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Debate on Turkey's place in E.U.

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS Nov. 25. The terrorist attacks in Turkey by suspected Islamist terrorists have sparked an intense debate on its membership and place in the enlarged European Union. With a population of nearly 70 million Muslims, Turkey will be the second largest member nation after Germany with a population of over 80 million. With Turkey's entry, 15 per cent of the E.U.'s 450 million population would be Muslim.

Turkey is a modern secular state. The military has staged two coups to ensure that Islamic fundamentalists are kept out of power. However, the Government of the Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan, has come to power on an Islamic platform though Mr. Erdogan claims to be a secular leader. In recent months, the Erdogan Government has implemented bold economic and political reforms required to start talks about Turkey's membership of the E.U. The former Prime Minister of Turkey, Tansu Ciller, said in a radio interview that the strategy of Islamic fundamentalists was to "alienate and delink" Turkey from the E.U.

A majority of middle class and educated population has expressed a quest to identify Turkey with its European aspirations and values. But, there is also a sizeable section which may prefer to cling to their traditional Islamic lifestyle.

The Europeans are convinced that acceptance or rejection of Turkey's membership could have a telling effect on the future of fundamentalism there.

The British Government for example has argued that acceptance would permanently defeat fundamentalism. Last week's events leading to the arrest of several fundamentalists has prompted the British establishment to press the case for Istanbul's eventual membership. Otto Schiley, Germany's Home Minister, said Berlin had to help intensify dialogue between the E.U. and Turkey. The French Government also supports Turkey's plan for E.U. membership as long as Istanbul meets all the political and economic criteria.

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