Anatolian Values

Far Better

Since the beginning of the Turkish presidential electoral dispute, the German preference for the AKP has been expressed more openly. Just a few days ago, Foreign Minister Steinmeier took sides with the AKP presidential candidate - and current foreign minister - Abdullah Gül. German tabloids reported May 6, 2007, that the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana lent support to Berlin's preference in saying that Gül will "continue his successful work, also as president of Turkey."[1] Claudia Roth, Party Chairperson of the German Green Party, wants to have it recognized that "The AKP can have a far better record than its predecessors in government."[2]

Lying

Behind the German support for the AKP is the latter's principled willingness to pursue further the issue of Turkish EU membership. According to the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin, it is all about "the adaptation of the national situation to the predominating standards in the EU" and "the creation of a large degree of compatibility between national and EU institutions and processes" - a conspicuously ambiguous description for the intended encroachments in Turkey's political, economic and cultural structures.[3] Berlin and Brussels are attempting to make Turkey's EU compatible adjustments more palatable with the prospects of access to billions in promotion finances and political benefits throughout Europe, once the adaptation process as potential EU member state is successfully concluded. The bait that is used is controversial and being disputed by a growing number of German and French conservatives. In the German press, Alain Lamassoure, president-elect Sarkozy's advisor for European affairs is quoted as saying "we must stop lying to Turkey. On the one hand everyone is negotiating with Turkey about becoming a member, on the other, everyone hopes that it will never get that far."[4]

Power Constellation

The price is high that Ankara is supposed to pay for the elusive goal of attaining EU membership. According to the SWP, in the opinion of the Turkish elite, the conditions for membership being demanded by Brussels are "unacceptable transformations in the political identity of the Kemalist republic."[5] More importantly, "fundamental (...) transformations" in the "power constellation of the essential participants" are being demanded. This is why the adaptation demands of the EU are encountering widespread resistance. Besides the military and the clearly nationalist formations, the social democratic parliamentary opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP) also opposes the membership process and refuses granting concessions to Brussels. The vice-Chairman of the CHP parliamentary group demanded of Ankara that it "no longer simply accept everything."[6]

Bridge

His accusation was directed at the AKP, which since November 2002 has had a majority in the Turkish parliament and carried out a "policy of forced ‘Europeanization'" (SWP).[7] The Islamic party is prepared to submit to Berlin's and Brussels' wishes, offering Turkey as a "bridge to the Islamic world." The German foreign ministry noted that a Turk was elected for the first time in June 2004, as General Secretary of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). More recently Turkey attempted to mediate between western and Islamic states in the controversy caused by Islamophobic caricatures.

Within a Generation

The benefit gleaned for the AKP from its backing Berlin and Brussels, is in its yet to be stabilized position within the Turkish power structure. The AKP camp's rather recent rise in domestic political influence developed from the profound economic and social transformation in agrarian, traditionalist Central Anatolia, where, according to a study on the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri, "within a generation, an industrial capitalism replaced a predominantly rural merchant society".[8] One of the largest industrial zones of the country is located in Kayseri, the capital of the province. Nine of the 500 largest Turkish enterprises are located in the urban district Hacilar. The AKP, which is very popular in Central Anatolia, presents itself as the political catalyst of the new economic influence. The study reports that "the AKP party office in Kayseri was one of the first in the entire country. In the municipal elections of 2004, the party won an overwhelming 70% majority, the best results throughout the country."[9] The best known politician from Kayseri is the AKP presidential candidate, Abdullah Gül.

Islam and Modern

For decades already, numerous Turkish immigrants from rural, traditionalist Central Anatolia have furnished Germany with low-waged labor. Among their religious organizations is the Islamic Community Milli Görüs (IGMG), whose religious characterization - conditioned through the same social roots - shows strong similarities to the characterization of the AKP. Because of its Islamic orientation, the IGMG has been placed under surveillance by the German domestic espionage.[10] But the AKP is the preferential partner in Berlin's policy toward Turkey. The AKP represents the ambitious economic centers of Central Anatolia, whose export enterprises produce commodities for the European market at the lowest wage levels and is to be bound to the EU. From the study on the AKP stronghold Kayseri, one learns that there, where the enterprises are located, one finds "a milieu (...) in which Islam and modern peacefully coexist. Anatolia, formed from these values, covets becoming part of the European Union."[11]

Attachment

A "European Stability Initiative" (ESI) is on site to make an estimate of the extent of the Turkish desires and calibrate the EU norms. This non-profit "advisory institute" [12] collects "authoritative information" on Turkey "to furnish political decision makers well founded strategic analyses." The advisors receive allowances "from governments, enterprises and private persons" to the tune of 45,000 Euros per month. A senior fellow at ESI is Dr. Joachim Huetter, who is also active in the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) in close cooperation with the German government.[13] At present the ZIF is searching for experts to recruit for a "police mission" in Afghanistan. The "president" of the non-profit institute, handling questions on Turkey, is also German-speaking with experience in war and crisis theaters. Gerald Knaus coordinated "field research across South East Europe," while bombs were falling and is now in Istanbul gathering information. The president of the ESI maintains his attachment to the German capital, where he has one of his offices specializing in Turkey.

Please read also: Deutsche Stiftungen: "Dem äußeren und inneren Frieden förderlich", Assassination in Turkey, Threats, Umstrittene Instrumente, "Ressentimentgeladene Äußerungen", Gehorsam, Euro-Islamic Bridge, Die neue Bagdad-Bahn, Revolutionäre Wirkungen, Dritte Kraft, Imperiale Position, A Dirty Little Secret, Weiterer Schritt, Zielliste, Tödliches Versprechen and Große Player.

[1] "Türkei soll laizistisch bleiben"; www.tagesschau.de 05.05.2007
[2] Roth sieht Türkei von Generälen "erpresst"; presseportal.de 02.05.2007
[3] Die Türkei im Prozess der "Europäisierung"; Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte 33-34/2004
[4] EU warnt Sarkozy vor Türkei-Blockade; Financial Times Deutschland 08.05.2007
[5] Die Türkei im Prozess der "Europäisierung"; Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte 33-34/2004
[6] Atatürks verspieltes Erbe; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 02.05.2007
[7] Die Türkei im Prozess der "Europäisierung"; Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte 33-34/2004
[8], [9] Islamische Calvinisten. Umbruch und Konservatismus in Zentralanatolien; European Stability Initiative 19.09.2005
[10] Entsprechend wies Außenminister Gül im Jahr 2003 die diplomatischen Vertretungen seines Landes an, die IGMG nach Kräften zu unterstützen.
[11] Islamische Calvinisten. Umbruch und Konservatismus in Zentralanatolien; European Stability Initiative 19.09.2005
[12] www.esiweb.org
[13] see also Nutzung anheim gestellt