Original Lacoste
BERLIN/ANKARA (Own Report) As the EU summit approaches, German interventions are leading to new tension between the European core powers. German business associations and military strategists are forcing Berlin's Turkish expansion and are increasing pressure on their foreign competitors. The German government parties demand rapid expansion of the EU's sphere of influence which is to be advanced past Ankara to the borders of the resource rich Arab states. It is feared in Paris and London that Berlin makes every effort to promote processing Turkey's acceptance in order to obtain further advantages in the Middle East. The rivals increasingly use cultural arguments in the intra-European competition for influence. Berlin's opposition parties use the arguments of Christian critics of Turkish expansion, while supportive minorities and lifestyle activists are integrated into the German Greens.
Due to special, unrivalled German-Turkish relations, the EU-wide resistance against the Berlin-Turkish demands is increasing. Germany is Ankara's most important western trade partner and most significant foreign investor. Turkey, i.e. the Ottoman Empire, had been a traditional ally of Middle Eastern expansion by several German regimes. The economic significance of German-Turkish policy has been emphasized by recent remarks of German Chancellor Schroeder, who emphasized that ,,German exports to Turkey rose by 20 percent during the past year", making Ankara a ,,highly attractive economic partner."1) Berlin's bilateral military relations with Ankara, which exclude the rest of NATO's members, are part of this partnership.
Protests
Strong opposition has been mobilized within the French state apparatus against further German competitive advantages at the beginning of Turkey's process of admission to the EU. It supports opposing currents among the socialists (PS) and conservatives. The goal is to completely delay the German-centered EU policy by boosting French national interests. In Great Britain, members of the government and opponents of the German alignment resist as well. According to London, the further loss of influence of Britain's Middle East policy will be pre-programmed by Berlin if the application for unconditional support comes up in December. The pressure for the admission also has created vehement protests in Italy. In spite of considerable interest by the Italian automobile industry, which produces in Turkey, parts of the government coalitions threaten a break if Berlin prevails.
Priority
Projected targets which are held in common are given priority in the national competition for influence. Thus, the Centrum fuer angewandte Politikforschung (CAP2) or center for applied political science), with close ties to the German foreign office (AA), is reminding of interests held in common by the European core powers, meaning that Turkey, as an EU state fronting on the resource-filled regions of the Middle East, must be armed.3) CAP writes, with a view to the cooperating armaments industries of the European competitors: ,,The direct neighborhood of Iraq, Iran or Syria" offers the opportunity for the EU ,,to further extend its foreign, security and defense policy capabilities and capacities."4) The military priority interests (i.e.,,reinforcement of international ability to act") even appeal to representatives of the conservative German opposition parties5), which normally oppose the membership of Turkey in the EU for cultural reasons.
Consultations
German conservatives propose a compromise, which would diminish the foreign policy admission pressure by Berlin's government without relinquishing the interests of the Foreign Office (AA), to circles of the European competitors, of the western Christianity persuasion to safeguard geo-strategic common interests. Thus, Turkey should be offered a ,,privileged partnership" but no membership status. This would preserve the internal stability of the EU core powers while preventing the imperialistic extension of the alliance. Even ,,the Roman Empire" succeeded only arduously and during a historically brief period;" in its expansion ,,to Iraq and Syria." Furthermore, the final conquest failed ,,in the wedding of British, French and German imperialism."6) Instead of renewing a sharp exacerbation of national competition because of its ties to Turkey, Berlin's conservatives are offering the EU competitors prohibition of any unilateral access to the outpost of the Middle East through limited partnership. The chairman of the French PS, Francois Hollande, traveled to Berlin to attend political consultations, which took place over several days for the purpose of taking advantage of the offer.
It will not take Place
From the spectrum of minority activists, the German government party ,,Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen", the Greens, will undertake the neutralization of European opponents to admission. After the conclusion of a party conference in Istanbul , the Green politician, Daniel Cohn-Bendit appeared convinced that the EU admission of Turkey would not result in a disadvantage for the European haute couture consumer. It would be possible to assure that luxury quality products will continue to be available only to higher income consumers and will not become general merchandise because of Turkish ,,product piracy."7) Mr. Cohn-Bendit reassured the worried market clientele that ,,export of Lacoste brand shirts in the EU for three Euro, will not take place."
1) Warum die Tuerkei in die EU gehoert. Von Gerhard Schroeder; Die Welt 13.10.2004
2) see also ,,Downfall or ascent to world power"
3) see also Euro-Islamic Bridge
4) Der Tuerkei-Beitritt nach dem Kommissionsbericht; Centrum fuer angewandte Politikforschung Oktober 2004
5) for example Volker Ruehe (CDU)
6) Im historischen Blindflug; Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung 17.10.2004
7) ,,An der Tuerkei entscheidet sich die Zukunft der EU" sagt Daniel Cohn-Bendit; tageszeitung 23.10.2004
