The Importance of Turkey in the Context of the EU-U.S. Partnership for the Region of the Broader Middle East
By Sebastian Gerlach

In June 2004 we witnessed a row of high-level meetings, starting with the G8 summit in the United States and ending with the NATO summit in Istanbul. All these meetings shared one issue of genuine importance to the European Union, the United States and Turkey: The approach of a partnership with the region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa. After the end of the Cold War the stabilization of this region constitutes the main challenge for the EU and the United States, and the integration of Turkey in the EU will be a key strategic element in dealing with this challenge.

When speaking about the stabilization of this region, one has to realize that the crises in the Broader Middle East and North Africa combine the most severe problems for European and international security. The danger of international terrorism as demonstrated by the bombings in Madrid and Istanbul, the possibility of proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in Iran and Syria, the enduring Israel-Palestine conflict with its international implications and societies that are economically underdeveloped, leaves this region of the world politically paralyzed and socially unstable.

The United States and Europe are partners out of a necessity to address these issues. It is even possible that the future of the transatlantic partnership will be decided on the basis of how valuable Europe and America will be for each other in solving those challenges. As a first step, Europe will have to organize itself in such a way so as to remain an important strategic partner for the United States in political and military terms. And the United States, whatever the result of the presidential election in November, must decide to fully commit itself to a partnership with Europe.

Apart from reorganizing its political and military structure, Europe's main contribution in this context will be the integration of Turkey into Europe. An integrated, modern, democratic, and economically strong Turkey will have a positive impact on its neighbors and thereby offers far-reaching opportunities for Europe and the United States. Already today, the current Turkish model of the co-existence of democracy with a secular Islam is closely watched by the progressive elites in Arab countries. The Turkish administration, led by the Party of Justice and Development (AKP), has started a reform process, implementing profound changes to the political and legal system, including curbs on state security courts and military influence in politics, greater freedom of expression, fighting torture and respecting minority rights. These reforms, especially concerning the role of the military in politics and of religion in society, can act as an example to neighboring Arab states on how to change and reform a state and its society.

The election of a Turk as the new General Secretary of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the fact that the next meeting of the OIC and the EU will be held in Istanbul further underscore Turkey's importance as a bridge between East and West.

Furthermore, the Turkish Prime Minister joined the G8 meeting in Sea Island and declared that Turkey would especially support a newly designed Democracy Assistance Dialogue between the West and Arab countries. This shows that, beyond its membership in NATO, Turkey is evolving into an important partner for the EU and the United States and that it can contribute an added value to the European-American approaches to the region.

The statement of U.S. President Bush at the June 2004 NATO summit in Istanbul reflected this view, as he called for the EU to admit Turkey. Bush diverged from the traditional U.S. statements on that matter, focusing on the importance of Turkey as a model for and a bridge to the Islamic world, predicting that its joining the EU would be a crucial advance in relations between the Muslim world and the West.

A decisive turning point will be reached if Turkey obtains a date for beginning accession talks with the EU, which will depend on the report of the European Commission due by the end of September. A positive report and a date in 2005 would be a strong signal for Turkey to continue with its reforms in the political and legal system and its society. The outcome of negotiations for EU membership, however, is still open. This will likely be a lengthy, drawn-out process, not expected to be completed before 2015 - negotiations with most of the Eastern European states admitted last May lasted for more than eight years.

But whatever the outcome of the negotiations will be, there are benefits for all, the EU, the United States and for Turkey itself. With the goal of joining the EU, Turkey can reform itself into a democratic and economically strong country with a Muslim society based on pluralism. Europe, which will sooner or later be getting more involved in the region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa, will gain more influence and credibility having a Europeanized Turkey at its side. Finally the United States, having lost its reputation in the Muslim world, will benefit from remaining in a genuine partnership with Europe, thereby keeping an active and credible ally by its side while facing the problems of the region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa.

Sebastian Gerlach is a DAAD/AICGS Fellow, conducting research for his report on "Turkey and the EU - 'European Islam': Examples from the Balkans?" during the summer of 2004.

This essay appeared in the August 12, 2004 AICGS Advisor.

........................................................................................................................
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies.