EU Doesnt Have a Common Minority Practice

"In EU countries, the military is a government institution," said Aktar about the General Staff's statement delivered "on behalf of the state." "It does not make statements about political issues. There is such a basic problem here."

"The EU did not set conditions, it made an observation"

"Turkey must comply with the EU standards on the issue of minority rights," Hansjorg Kretschmer, the head of the EU Commission office in Turkey, had said. According to Aktar, there is no such common notion or practice about minorities in Europe that is being implemented in all 25 member countries.

"There is no single notion or implementation of 'minority' in Europe," said Aktar. "Each country finds a solution to such problems in line with its own established practices or traditions. The EU Commission's report should be regarded 'not as a condition, but as an observation."

Aktar said complying with the Copenhagen Political Criteria is vital for Turkey' full membership. "The important thing is to give way to minority rights and grant minorities the opportunity to live a decent life," said Aktar. "This is a general principle. Each country implements this principle in line with their own established practices and traditions."

"There would not be any problems if Syriacs, Keldanis could go to their churches; if the Armenians could run their foundations as Muslims do; if Greeks could train clergymen at their own schools; and if Alavites could bury their dead in line with their own traditions," said Aktar. "We should not get pinned on the notion of 'minority.' We could replace the word 'minority,' with 'those who are not the majority,' if it would help end the argument." (CA/BB/EA/YE)