Confident Turkey

At the moment, Turkey is by no means a "sick man on the Bosporus". This irreverent term from the dying days of the Ottoman Empire no longer applies to Turkey, and hasn't for a long time. Today, the economically vibrant nation is on the periphery of Europe only from a geographical point of view. Geopolitically, it has become a focus of international attention.

Europe - and above all Germany - is well aware of the fact that they can far better safeguard their economic and security policy interests by working with, rather than without Turkey. Arab nations are currently debating whether Turkey could serve as a model of a possible co-existence of Islam and democracy, based on a secular basic order.

Joining the EU remains Turkey's 'strategic goal' - Turkish President Abdullah Gul made that clear during his visit to Germany. At the same time, Gul demanded the EU take a clear stance instead of resorting again and again to the long worn-out phrase of a "privileged partnership". German President Christian Wulff spoke of "non-outcome-oriented" entry talks but in contrast to Chancellor Angela Merkel, he underlined Turkey's accession to the EU as a definite negotiating goal. Thus, Wulff has obliged the Turkish request.

The German president belongs to a minority in Europe that regards Islam as a part of Germany and thus Europe. This is a step in the right direction as far as realistic European ties with Turkey and relations with Turks as neighbors are concerned. A disappointed Turkey turning its back on Europe can't be in the best interests of an economically ailing EU that is overburdened by organizational matters.

Before his Germany visit, Gul could not very well afford to call Germany's immigration laws as being contradictory to human rights. Whether Turkey should take the liberty to go out on a limb over human rights in the first place is another story. The fact that Turkey has the highest number of jailed journalists worldwide is unequivocal. And the fact that one out of six serving generals is behind bars for allegedly plotting coups also doesn't bode well for Turkey's accession to the EU in the near future.

Dialogue with Turkey calls for tact, which is something few German politicians have. Wulff does, however! When talking about Turkey and Turks in Germany, he steers clear of empty but politically correct phrases. But Turkey, too, must urgently rethink its approach. As important as the highly confident country may be economically and concerning security policies - without Germany its range within Europe would be limited. And Turkey needs some leeway, so that it will not once again be at the mercy of major powers like the Ottoman Empire once was before fading from the global stage as the "sick man on the Bosporus."

Author: Bahaeddin Güngör / db
Editor: Rob Turner