01.09.2004

Istanbul Blasts Trigger EU Membership Debate

Germany responded to the second set of bombings in Istanbul with harsh words of condemnation. But the attacks have also ignited a fresh round of debate on Turkey's bid to join the EU. By Deutsche Welle staff

Quick to condemn the bombings in Istanbul, German leaders across the political spectrum expressed their dismay and indignation that the Turkish city on Europe’s edge was again attacked by Islamic terrorists.

German foreign policy experts regarded the blasts in downtown Istanbul in front of the British consulate and the HSBC bank as yet another attempt by fundamentalists to sever ties between the Western and Muslim worlds.

Gert Weisskirchen, foreign policy spokesman for the Social Democrats, said that the brutal attacks require a strong reaction from the civilized world. "The terrorists are aiming to drive a wedge between the West and Muslim countries," he maintained, and added that the choice of Turkey, a "key country" between Europe and the Islamic world, was deliberate for the series of attacks.

"The terrorists want to cut off the relationship between Islam and the Christian world," Weisskirchen said and targeted Turkey because they want to send out a signal of fear to the Muslims not to align themselves too closely with the West.

Bolstering Turkey’s bid for the EU

It is precisely for this reason that many German politicians are arguing that it is more important than ever to support Turkey's democratization process and to aid it in its bid to join the European Union as soon as possible.

Social Democrat interior minister Otto Schily told German public television ZDF on Thursday that Germany needs to encourage dialogue between the EU and Turkey with a view to giving Turkey a "clear perspective" as to when and under which conditions it may join the European bloc in the future.

"Our reaction to what has happened in Istanbul can only be closer cooperation with Turkey," the minister said.

Turkey imports threat to Europe

But the conservative opposition has jumped to a different conclusion in face of this week’s attacks. Christian Democrat Union deputy parliamentary leader Wolfgang Bosbach addressed the fears of many in his party when he said that Turkish membership in the EU would place other member countries in greater danger than they already are.

"A quick EU accession for Turkey would import the terror problem to Europe," Bosbach said. The CDU member added that a Muslim-dominated country does not belong in a bloc supposedly based on Christian values, an argument many in the conservative party endorse.

Ingo Friedrich, a senior member of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, has also criticized attempts to extend the EU beyond the Bosporus. "It wouldn't work," he said, "because the European Union would be overstretched endangering the entire project of achieving peace and stability in Europe."

Friedrich, who is also a deputy speaker of the European parliament, added that a speedy inclusion "could even intensify terrorism in Turkey because Islamic extremists would feel that a key Muslim country is forcibly alienated from the Islamic world."

Other politicians, such as Werner Hoyer, foreign affairs spokesman for the neo-liberal Free Democrats, are convinced including Turkey in the EU could provide a concrete example of mutually beneficial cooperation between the Western and Muslim worlds and could help put an end to the talk about a clash of civilizations.

"What we have to do is to make sure that Turkey remains on the Western track. It would be a real strengthening of Europe if Turkey stays in the Western boat and that it becomes a member of the European Union," Hoyer said.

Deutsche Welle staff