Can Baydarol
For about a month now, I have had to take a break from writing due to health issues. In the meantime, I realised that, apart from a few friends who asked, ‘What’s up, why aren’t you writing?’, I am not really taken seriously as a writer. Irony aside, my treatment process will now involve shuttling between my home and healthcare facilities. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the healthcare professionals, especially the doctors who have worked tirelessly on my treatment, to my dear wife who has put up with all my whims, and of course to my dear son who, even in the early hours of the morning, worries about my health and deprives himself of his sweetest dreams.
Let’s list a few recent headlines in quick succession, as it seems fate has decreed that today is the day I return to writing.
- Marta Kos, the European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement, visited Ankara.
- The Turkish business community decided to take action for Turkey’s full membership in the EU.
- Devlet Bahçeli, referring to the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), called for the ‘right to hope’ for Öcalan and freedom for Demirtaş.
- Zeydan Karalar was released.
Marta Kos’s visit to Ankara did not cause much of a stir in Turkey. Opponents in particular criticised the visit, arguing that it had not yielded any concrete results, in other words, that no steps had been taken on issues such as the renegotiation of the customs union, visa liberalisation, etc., citing what they considered to be valid reasons.
While I partly agree with these criticisms, I would first like to draw attention to the symbolic meaning. During our visits to Brussels with some NGOs, we sadly witnessed that Turkey’s issues were being discussed within the framework of the ‘good neighbourly relations’ commissioner. Although full membership negotiations appear to be continuing legally, the message that you are no longer part of the enlargement process was clearly conveyed. Under these circumstances, how feasible is it to describe Kos’s visit to Ankara as a change of direction? We will understand this better in the coming days.
At this point, the involvement of the Turkish business community is also significant. Our business community, which has preferred not to raise its voice too much on EU matters for the past decade or so, has probably decided to act in line with certain signals from the political sphere. (With apologies to some business community NGOs!)
I believe we should also add the EU’s Cyprus presidency, which begins on 1 January 2026, to this picture. After all, whenever anyone has wanted to say something positive about Turkey since the day it became a full member, the Republic of Cyprus, which has vehemently opposed this, will do or not do what during its own presidency?
Let us recall. In 2004, when the Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the EU representing the whole island, Turkey, arguing that the existing customs union conditions could not be applied to the Republic of Cyprus (this argument was based on the concern that the Republic of Cyprus would be recognised as representing the whole island), banned Republic of Cyprus ships and aircraft from entering Turkish ports and airports. This ban would lead to significant criticism within the EU and would be considered an obstacle to the free movement of Republic of Cyprus goods. Particularly due to the initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus and Greece, the full membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU, if I recall correctly, would be suspended before more than 10 chapters could be opened.
Now, let’s consider the following scenario. Suppose Turkey announces that it is lifting the bans imposed on Republic of Cyprus ships and aircraft, on the condition that recognition is out of the question until a permanent solution is found on the island. What would happen then? Could it be that Kos met specifically with Foreign Minister Fidan to gauge Ankara’s inclination on this matter? We will have to wait and see for the answer to this question. Mutual confidence-building measures for a solution in Cyprus could be the magic words for the coming period.
So let’s say we’ve overcome the problems with the Republic of Cyprus and Greece. Will we be able to project the image of a state that respects the rule of law? Mr Bahçeli’s attempts to pave the way for Öcalan and secure freedom for Demirtaş, with reference to the ECtHR rulings, could also be described as Turkey’s desire to become a state that respects the law. But with over 100,000 cases filed against Turkey before the ECHR, are we going to pretend that everything has been resolved based on just two cases? You might say that everything is an excuse; what matters is political will. With the EU so dependent on Turkey, particularly in the context of security concerns, a pretext will surely be found.
Democracy? Can the release of Zeydan Karalar be considered an important start? Are you among those who say, ‘Let’s see if he is reinstated to his position’? Or are you among those who believe that democracy is being pretended to exist until İmamoğlu regains his freedom?
I hope we move beyond pretending to live and reach days when we can truly enjoy life. May we have many healthy days ahead, starting with mental health…