THE EUROPEAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AS SEEN FROM GERMAN PERSPETIVE

Authors : Udo WİTZENS

Pages : 217-239

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Publication Date : 2005-12-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract : Germany has always been one of the most important supporters of Turkish membership in the European community. When on the summit of December 11h 2004 German administration insisted on a date for accession negotiations to begin in 2005 it acted in continuity of traditional German politics since EU option for full membership was opened to Turkey in the Treaty of Ankara by German EEC President Prof Walter Hallstein in 1963 However, today there are some voices against EU entry of Turkey mainly in the rows of the conservative German parties CDU/CSU, whose opposition is mainly motivated by Inner politics on the eve of General elections. These reservations are ideologically backed by some German historians who try to question the EU compatibility of Turkey because of geographical, historical, and cultural reasons. But a brief analysis reveals the traditional stereotypes and culturalistic prejudices of western historiography behind those arguments. 
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