Indeed, the e-mail affair of Karen Fogg is the best indication of how the 'anti-EU forces' can be so offensive and the pro-EU forces can be put on the defensive position. The last week was dominated by this event and even the visit of Gunter Verheugen, EU commissioner for enlargement, remained under a shadow. Karen Fogg is a victim, at least according to official statements by Foreign Minister İsmail Cem and Interior Minister Rüştü Kazım Yücelen. It does not change, however, the fact that this 'diplomatic scandal' will reach certain anti-Turkish forces in the EU and Turkey's position will be more difficult. Actually, the perception that the EU has imperialistic aims in Turkey and wants to divide Turkey is a replacement of the 'anti-American feelings' in the late 1960s and '70s and some Turkish intellectuals now direct their criticisms towards Europe because they are more than disappointed intellectually and they have to do something.

There is no example so far in the EU integration process that any country has been divided due to its membership in the EU. This is a 'Turkish dilemma' and is baseless academically. Therefore, the EU expectations from Turkey, in political issues particularly, will be interpreted like that and sometimes both sides' rhetoric creates further misunderstandings. Interestingly, it happens in a week when the EU and Organization of the Islamic Conference came together in Istanbul for the ''harmonization of civilizations' meeting and also well-known anti-American American intellectual Noam Chomsky was here. In other words, Turkey is indeed a place full of all kinds of conspiracy theories and everybody, as Nasreddin Hoca used to say, is right. Turkey is not an easy candidate for the EU, but it is also not an easy country for the Turks, too. In addition, the reforms are behind the expectations of the population despite the fact that the government is indeed trying its best to meet the criteria by the EU. Why then there are such views that the EU's absolute aim is to destroy and divide Turkey?

The year 2002 is a very decisive year for Turkish-EU relations. At the end of the year, most probably, Turkey will receive a concrete date for full membership negotiations, whereas 10 new members will join the EU in the year 2004. Bulgaria and Rumania will most probably be given 2007 or 2008 as membership dates. A Europe of 27 will be certainly the case in the year 2010. Can Turkey make it by 2010? More depends now on Turkey. But not with such conspiracy theories! One can oppose against the way of negotiations with the EU that is understandable, but to equate the EU with the same situation as after World War I is indeed merciless. The EU is a unique example in the whole history of Europe and it would be fine if Turkey would be a part of this process. How can people fight against each other when they use the same money? More than that, the EU is on the way to be much stronger and play a global role. Why isn't Turkey part of this game? It is not a one-way ticket. Turkey will contribute to Europe in many areas. As Gunter Verheugen said in his speech last Friday at the Middle East Technical University that the economic gap is not a problem because many new members will be under EU standards when they join. Turkey should do its homework. Indeed, this is the key sentence.

Those who are accusing the EU of imperialistic aims should actually think whether Turkey is prepared or has any vision to run the EU together with the other countries in the year 2020. Turkey cannot be the victim of some ill-thinking intellectuals. In the last 30 years, Turkey has enough suffered by those intellectuals who wanted to make Turkey like a Soviet- or Chinese-style communist country. The future of Turkey cannot bear any misreadings of history again. The world is moving faster than some intellectuals in Turkey can follow it. The recent opinion polls show that more than 70 percent of Turks want to join the EU. This is called 'common sense' and the Turks indeed have this.

Many Turks who live in Europe as guest workers do not want to come back to Turkey, neither do their second or third generations. The reason: They do not trust the economic and political conditions. What is more striking as a young Turkish-origin Austrian citizen student who was spending some time here said to me: I do not want come here because I do not feel as free here as I feel in Vienna. This is what counts. Europe is a feeling where the people can feel it on the street, in political institutions, social security organizations and structures. Those who oppose and accuse Europe of being imperalistic either do not know where the history of Europe is heading or they are not sincere. Let them convince this new generation of Turks in Europe about the intentions of the EU.

Turkey must be a part of Europe for the sake of its youth. Let them not consider Europe as an enemy. This perception is wrong. Let them come together and talk about the future of Europe. It is a pity in Turkish history that we always miss great opportunities. Turks should not create enemies but rather make friends. Actually, those intellectuals are the same people who have been responsible for the 'lost generation of the '70s.' Do not repeat it again for God's sake. Let the people think freely. Or indeed, do your homework. Convince the Turkish people that the EU is a not successful process in European history. Could you that?