"Turkey Is European, If It Adopts Democracy"

In an interview with the Italian newspaper "La Repubblica", world-renowned Turkish author and novelist, Yasar Kemal, discusses his nation's desire for accession into the European Union. According to Kemal, Turkey must improve on its democratic standards.

Are European objections to Turkey joining the EU justified?

Yasar Kemal: Europe is correct. Turkey is not quite ready to join the EU. There are still too many inadequacies in the areas of human rights and civil liberties. But Turkey is on the right track. Many steps have already been taken in the direction of forming a genuine democracy, and not just a pseudo-democracy, like it is today. Turkey has been striving to become a part of Europe for two hundred years and it will happen soon.

Why doesn't Europe want Turkey to join?

Kemal: Is that what people are really saying? I don't believe it has anything to do with ill wishes.

Ankara says that it is not going to let itself be toyed with by the European countries…

Kemal: However, it's only Recep Tayyip Erdogan and/or the Yasar Kemal was born in a small, southern Anatolian village in 1923. He first gained public recognition with the short stories he wrote for "Cumhuriyet", an Istanbul daily. With the 1955 publication of his novel Ince Memed - Memed My Hawk, virtually overnight Yasar Kemal became the most-read author in Turkey. His works have been successfully published in more than 30 languages. In 1997, he was awarded the German Book Trade Association' Peace Prize. religious groups that feel that way. I, on the other hand, think of the EU as a force of peace. I know the founders of the European Economic Community and know all too well that peace is one of their goals. The European Community evolved out of two world wars and a crippling cold war.

So, why does Turkey want to be a part of Europe?

Kemal: For the past two hundred years, since the time of Sultan Mahmud II, we have been trying to join Europe. It was the brainchild of the Ottoman Empire. However, many things have hindered it: internal conflicts, illiteracy, and the revolution of the Ataturks. Turkey is a confused nation that has yet to reach its goal.

Some hold the opinion that Turkey cannot join the EU because it is an Islamic country with major cultural differences. What do you say to that?

Kemal: In that sense, the Italian, French or Spanish cultures are also not European. Each country has its own individuality. Yet each culture compliments the other. The world is like a garden with a thousand-and-one flowers. Pick just one flower and humanity is robbed of this flower.

So Europe is no longer a club where only Christians are members?

Kemal: I have never believed that. Already some 15 million Muslims live in Europe. They are joined by Jews and Buddhists. And when the first ten new countries join there will be even more non-Christians in the EU. However, accession will be difficult. If you apply to join a private club, you won't be admitted. Take journalists associations - you will not be allowed to join if you are not an accredited journalist.

Obviously. So, Turkey is European?

Kemal: Turkey is European if it adopts the democratic principles laid down by Europe.

And, in your opinion, has that happened?

Kemal: The Turkish people are very democratically attuned, but they have never experienced true democracy. In a country in which sixty million people live, twenty million of whom are Kurds, how can it be that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to give instruction in the Kurdish language, especially considering that this country was founded by both Turks and Kurds? New reforms have made courses in Kurdish possible. However, the situation in the schools is something altogether different.

So, doubts previously expressed by Europe are justified?

Kemal: Viewed from the standpoint of strict democratic principles, yes! To the point where we have a set date for accession, we must continue to improve on our democracy.

How European does Turkey feel, while still not being a part of the European Union?

Kemal: We must ask ourselves how European culture evolved out of the Mediterranean region. My answer is that Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia are located in the Mediterranean region. The world is a long chain of emigrations, and all civilizations of that period now form a synthesis in this region.

And what about the Turks?

Kemal: The Turkish and Anatolian cultures have contributed greatly to European cultures: in literature, the arts, philosophy an so on. Think of Homer, Thales of Milet, of the Seven Manners. How many great poets, like Nazim Hikmet, could we have had if in the past hundred years our culture had not been suppressed. Anatolia is a piece of land that has seen many wars, but if it had never existed Homer's Ilias would have never materialized.

Interview: Marco Ansaldo

This interview was conducted for the Italian daily "La Repubblica".

Translation from German: Mark Rossman