The Turkey question (1)

I am not impressed that the EU is considering Turkey for membership. It is an accepted fact that geographical Europe ends at the Bosphorus. Turkey has never been and will never be accepted by the average European as a neighbour, let alone as a member of any European organisation.

If Turkey wants to be considered as a friend of the Europeans and as a humanitarian nation, then they must change their history books and admit to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of human lives in the last century.

They must apologise to their northern and eastern neighbours for the inhuman treatment the Turkish authorities meted out.

They must admit to the current illegal double standards of education that punish ethnic students. They must leave the eastern occupied zones that they have taken over under the excuse of security. Turkey is a nation of mixed peoples. It has been governed in a very strict way and with the help of the US and Germany it has possessed a fairly stable economy and a buffer from the extremists. Turkey must remain as such and in time will be accepted as a true friend of the west.

But first it must admit to its mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Turkey must make amends for the past pain and suffering it has inflicted.

I am sure that the EU and the US will financially help in this endeavour and once this open wound is healed then the people of Europe and Turkey's neighbours will trust again.

Turkey has its own destiny to fulfil. This once great nation will take its prominent position in the world trading economy. Only through freedom of speech and human rights will greatness be achieved.