And politically facing increasingly heavier

What is there in common between José Manuel Barroso and Benedict XVI The Turkish puzzle. And the need for all actors in this endless dance on a volcano to appear firm without breaking the thread of the dialogue between Europe and the Turkey. In religious terms, source of serious tensions, the test of the papal visit, last week, can be considered a success. The Pope pleaded in Ankara for a base of common values, one of the requirements of accession to the Union, to failure, as some have stated a little quickly, to applaud the idea of an entry in the Turkey. Ending by agreeing to allow it, the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sought to demonstrate the spirit of tolerance of moderate islam which he intends to embody with his party, the AKP. Better to forget his past mistakes and the current slowness of the Government to reform the Penal Code on the continuation of the intellectuals or to address the problem of respect for religious minorities. But it will take more than symbols during a papal visit to put an end to controversy born to an assimilated Europe by of some to a "Christian club". Is that the visit of Benedict XVI, with the exception of a small aggressive fringe of little representative Islamists of the reality of the country of Atatürk, much less passionate public opinion on the shores of the Bosphorus that on this side of the Mediterranean.

However, the Cypriot case has highlighted the breakdown growing between the Turks and Europeans. The proposal from the Commission to freeze negotiations on 8 of the 35 chapters intended to open a day in Ankara the doors of the Union will undoubtedly know of twists. The image of the divisions of the twenty-five on the European future of the Turkey. Some such as the France and the Germany are more severe. The most enthusiastic to Turkish membership, as the British, argue the indulgence to the embargo of the Turks against the vessels and aircraft of the Republic of Cyprus, the country member of the Union that they recognize not. But political gesticulation is obvious, so each has an interest in delay.

The Europeans, confronted with the evil being of public opinions after the enlargement to twenty-five of the Union, do not intend to create new dividing lines. Greek Cypriots want to avoid taking responsibility for a failure, both their "no" to the referendum on the reunification of the island, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations in April 2004 then the Turkish side voted in its favor is a Gordian knot. Turkish leaders, the perspective of the presidential election of April 27 and November elections condemning them to a balancing exercise. Erdogan plays of extreme firmness in Brussels for not to provoke the ire of a powerful army and nationalists. While pursuing the dialogue with the Union, essential for his eyes to the future of his country. And his own political future.

That is why, in a "regional Davos" organized end of November in Istanbul by the World Economic Forum, the Prime Minister has ceased to rent the "model" that is the Europe and to say that there was no question of leaving the negotiating table, despite the willingness of Brussels to "punish" the Turkish Cypriots and, with them, the Turkey. This is why it held to minimize a survey according to which, after having been 70 dreaming of accession, the Turks would more that 32 to be favourable. A figure that he considers undervalued and which will leave on the rise, provides, as soon as the first "emotional" responses to the deadlock on Cyprus will unwind. Without falling into a blind optimism, some participants in the Forum have agreed in its meaning. Such was the case with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, relieved to be entered in the Union after having lived poorly of not having part of the first wave of enlargement to the East. Or the Irish Minister for enterprise, trade and employment, Micheal Martin, who recalled an experience of voluntarism, acknowledged and real achievements. On the economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, he sought to soothe irritation and impatience of some Turks by referring to the rapid growth of his country, the Spain, who had to fight for nine years before being admitted into the Union.

The marathon began the Turkey on this same path is so the sentence to be accrued This question, the Turks the arise now openly. In Istanbul, the players succeeded, bearing a message of hope and lucidity. Hope both that country ravaged time by hyperinflation and devaluations cascade was able to resume in hand its destiny. Evidenced by a strong growth of 6 this year, controlled inflation, a workforce of quality and high productivity. Also attracted a large domestic market, foreign investors flock. Their investments could reach $ 9.7 billion this year. What make the Turkey the fifth star of the emerging countries according to Klaus Schwab, the President of the World Economic Forum. Behind, of course, China, the India, the Russia and the Brazil. Witness also the dynamism of large groups, but primarily of a fabric tight creative SMEs. And, politically, facing increasingly heavier. Finally demonstrated a willingness to play a pivotal role in the great global energy game, with the node of pipelines carried out or to build and make this country a bridge between the Caucasus and South, the East Asian and Western European. Additional security for the European Union, continue to repeat the Turkish but also international specialists.

Continue this growth is not only accession to Europe. At least his perspective would save a generation in democratic anchoring and the race for development, highlight the more pragmatic. Because the Government and the business community are lucid. They consider irreversible progress, they argue that their country has become a vast zone of stability in a region more increasingly unstable, they recognize that the road ahead remains planted of chipsets. On the legal, of course, but also economic front. Modernization of structures is an emergency, education, mostly women, poses serious problems. Not to mention the mindsets to evolve using the life-saving jacket is secularism, imposed in the early 1900s by a Kemal Atatürk fascinated by the French constitutional system and which... Army rest intense goalkeeper. As the summed up in a little green smile a Turkish businesswoman: "It is difficult to define our identity." We are European, Asian or Arab. Perhaps this is an asset in a globalized world...

Is it better for Ankara play the Union even if not join at the end of the road map Rare are the Turks also brutally contemplated. As rare are the Europeans who, in the mirror of this proud and little known Turkey, agree to take the extent of the crisis when they cross.