AHI Urges President Clinton to Insist on Conditions for Turkish Candidacy for the European Union On December 9, 1999 and in advance of the European Union summit in Helsinki, Finland, the American Hellenic Institute sent to a letter to President Clinton (click here for copy of letter) on the issue of Turkey's application for EU candidate status. The letter stresses that the most important issue with regard to Turkey's application is whether Turkey itself is prepared to earn this status by meeting certain standards of conduct in advance as is required of all other applicants. The letters faults the U.S. failure to insist on these necessary preconditions as bad policy. It signals to Turkey that the U.S. is once again appeasing Turkey before it has taken the necessary reform steps. Ironically, by giving Turkey a free pass and thus reducing the incentive for Turkey to make the tough long-term choices on such matters as human rights and the removal of military influence, the U.S. is likely to impair Turkey's ability to complete the fundamental transition process to democracy and a market economy. Before Turkey's candidacy can be accepted, Turkey needs to take two immediate steps of direct relevance to the EU to prove that it is an appropriate candidate:
The letter urges President Clinton to make clear to Turkey that failure to accede to these two obvious conditions would provide appropriate grounds for any EU member to oppose Turkey's candidacy. The U.S. should not provide Turkey with a blank check on this issue, but Turkey should expect to be held to the same criteria as any other EU applicant. |
AHI Urges President Clinton to Insist on Conditions for Turkish Candidacy for the European Union
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