By Hussein Da’ssa
Albawba.com – Amman
Former director of foreign affairs at the European Commission Hubert Hard Rein has said here that he feels “disappointed at the European Union’s position regarding what is going on in the Palestinian occupied territories,” adding that “I cannot defend the EU because it has remained silent all that time. Everybody has felt that silence,” and fallen in despair waiting for a change, he said.
However, Rein said that war leads nowhere, and both the Palestinians and the Israelis should go back to peace negotiations.
“I think there is a need for finding a truce in any war situation. There is a need for disengagement between the two fighting powers so that we will have neither snipers, nor stone throwers, and there is a need to go back to the negotiating table.”
Rein suggested that there was a need to go back to the negotiations with new leaders, but it was not explained what he meant by new leaders, whether on the Palestinian side, the Israeli side, or on both sides.
Rein, who is the head consultant of the Center for European Studies in Brussel, is in Jordan in response to an invitation by the Jordanian Press Association, the Al Rai’ and the Jordan Times newspapers, to deliver a lecture on market economy, and the democratic approach to European incorporation.
The expert anticipated that Turkey would be accepted as a full-fledged member in the European Union, but not before the year 2015.
Responding to a question by “Albawaba.com”, he said: “I am convinced that Turkey will join the European Union but not for 15 years. This is due to many reasons: Turkey is not qualified at present to fulfill and achieve the required standards and has not reached the Market Economy status and its free competitive system and antimonopoly. This is due to the fact that its experience in that field was not free, and it fell short of the European standards, which usually manage the general economy. Turkey has its own problems in manpower and education and the ratio of illiteracy is very high for example.“ Turkey was under the military regime for many years, and it is not easy for military rulers to adapt to the market economy which requires compromises and bargaining which they cannot accept easily. This is despite the fact that Turkey has been nominated by the 15 members of the European Union provided that it is qualified and committed to the European markets’ standards”, Rein added.
Rein believed that Turkey would practically and officially cancel the death penalty next year because this is part of the political culture of the European Union and it is also one of the standards adopted by the nominated countries.
Regarding the possibility of establishing a common Islamic or Arab market, Rein pointed to the resolutions of the Islamic conference Organization and Arab summits. He said that these economic thoughts are nothing but myths and dreams. You cannot carry ten watermelons in one hand.
The neighboring countries should concentrate on free markets with the European Union or with their neighbors such as Jordan and cooperate with Egypt, Syrian, Iraq or Gulf states in a free market because the geographical proximity of these countries supports trade.
In his lecture, Rein said that today’s world witnesses a complete harmony between democracy and market economy. This has become an integral part of the European culture, as natural as the relationship between the world’s air and water.
In an answer to a question whether there is a relationship between democracy and market economy, and whether one of them could exist without the other, Rein defined the standards and foundations, which should be established and explained their types. He explained how to recognize whether a country is democratic and ready to join the market economy or not, particularly with regard to its governments and the periods of time they are in power; the alternation of power; the forms of the civil society and lack of democracy. Rein suggested that the level of corruption was at its lowest level in Europe and United States. He sees the market economy flourishing in the atmosphere of effective competition which at the same time leads to democracy and “polyparty” and effective performances of workers which motivate them to work better.
Rein stressed that market economy has an adverse impact on governments and ruling style. This is because it prevents bureaucrats from interfering with important economic processes and contains the politician’s powers and their impact on the market economy and therefore, the people who are more qualified assume certain positions.
Regarding privatization and whether it has any relation to democracy, he said: “I cannot imagine a public sector managing banks, industrial and commercial corporations and at the same time having complete democracy. ” Rein criticized the past performance of the socialist countries and its dependence on the state economy referring to the example of the former Soviet Union, which collapsed after 80 years of non-democratic government and non-market economy.
Rein praised the socialist parties in some socialist countries in Eastern Europe for their commitment to the market economy.
Regarding globalization, and the view of European Union on it, he said “we cannot do without globalization, although we have to be careful not to use it to establish large companies that exploit the market at the international level. It should be the role of governments and the press to create awareness regarding globalization dangers”.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
