Turkey and the EU

Submitted by Alex Currie (United Kingdom), Mar 17, 2004 at 08:13

As a British and German citizen do I have very strong reservations on the ever increasing likelihood of Turkey becoming a member of the European Union. Although I do have some worries over the political agenda of the AKP party, does my main fear lie in the fact that in time 70 million Muslims will have the freedom to roam Europe. So even if the AKP party's aims were nothing but honourable, would the way already be paved for an increased export of Islamic terrorism as well as a potential conversion of Western Europe to Islam due to the immense difference in population growth between the two cultures.

It is because of this fear that I am so displeased with US efforts to put pressure on the European Union in early 2003 to hold talks with Turkey to ensure a swift movement toward full membership. I regard myself a staunch supporter of the war on terrorism and am well aware that the US required Turkey as a base for the invasion of Iraq at the time, but at what cost? I should like to think that the British government would not pressure the US to help make Afghanistan the 51st state, only because this action was favourable in the short term.

However, am I most frustrated about the fact that the main supporter for Turkey's admisssion to the EU is the German government. I fear that this is fuelled mainly through the current socialist government's search for more votes from Germany's 4% Islamic community. Germany's leaders are ignoring the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Istanbul, saying that it would be improper to prevent negotiations because of this, the time that our European neighbours need us most (!?!). Furthermore have they stated that Turkey being an EU member could become a vital bridge of communication between the West and Islam. I ask, what if this could become a bridge for Islam into the West? Will this be a shot in the own foot? I hope not but only time will tell.

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