Hürriyet Daily News CHP committed to EU, says rep by Serdar Alyamaç, May 2009
İZMİR - The main opposition CHP’s approach to the EU is clear from the party’s program, says the Brussels representative of the party, Kader Sevinç. A political party opening a representative office in Brussels provides an idea about the policies of that party toward the EU, she says. The Brussels representative of the opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, slammed claims that the party is against the European Union, saying the CHP’s approach to the EU is clear from the party’s program. "A political party opening a representative office in Brussels provides an idea about the policies of that party toward the EU," said representative Kader Sevinç. After public opinion deemed the CHP lacking or vague in its European Union policies, the party decided to open a representative office in Brussels last May. Sevinç was appointed the CHP’s EU representative last July, and the office opened Sept. 1. In İzmir to attend a conference titled "The Young View to the EU: The European Union, Youth and Communication," organized by the Western Anatolian Businessmen and Industrialists Federation and Yaşar University, Sevinç told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that there had been no change in the CHP’s position on the EU. "It is the CHP that started the process of Turkey’s EU aspirations. The person lobbying in the EU for the Customs Union was the leader of the CHP, Deniz Baykal, who was foreign minister in 1995," Sevinç said. "Thus, there has not been much change in the CHP’s approach to the EU. However, with the opening of the representative office, the CHP has found ground to reflect its position and thoughts and has received feedback." Addressing claims that the approaches taken by the CHP, a social democrat party, and the EU toward issues in Turkey are very different, Sevinç said, "Yes, there are differences, but they are not that much." She noted that CHP leader Baykal paid a visit to Brussels last February where he held talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Olli Rehn and the chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament."It is understood that there is not much difference between the CHP’s position and the EU’s position. Yes, there are some subjects on which we do not think the same way, especially the Cyrus issue. But the role of the Turkish government’s steps on Cyprus is an important difference," Sevinç said. "The EU is not in a position to intervene in the Cyprus issue. During Finland’s term, they took some steps to solve this problem, but then they preferred to stay away, because it is very complicated." Differences between social democrat parties Sevinç noted that there are 27 member countries in the EU, each with its own social democrat party and its own stance due to these policies, saying, for example, that there are "lots of differences" between the Greek Panhellenic Socialist Movement, or PASOK, and the German Social Democratic Party, or SDP. "For that reason, there is not a certain social democrat line," she said. "But, in general, there is a social-democrat understanding
that respects women’s rights and human rights, that is progressive and puts forward an understanding of the social state." Within this framework, Sevinç said, the CHP’s policy is "very clear." She noted that the CHP has the second-largest number of female deputies and that its stance on the Kurdish issue is very clear and contains "nothing in contradiction with the European social democrats." The perception of the CHP in the EU has very changed in a positive way after the opening of the representative office, Sevinç said. "Now there is a direct communication channel between the EU and the CHP," she added. "They can understand our thoughts on issues now, and they say, ’We did not know that it was like that.’ We are publishing bulletins that are sent to every department in the EU. When European socialists want to learn about something, they come to us." Asked whether the CHP would support the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s, steps toward EU accession, Sevinç replied that the party believes the EU process for Turkey should "continue in a just way." "The criteria implemented for all member countries should be implemented for Turkey, too. We see the EU as a social-transformation project," Sevinç said. "The CHP has always supported the government’s EU efforts. In Europe, the main opposition parties have a very important place in that if the governments want to do something, they have to get the support of opposition parties. However, we do not see the same cooperation motivation from the AKP." International relations and Turkey’s EU process are the victims of "very serious misinformation campaigns," Sevinç said. "There is lots of wrong information circulating in Turkey and the EU, and some politicians in member countries of the EU are talking as if they are speaking in the name of the EU," she said. "These people are coming to Turkey and making comments as if they are the official comments of the EU. This is not right; they can be politicians in their own countries or in the EU, but they cannot speak in the name of the EU. When we listen to these people, we should look at their authority."