For the complete report in the csmonitor.com please click on this link
Turkey belongs in the European Union - by John K. Cooley
It's time for policymakers of the 25 European Union (EU) nations, as well as leaders of 70 million Turks, to take a deep breath, step back, and carefully consider whether it's wise to halt or impede Turkey's effort to join the EU. Turkey's pro-Western government, along with a majority of its business leaders and its secular-minded, Westernized military, is committed to accession. But some Turkish politicians who have favored membership for decades have recently expressed doubts because of widespread European rejection. Strategic and human considerations favor Turkey's bid, if it has fulfilled all the preconditions - a big "if" at this juncture.
Now that EU ministers have postponed a membership progress report from Oct. 24 to Nov. 8, decisionmakers happily have more time to review the pros and cons of this crucial question.The EU ministers should reassure Turkey in November that it belongs in an expanded EU. The protracted accession negotiations - possibly as long as 10 to 15 years - with the desirable goal of full Turkish membership could do much to stabilize Turkey's turbulent Middle East neighborhood.
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