Yalcin Dogan: Ein mann ein Wort

These words were used on November 8, 2006, one month ago, by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a meeting in Berlin on Turkish-EU relations.

Talking about Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel said "ein Mann, ein Wort." At this meeting, she intimated that Erdogan was not standing behind promises he had made. It was a hard stance, and she was expressing anger and disappointment.

But why is Merkel this angry? Which promise is Erdogan not standing behind? And isn't it precisely because he is coming through on so many promises he has made to the EU that he is constantly being praised by them too?

The cogs rolling backwards now

Merkal is playing a huge role in the steps being currently taken forward in the EU's plan to review its entire relationship with Turkey.

Despite the fact that she had previously told Ankara "we follow state policy, and the support that Germany gave in the past will continue," the cogs seems to be rolling in the opposite direction nowadays.

November 6, Berlin. A meeting at the German Foreign Policy Institute in Berlin. Merkel stands at the podium:

"Turkey has not kept its word, this is what our stance against them is to be. From the very beginning, we had pushed for a special status for Turkey within the EU, but because we were following state policy, we gave up on this. But now, Turkey is not keeping its word. And thus we have the right to shelve the state policy which supported Turkish membership in the EU."

These are strong words, and ones which seem to push against German state policy over the past 8 years.

Strong words

As Merkel talks, her words and expressions become stronger and more decisive. She even says:

"During our administration, talks with Turkey will not continue."

Forget about strong, these are wild statements. What does she mean "talks will not continue"? What gives her the right to completely ignore the agreements which have been going on now for 40 years? These are not decisions over which the sole authority belongs to Chancellor Merkel.

When it comes to Turkey, Merkel loses herself.

Present at this same meeting was Turkish Research Center president Professor Faruk Sen, who goes up to Merkel after the meeting and asks her why she is taking such a strong stance on Turkey. Her response is brief: "Ein Mann, ein Wort."

She means Erdogan. She asserts that Erdogan is not standing behind the July 29, 2005 Additional Protocol. She continues:

"Erdogan, in that protocol, promised that he would recognize Southern Cyprus. The promise to open up air and sea ports was made. One and a half years have passed, and the ports still haven't opened."

The news from this meeting reaches Ankara a few days later. It is not surprising for Ankara.

Well, facing this criticism which goes above and beyond usual political politesse, Erdogan does have the right to answer Merkel. But a problem occurs therein: has Erdogan, whether by way of this additional protocol, or in face to face meetings, ever really promised "We will recognize Southern Cyprus"?

Despite the fact she is in power via a coalition, the reins to German foreign policy lie in Merkel's hands; and this is truly the largest boulder that lies in Turkey's way. I don't think it's going to be easy to change either.