Union in the near tenn ...because of
human rights, the Kurdish question, relations
with Greece and certain economic matters,"
he told a press conference on Wednesday
after talks with Tansu Çiller. '
German officials are quiek to point out that
there is no "malice" in these remarks which
after all represent a mere "statement of fact."
The Turkish side appears in actual fact to
be indeed satisfied With what Kinkel said
during his talks in Ankara, and especially his
, message that Chancellor Kohl has no intention
ofblockin~ Turkey's E~ patJ:1. .
Senior offiCIais say the diSCUSSionsWith
Kinkel were "useful' and "contributed to better
mutual understanding." But Turkish offi- '
cials still note the absence orthe same tone on
the German side when these reassurances are
made in public. 'The public German tone does
seem wanting when contrasted with the tone
of other EU countries which are more forward
in terms of their words of reassurance for
Turkey," according to one Turkis~ official.
He concedes that there are specific reasons
for this that have to do with the "domestic situ-,
ation in Germany." On the German side, the '
bottom line appears to be that "friends must
talk franldy" as Germany is doing, and refrain
from "vacuous heroies" as other EU members
are doing with their openly supportive remarks
on Turkey.
.spotlight
It is also noteworthy that while "not exactly
happy" with France and Great Britain on this
score, the real anger in Bonn is directed at.
Athens which has come out unexpectedly 10
.support of Ankara in the reçent debate on
whether Turkey has a place in E~rope or not
While acknowledging that "friends must '
indeed be frank~' the Turkish side is, neverthe~ :
less, of the opinion that frankness "must not be
debilitating but must be useful."
Although Turkish officials understand .that
Kinkel is "stating facts," as German offiCiaI
argue, when he says EU membership for
Ankara. is far off, they are nevertheless unhappy
about the fallout from these remarks.
They point, as an example, at.a N~w y