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June 07, 2005
Excuse for trouble
Ok, so first the French and then the Dutch reject the EU constitution. This has shaken things up in Europe, of course, and no one's really sure what will happen next. But where the hell does this come from?
Greece’s military is keeping a close eye on traditional rival Turkey after French and Dutch referendums on the EU Constitution raised questions over future EU enlargement, Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos said.
“Of course we are checking the behavior of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, and we will continue to do that,” Spiliotopoulos said yesterday while attending a one-day military exercise.
“Turkey’s response appears to have been neutral,” Spiliotopoulos told The Associated Press. He added that Greece was “closely monitoring” Aegean air space after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the EU Constitution in separate referendums this week
Greece-Turkey relations have long been a pet fascination of mine, so such petty language among these nominal NATO allies isn't all that surprising. And it's true that a key motivation for the non/nee camps was opposition to Turkish membership in the EU (ignoring for the moment the fact that the constitution has nothing to do with Turkish membership and that such membership -- if it ever comes -- won't become reality for some time). But Spiliotopoulos here seems to be suggesting an expectation of increased Turkish military activity as a result of the French and Dutch votes. That, I have no hesitation in proclaiming, is simply ludicrous.
Sure, Erdogan has recently (and justifiably) stiffened in response to EU intransigence and hesitance regarding entry talks. Thin theories of ulterior motives by staunch Kemalist political opponents aside, there can be no doubting Erdogan's sincerity in pursuing EU membership. At the very least, he sees the process of seeking membership as having a beneficial effect on Turkey, be it the gradual improvement of minority rights in Turkey or the whittling away of the military's political influence.
If I were to think as a Greek politician, I suppose I might suspect Erdogan of wanting to rattle his sword in the wake of the French and Dutch referendums as a sign that Turkey isn't willing to put up with interminable delays in its membership quest -- a "don't forget about us/don't push us around"-type of display. But please. In this case, age-old animosities are getting in the way of reality. This scene does go to show, however, that Greece -- as a current EU member -- has the means and the will to make Turkey's accession as tough as it wants to make it.
Posted by Daniel Widome at 12:30 AM to Europe
