08.10.2010
German Turkish Roundtable on International Affairs (GTRT): "Prospects for the roles of Germany and Turkey in the Middle East"
Following an invitation by the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at the internationally renowned Sabanci University, by the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP) and by the Robert Bosch Foundation, Prof. Oliver Schlumberger participated in the first German-Turkish Round Table on October 7-8 in Istanbul.
The Roundtable, which brought together political decision-makers, journalists and academics from both sides, aimed at discussing Turkey’s and Germany’s respective roles in the Middle East. A key focus was placed on Turkey’s new foreign policies which among some international actors, including Germany, are currently met with great skepticism. In the discussions between German and Turkish academics, representatives of the countries’ foreign ministries as well as the Turkish prime minister’s office and the German chancellor’s office, Professor Schlumberger and other academics pointed to the necessity of taking seriously Turkey’s ambitions and right to redefine its role in regional policies, especially given the fact that the EU does not seem to be willing or able to offer Turkey a realistic prospect for membership in the EU.
As Prof. Schlumberger pointed out, there is nothing dangerous, spectacular or peculiar about Turkey’s current revision of its regional foreign policies. Rather, a dialogue between partners and friends should be continued without potentially damaging German efforts at patronizing Turkey in its foreign policy formulation. Turkey is a politically self-assured and economically strong partner; for these and many other reasons, Turkish integration into the EU would be a chance for the EU more than it actually is for Turkey – a fact that German politicians, fearing public opinion at home, have long been reluctant to acknowledge. It would be in the EU’s best interests to work towards the further integration of Turkey and provide its government and people with a clear schedule for full EU accession in case the country so wishes.
The second German-Turkish Roundtable is scheduled to be held in Berlin in 2011. You can find the event program here. A newspaper article by the German daily “Berliner Zeitung” covers the talks and can be accessed here.