The Hagia Sophia

The most iconic building in Istanbul, if not all of Turkey, the Hagia Sophia was once the largest and grandest Orthodox cathedral in the world.  That all changed with the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453 when Mehmed the Conqueror had it converted into a mosque.

These days it serves as a museum but now a Christian group has come forward and demanded that as a prerequisite to Turkish entry into the EU, the Hagia Sophia should be restored to its original function as a cathedral.

The campaign is spearheaded by the International Hagia Sophia Coalition, a Greek-American group of around 200 members.  They came to prominence when they announced their intention to hold a religious service in the building, although they were rebuffed by the Turkish authorities.

In a letter to the Turkish Prime Minister, Coalition President Chris Spirou said: "How a State can justify the selling of tourist admission tickets to a museum called 'Agia Sophia Muzesi,' the Museum of God’s Ηοly Wisdom in the 21st century is beyond any imagination."

In addition, several Facebook pages exist, calling for its restoration as a cathedral.

The Turkish government however, remains adamant that the building will become neither a church nor a mosque and so it remains a musuem, in line with Turkey's secular ideaology.

Europe or Asia?

With growing opposition to the EU in Turkey, a growing minority have proposed an alternative which they claim would be more accommodating.

"Turk Bir Dev" is a proposed union between the Turkic nations: "Turkey, Northern Cyprus (unrecognised as a sovereign nation except by Turkey), Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

The movement is small, but it adds fuel to speculation by the west that Turkey is "shifting towards the east." 

The Turks voted against a series of sanctions against Iran proposed by the UN Security Council; Ankara views the country as a vital trading partner, much to the disdain of others.

However, during a recent visit to the UK, Turkish president Abdullah Gul was keen to quell allegations that the state was turning away from Europe.

Gul was in London to receive Chatham House's annual prize for his contribution towards international relations and Turkey's development as a vibrant, democratic state and despite accusations of Islamism in his homeland and being a threat to Turkey's secular ideaology, he insisted the Turks remain committed to Europe.

In an interview with the BBC he said: "We remain commited to our path in the European Union.

"We have differences on detailed issues but our strategic direction is clear."

On the subject of the "privileged partnership" he said: "Promises were made and the EU must keep them."

But Gul admitted that many Turks perceived the balance of economic power shifting towards the east; a possible reason why Turks were not so enamoured these days with the prospect of EU membership.

No enthusiasm for Europe?

Only 38 per cent of Turkish citizens wish to join the EU according to the German Marshall Fund of the United States. This compares with 74 per cent who favoured integration in 2004.

Gizem, from Istanbul, said: “The people don't want us to beg for membership. The main reason is that they don't believe Turkey will ever be in EU and have equal rights with other countries.

“They are not offering us ‘full membership’ but ‘privileged partnership’ and no one really know what exactly it means. What we understand from that term is not to have equal rights with other members.”

The “privileged partnership” status was proposed by German chancellor Angela Merkel although this was vehemently rejected by the Turkish government. Foreign ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin said: "Our position is clear. There is no option for Turkey other than full membership,"

Fadi Hakura, manager of the Turkey project at Chatham House also criticised the privileged partnership proposal saying: “Privileged partnership is an ill-considered, unimaginative policy conferring neither 'privilege' nor true 'partnership'. Such a partnership could lead to a potentially irreversible and dramatic rupture in EU-Turkey relations, detrimental to European strategic interests.

“It would burden Turkey with onerous EU obligations while denying the advantages concomitant with accession, namely increased foreign investment flows, free movement of Turkish workers to EU labour markets, and access to EU agricultural subsidies and structural policies.”

Turkey and the EU

Should Turkey be allowed to join the EU?

It is a question which has caused great division.  There are those who are in favour of expanding the union; in an era where Islamophobia is on the rise, Turkish entry could help bridge the gap between Europe and Islam.

Turkey is also seen as being an ally of critical strategic importance to Europe and the United States, a gateway to the volatile Middle East.  The state has played a major role in bringing peace to neighbouring Iraq through their efforts to quell the resistance of Kurdish seperatists.

Then there is the counter-argument.  Some see the country as having more in common with Islamic Asia than  Europe, therefore it is argued that Turkish culture would not be compatible with the rest of Europe.

Then there is the immigration issue: many Europeans are worried at the scale of immigration in recent years and with the introduction of 70 million new EU citizens, some fear a new influx of migrants.

The United States and the UK are pressuring Europe to accept the Turks.  Countries such as France and Germany are against their inclusion.

But aside the cliched pros and cons, what will Turkish membership really mean, both for the EU and Turkey?