24.11.2012 Views

Messages in the Media - University of Toronto

Messages in the Media - University of Toronto

Messages in the Media - University of Toronto

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

opean politicians only acknowledge this op<strong>in</strong>ion when<br />

try<strong>in</strong>g to attract votes <strong>in</strong> constituencies with a large Turkish<br />

population. 20 Egemen Bağış, <strong>the</strong> Turkish m<strong>in</strong>ister for<br />

EU affairs, has publicly stated that <strong>the</strong> patience <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turkish<br />

government and people is dw<strong>in</strong>dl<strong>in</strong>g, and that <strong>the</strong> EU<br />

must take decisive steps towards resolv<strong>in</strong>g what seems to<br />

be a political deadlock. 21<br />

The issue <strong>of</strong> Cyprus has been raised more frequently<br />

than ever before and has had <strong>the</strong> effect <strong>of</strong> galvaniz<strong>in</strong>g<br />

opposition to jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> EU. Opponents po<strong>in</strong>t to EU reforms<br />

as an attempt to use <strong>the</strong> accession process to <strong>in</strong>fr<strong>in</strong>ge<br />

upon Turkish sovereignty. 22 Şah<strong>in</strong> Alpay, a wellknown<br />

columnist, has been one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most active media<br />

personalities <strong>in</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> unfold<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> events between<br />

<strong>the</strong> EU and Turkey. In an op-ed written <strong>in</strong> June 2011, he<br />

stated that <strong>the</strong> EU had lost its power over <strong>the</strong> Turkish government<br />

and more recently, <strong>in</strong> December 2011, he questioned<br />

<strong>the</strong> significance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> accession process entirely. 23<br />

24 The EU rema<strong>in</strong>s hostile towards Turkey and <strong>of</strong>ten treats<br />

it like a second-class country. The Turkish people recognize<br />

this, which is reflected <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> dw<strong>in</strong>dl<strong>in</strong>g approval rate <strong>of</strong><br />

Turkish EU membership. 25<br />

195

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!