"Turkey's impending disorientation
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Turkey has become disoriented. Since Oct. 3, 2005 so much has happened that it is almost out of place to discuss Turkey’s progress with the European Union. Already, the background prior to Oct. 3 was poisoned by the mutual recriminations after Dec. 17, 2004. European stress on the Armenian issue, the reactivation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party violence in Turkey and the stress accompanying by the Pamuk case were more than adequate to strain the atmosphere. Ankara is not discussing the EU, the negotiation process or anything close to these issues. Ankara is bogged down by its own domestic political calculations -- after all, elections will take place at the latest next year. Ankara has difficulty in coming to grips with the Kurdish issue and is seeking a way out. Ankara is also pretty busy with its petty bureaucratic games. These are not days to discuss the country’s strategic direction or the ongoing process with Brussels. Such issues have become luxury items on the agenda. "
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