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Geopolitics lies behind British backing for Turkey in EU
AFP: 12/15/2004

LONDON, Dec 15 (AFP) - Underpinning Britain`s staunch support for Turkey joining the European Union is some hard geopolitical logic: reshaping the greater Middle East region.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has consistently backed Turkey`s long-standing bid to join Europe`s exclusive club of democratic nations -- the key issue at the EU summit this Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

Leaders of the 25 EU member states are expected to give the green light for Turkey to start accession talks with the European Commission in the new year.

It could be a decade before Turkey actually joins the club, but in the meantime, in Britain`s view, a "very powerful signal" will have gone out to one of the world`s most unruly neighbourhoods.

"A Turkey that lives under European norms of rule of law, respected the Charter of Fundamental Rights (in the new EU constitution), that is fully democratic, sends a signal to all its neighbours that this is the only way forward," said Britain`s Europe Minister Denis MacShane.

It would signify, he continued, that it is possible for a nation state "to be wholly Muslim in belief and practice, but wholly secular and democratic in the application of the rule of law and state administration."

"Turkey as a strong partner in NATO, a friend of Israel, strong against terror, but nonetheless a country sensitive to the rhythms and needs of the region, I think will be a very, very powerful partner in Europe in the 21st century," MacShane told a group of European journalists in London.

That logic dovetails with Blair`s rejection of the idea that the world is in the midst of a "clash of civilisations" between the West and Islam in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001.

It equally underpins Britain`s support for elections next month in both Iraq and in the Palestinian territories.

"Getting stability, democracy, peace in the eastern Mediterranean area -- I don`t want to enumerate the countries -- seems to be a powerful international signal to send," MacShane said.

Turkey`s adjoining neighbours, besides Iraq, include Syria and Iran, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, plus EU member state Greece and candidate country Bulgaria.

Turkey has remained a strategic linchpin in NATO while implementing in the past two years a raft of political and economic reforms, not least, under EU pressure, the end of the death sentence under a government which has Islamist roots.

"We are confident that if Turkey maintains the rhythm of reforms, in every sphere -- economic reform, domestic law reform, state administration reform, human rights reform, respect for minorities reform -- then of course Turkey will fulfill EU criteria and can join," MacShane said.

Insofar as this week`s summit is concerned, MacShane said Britain wants to see Turkey get an unequivocal nod that its accession talks with Brussels will begin in earnest in the coming 12 months.

He dismissed press reports that Britain is offering some so-called "Turkish delights" as concessions to help France and Germany appease public concerns about Turkey moving into the European family.

One supposed proposal is that negotiations will not start until the second half of 2005, when Britain holds the rotating EU presidency -- and France would have held its referendum on the EU constitution.

"What we want (at the summit) is a clear yes," MacShane said. "We want to start in 2005 and we would like the earliest day possible. I know nothing about `Turkish delights` or anything else.