Interviewer: Uh-hmm.
Interviewee: And particularly under the new foreign minister, Davutoglu, we can expect to see more of that, more of a regional policy in Turkey. In the EU, it is very difficult to say that that’s a pure good. It’s something that makes Europeans nervous. There is a debate in Europe about its role as a global actor. Will it be regional or will it be more global? We in the United States faced this when we tried to encourage our European allies to contribute more troops in Afghanistan and other places in that region. So, this very definitely is something. These questions that you have raised about culture and about location that President Sarkozy raises and that you’ve raised, they are at the heart of the debate. They are at the heart of how European citizens feel.
Interviewer: Uh-hmm.
Interviewee: Right now, you have fewer than 48% for example who think that the most recent enlargement, which was all central European States, was a good thing. That’s not an encouraging figure. The public opinion numbers for Turkey are 31% in favour among Europeans.
Interviewer: Oh, that’s interesting.
Interviewee: And 55% opposed, and only about 14% or so undecided. That’s not a high undecided rate. It’s not like there is a lot of people flexed there, I can put it that way. So, there is a significant obstacle in European public opinion. However, unlike in the days of Chirac and Schroder, you don’t see a lot of what one might call European leadership on the debate. You see actually more European leaders reinforcing the concerns and not encouraging a real debate about whether Turkey should come in to the union as strategic partner or is there some other role.
Interviewer: You will see the foot dragging by opponents of Turkey joining, reflecting their own citizens of idea of Turkey not joining as full member. If that’s the case, then would they put this to a referendum, and then they’ll say, “Well, citizens have decided no.” Because there is I supposed to be unanimous decision among member nations.
Interviewee: Right.