CANDAN AZER: Yes. Turkey in that sense has fundamentally changed its constitution. Therefore it has completely adjusted the constitution to the political criteria established at the EU summit in Copenhagen. We have revoked the death penalty, do not tolerate torture or approve of brutal treatment for prisoners or detainees. Turkey is ruled by a centrist government with a Muslim orientation. In the course of the past year, it was able to introduce many other groundbreaking reforms. Inflation, our plague for an entire decade, has been reduced spectacularly. Exports are growing constantly. In 2003 exports were worth $45 million. It could be said that the tension of 2001-2002 was a kind of shock therapy or reflection for the nation.

For 14 years, year after year, we spent $5 billion on the fight with terrorism perpetrated by the Kurds. These criminals destroyed everything: construction equipment, hospitals and schools and even murdered teachers. It was a painful burden, a hump for the thinning Turkish budget. Now it is gone.

Our eventual entrance into the EU will signify the culmination of our efforts and consistent aspirations to become a part of Europe. This path was outlined and initiated by Kemal Pasza Ataturk, father of the Turkish Republic and its first president until 1938 and his death. Today, however, our country belongs to all pan-European organizations. Turkey’s aspirations to EU membership are an element of its general political philosophy as well as the intention to build a prosperous economy. Please remember that every country which joins the EU has benefited economically. Greece, Portugal and Spain accomplished miracles thanks to their accession. There is no doubt that the Turkish government intends to improve its citizens’ standards of life.

I will answer with another question: does the EU want to be a global empire? If so, then there is no question that thanks to Turkey, the Union will gain unbelievable strategic depth. Acceptance of Ankara will be both a signal to the world and the Muslim community. Our goal is a Turkey with a liberal economy, one that serves the interests of the nation and respects human rights. What more is needed to become a precedent, a constructive counterproposal for other regimes?

My country is located at the crossroads of civilizations and trade and energy routes – the so-called energy corridors for gas and petroleum transport also converge in Turkey. Without false modesty, I say that Europe’s safety, in terms of energy, to a large extent depends on us. This is just as important as the defense of national borders.

What can I possibly add? Turkey from the time of Ataturk has been a secular republic, modeled on the French. Religious freedom rules in the country. I would like to remind you that even during the period of the Ottoman empire, its rulers never interfered in the religious affairs of individual communities. We enjoyed a great deal of tolerance. There was no anti-Semitism. Now the question arises: will the Union show similar tolerance of a Muslim country? Will the current member states be able to fully accept a Muslim population? In Germany, France and Spain there are 10 million Muslim residents. If Turkey is rejected based on its religious composition, it is possible that this could have a negative effect on the Muslims living in those countries.

OK. Isn’t Cyprus located farther south of Turkey and, despite this, isn’t it entering the EU? De Gaulle talked about Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. The Urals, meanwhile, are further east. In 1975 Turkey signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and in 1999, at the EU summit in Helsinki, our aspirations to membership in the EU were recognized. Nevertheless, neither mountains nor rivers define the borders of Europe. European identity is rather a question of philosophy, a way of life and being.

The island’s problem must be solved by its residents, both Turks and Greeks. In connection with this, how is it possible to overlook the fact that there is no Cypriot nation on Cyprus? All settlements must take that into account. Ankara is in favor of a reasonable settlement of the Cyprus problem because it is in our interest. I would like to emphasize that we do not lack determination. Nonetheless, Turkey is under systematic pressure. I believe, however, that greater efforts towards a compromise should be made by Greek Cypriots. If the EU and United States truly want to solve the difficult situation on Cyprus, they should put more pressure on the Greek side to compromise. After all compromise is an integral element of European tradition.