'...Christmas is coming'

During World War II, Winston Churchill sent Anthony Eden, his Foreign Secretary, to Turkey. His mission was to persuade the Turks to join the Allies. It was 1943 and Churchill was becoming increasingly anxious to draw the 20-year-old Republic of Turkey into the war. In due course he received a telegram from Eden: "Progress low, what more can I tell Turkey?". Churchill's reply was "Tell them Christmas is coming".

Since then, half a century has passed. Turkey's original reluctance to join either the Allies or the Axis has now been replaced by an enthusiasm to join both. The opposing factions of yesterday have come together to form what today is known as the European Union and that is where Turkey wants to be.

Public opinion in Europe, and perhaps Turkey itself, is divided on the issue of accession. Although not overtly, this is also the case at the political level. But Turkey has one important trump card - Germany. No wonder Churchill was concerned at Turkey's procrastination.

Whenever I go to Istanbul, I always take a boat down the Bosphorus and stop at Dolmabahce - the rainbow palace - where almost everything, including the balustrades, is made of crystal. What is significant is that the guides emphasise each and every gift presented to the Sultans by successive Kaisers, while skimming over more intriguing options such as the secret window overlooking the now empty harem or the interlaced aviaries once home to exotic birds.

Today's Turkey is a legacy of the legendary Ataturk, its greatest leader in times of war and peace. He transformed his country into a secular one through a broad range of swift and sweeping reforms. Ironically, however, accession is being offered to Turkey at a time when its ruling party has religious overtones. But as the current Foreign Minister of Turkey once told me: "We will join the European Union precisely because we are Muslims".

Abdullah Gul is a 54-year old economist, a devout Muslim, modest, unassuming and well-meaning. Our paths crossed when in 1992 we both became members of the Council of Europe. In Turkey he had been elected on the ticket of the Islamic Welfare Party. In 1996, both of us became ministers in our respective countries.

Our ministerial term of office was short-lived and as we were both reappointed to the Council of Europe we resumed our friendship. We travelled together extensively and it was on one such occasion in the Balkans that he confided in me the possibility that one day he may well become Prime Minister. In November 2002, Abdullah Gul was sworn in as Prime Minister. Subsequently, he ceded his place and was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister.

Although Turkey has been eyeing the European Union for the past 40 years, until recently its main ally was the United States. Today, as witnessed by the war on Iraq, it no longer looks to Washington to please but focuses on Paris and Berlin. And for good reason, since Germany has become its main trading partner besides being home to millions of Turks, not to mention that one in every four tourists to Turkey is German.

When the European Parliament met in Strasbourg last week Turkey was the talk of the town. Like a pendulum the debate swung from religious fanaticism to a state of denial of what actually goes on in Turkey. The prologue to the motion consisted of no fewer than 69 paragraphs detailing democratic deficiencies in Turkey. The house was tense.

A request for a secret vote was allowed but not well received. Even in the European Parliament we clap, boo and cheer! The vote was taken and Turkey had overcome its first obstacle. Its moment had come.

Despite the general impression that Turkey would accept the dictates of the European Union, there were two known issues that were non-negotiable. Turkey insisted on a specific date for accession talks and non-recognition of Cyprus. Late that evening, I was discreetly informed of a third element, which was so sensitive that it could destabilise the whole process of accession. There and then, I decided to try and contact my old friend Abdullah Gul and give him my opinion for what it was worth. Talking perfect English with a hint of American accent, his chief-of-staff politely put me on hold but after a brief interlude connected me to his minister.

For obvious reasons, I could not talk openly on the telephone so I decided to pass on the information in riddles. I jolted his memory to the day when he had confided in me his political aspirations and referred to the place where we had stayed, a war scarred and pockmarked hotel. How could he forget? Having focused on the particular Balkan country, he was immediately aware of the issue I was referring to.

I then relayed the information that unless Turkey backed down on the third issue, one very important country in the European Union was prepared to derail the whole accession process. I expressed my concern and ended the conversation by telling him Churchill's anecdote that "Christmas is coming".

The following day, December 16, the prime ministers and foreign ministers of the European Union and Turkey met in Brussels. After two tough days of arguments and counterarguments an acceptable agreement was reached. Accession talks are now to start in October 2006. Turkey did not formally recognise Cyprus, but did so tacitly. I can only surmise what happened about the Balkan issue.

On entering the European Parliament one comes across cardboard cut-outs of forerunners and founders of the European Union. That of Churchill looms larger than life. The idea is to interact and one is able to listen to memorable speeches. In September 1946, while addressing a conference in Zurich, Churchill speaks about the "building of the united states of Europe". I wonder if his vision included Turkey.

Dr Attard Montalto is a member of the European Parliament.