“Turkish people lost their hopes for EU”

Mr. Yusuf CINAR, President of International Institute of Strategic Outlook

Mr. Yusuf Cinar is the president of International Institute of Strategic Outlook, a Turkish think tank based in the city of Konya. He is one of the most prominent Turkish experts on terrorism and Middle Eastern politics. His book titled The Tamil Problem: Historical Progress, Conflict Process, And Solution is the first publication in Turkey, a country which has struggled against terrorism for nearly thirty years.

Mr. Cinar answered some questions about the refugee problem and EU visa-liberalization issue to Turkey.

How do you evaluate, can Turkey and EU make a final deal about visa liberalization and what is needed for the agreement?

The European Commission proposed to the European Parliament and Council of the European Union to lift the visa requirements for the citizens of Turkey, However Visa Liberalization Roadmap is including some false steps. The agreement has not talked under the natural circumstances. Because more than one million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015. Migrants made the journey overland through Turkey, Greece, Western Balkans. The refugee agreement to design Turkey’s position as a barrier against refugees. On the other hand visa liberalization will be provided by EU for Turkey in a result of refugees agreement. But the Turkish cabinet has passed 65 of the EU’s 72 conditions. The EU says, ‘you will change the anti-terror law in return for visas’. According to president Erdoğan: If EU stressed “reform of the anti-terror law”, it is impossible to implement the agreement.  The reform of anti-terror laws would be narrowed its legal definition of terrorism. Turkey has launched a ground operation against PKK in eastern of Turkey. Under this condition, Turkey doesn’t want to give up operations against PKK. If Turkey changed to the anti-terror law, Turkey has to cut off the operations. “Anti-terror law” has been used   for the negotiations (Visa Liberalization) by Turkey and EU. Therefore, the Visa Liberalization will not  be implemented in June.

In your opinion, does Turkish government really want to get visa liberalization for its citizens?

Turkish people really want to get visa liberalization. But Davutoglu’s resignation   and European Commission’s announcement that visa-free travel is within reach for Turkey were on the same day. In the Davutoğlu term, Turkey wanted to get visa liberalization. Erdogan aims to create a stronger presidential system. After this period, EU should contact on Erdoğan’s team for future of EU-Turkey relations. It’s mean that Davutoğlu’s term will be missed by EU. Because Erdoğan is a strong man in Turkey and EU cannot negotiate everything on the desk with Erdoğan. In my opinion, the problem is not the refugee agreement etc., the problem is political ambitions of EU and Turkey.

What should Turkish citizens do in order to get visa-free travel in Europe?

Basically, Turkey has been trying to join the EU for a very long time. The country has close relations with Europe and is a member of many other European organizations. However, Turkish people have lost their hopes accessing EU in the result of the very long story.  I think, Starting demonstrations for demanding visa liberalization are impossible in Turkey under these conditions.  I see that this process as a crossroad. If EU wants to the solution for visa liberalization and refuge agreement, EU should take steps, shouldn’t have waited for steps from Erdoğan If EU didn’t take any steps for the solution, EU would lose to ambitions of Turkish people. This scenario is a disaster for EU-Turkey relations.