Oktay Eksi: Taking a look at our own reflection

Let me begin by saying that I agree with both the words and the interpretations of the situation contained in the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister's statements. I wish that this unfairness and lack of vision did not exist. I wish that we could say we were expecting a more favorable result from the upcoming December 14-15 summit of EU nation leaders in Brussels.

But unfortunately, there is a group of EU leaders, headed by France and Germany, whose condescending view of Turkey's accession quest shadows our ability to be optimistic on this front. The supercilious stance the EU is taking on Turkey, which it after all had already accepted at a basic level as a possible future member, has been a terrible test for Ankara. This bloc's stance has fallen wayward of its acclaimed structure that "protects and defends basic human values and equalities."

If it really was the defender and protector of these values, it would immediately fulfill its promises to lift isolationary measures against the Northern Cypriot republic, and then it would say this to Turkey:

"You declared with your own signatures that you would implement the articles of the Customs Union Treaty. Now you have to do what is necessary. If you don't, we will be forced to take steps penalizing you."

But the fact is, the EU has never even tried to refer to its own promises on Cyprus. In fact, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose entire stance is one of 'If there is a question with the EU, you must come to us first to ask,' has insulted Turkey with the attitude of a teacher chiding a student. She has brought up the old German phrase "A real man keeps his word" on more than one occasion where Turkey is concerned.

No one, however, asks Merkel why the same old German phrase doesn't apply to the EU.

Have we made no mistakes?

Yes, of course we have. Like the fact that we have relied on statements sure to raise the hackles of people raised in western culture. For example, both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister have said things like "....the EU cannot sacrifice Turkey, with its population of 70 million, for the Southern Cypriot regime, with its population of 600 thousand." What I mean is, they almost put themselves in the position of defending the thesis that "The large and strong one must always win." This was perhaps not the best strategy, when the EU always-well, despite certain hypocritical actions-wants to appear to back "equality, honesty, and justice."

And the latest moves by Ankara on the Cyprus front, which set up conflicting reports in the capital as to whether or not the President and the chief of military staff had been informed, has confused things even more. And so I ask: If you do not act serious and carefully, how can you expect others to treat you this way?