A nod as Barroso exits

Opposition parties convey their demands and concerns on secularism, party closures and cultural rights, as well as their doubts concerning the European Union’s relations with Turkey during EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s visit to Parliament. Barroso tries to ensure that his opinions do not carry any intention of interference in Turkish politics, but also says that Europe cares for the preservation of some values

ANKARA - TDN Parliament Bureau

European Union Commission President José Manuel Barroso received his share of subtle messages from every opposition party leader he met Thursday evening.

Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), emphasized secularism and the closure case, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) warned Barroso not to interfere with the judiciary. Pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) leader, Ahmet Türk, insisted that “cultural and political rights should be granted,” and claimed that the [outlawed] Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was a result, rather than a reason, of Turkey’s Kurdish problem.

Barroso started his tour with Baykal in his office at Parliament. Baykal opted for an implicit way of referring to the closure case by underlining secularism. “Without secularism, there will be no democracy. Some newspaper articles that appear in Europe claim that Turkey can sacrifice secularism for the sake of democracy. That is impossible. Europe did not pass through this experience. Our problem with secularism is not the same as yours,” said Baykal.

Turkey’s Chief Public Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya filed a closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on March 14, arguing that the party’s officials follow an agenda to turn Turkey into an Islamic state. The CHP frequently accuses the AKP of nurturing similar motives, and has already brought government-sponsored constitutional changes to allow the wearing of the headscarf at universities before the Constitutional Court for annulment.

World public opinion should understand and respect the fact that Turkey struggles to confront difficulties to guarantee democracy, secularism and the rule of law while working on its own realities, Baykal noted.

Barroso responded by stressing that the EU insists on three major points, namely democracy, constitutionality and secularism, and stressed that three must go together.

Bahçeli intervenes against intervention

Barroso’s second stop in Parliament was Bahçeli’s office, where the closure case was openly discussed. Barroso asked Bahçeli’s opinion on the case. “Our Constitution includes articles on party closures. The chief public prosecutor filed the closure case according to these articles. The process continues and we cannot accept any intervention from within or from the outside. Everyone should avoid such an act,” Bahçeli warned. Barroso argued that his speech contained general opinions and asked the MHP president not to perceive these opinions as interference with the judicial process. Bahçeli told Barroso that the Turkish people were disappointed at “the EU’s double standards and impositions.” “I hope that the feelings of disappointment will end with your visit,” Bahçeli said.

DTP’s presence in Parliament is fortunate

Barroso met with the DTP’s Ahmet Türk as his last visit, which took 45 minutes and was the longest of all. “We are asked to condemn the PKK. The PKK is a result of the Kurdish problem. We think that it should be understood as such. Kurds must be granted cultural and political rights. We can then put forward our reaction and say ‘there is no logical basis to this armed struggle,’” Türk said and claimed that his party was always opposed to violence. “If they continue with armed acts despite the granting of rights, we will admit that their acts are terrorism. If the Kurdish problem is to be solved, if there is sincerity on the issue, we must be accepted as interlocutors,” Türk said.

Another closure case against the DTP is still in progress, based on claims that the party provides logistical and ideological support to the terrorist PKK. The DTP refuses, to the contempt of other political parties, to label the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Borroso stated in his answer that the DTP’s presence in Parliament was fortunate. “The EU cares for the DTP’s presence in Parliament the most. We want the DTP to support Turkey’s EU accession bid. We think that this process will help in the expansion of cultural and political rights,” Barroso said.