TURKEY'S "EURO" VISION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000974 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SCUL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S "EURO" VISION ¶1. Summary: While European officials assess GOT efforts toward meeting the Copenhagen Criteria in advance of the EU Council's important December Summit, Turkey's de facto integration into the cultural life of Europe deepens. Turkey's hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul, along with the achievements of Turkish artists and athletes in European events, gives some indication that Turkey's place in Europe is solidly established independent of political institutions. End Summary. Hosting Europe's "Uber-Kitsch" Event -------------- ¶2. On May 15, an estimated 100 million viewers across Europe tuned in on Turkey as Istanbul hosted the 49th Eurovision Song Contest. For the uninitiated, Eurovision is more than an "American Idol" talent show. Thirty-six countries sent participants to the contest, and some 4.2 million televoters, many of whom paid for the right to vote, determined the winner. It's a classic yearly event that combines neighborly love with flag-waving patriotism, and inspires viewing parties in homes across Europe, much like Oscars night in the United States. (Note: The show has launched the careers of such stars as the group ABBA and Celine Dion. End note.) ¶3. Sertab, Turkey's representative in the 2003 contest, won the event last year, thus bestowing the honor of hosting this year upon her home city. Turkey's newspaper headlines all but hailed her victory last year as tantamount to entry into the EU itself: "She conquered Europe," proclaimed Milliyet. This year's Turkish entry, a ska group called Athena, placed a respectable fourth (right between #3 Greece and #5 Cyprus), but, more importantly, the event went off smoothly, and organizers put on an impressive show for all of Europe to watch. The show was hosted in perfect French and English, and spectators in the 10,500 seat arena, sold out months in advance, waved Greek, Turkish, FYROM, and Cypriot flags almost side by side. Arts: Popstars and Prizes for Literature, Film -------------- -- ¶4. Eurovision is just one of many examples of Turkey's de facto integration into European cultural life. Turkey's first international popstar, Tarkan, who has already achieved commercial success in several European countries, released his fourth album last year and launched a European concert tour. Istanbul-born author Orhan Pamuk is known throughout Europe. His recent novel "My Name is Red" won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2003; this award was the latest in a series of European honors dating back to his 1991 Prix de la Decouverte Europeenne for the French translation of his second novel, "Sessiz_Ev" ("The Quiet House"). ¶5. At the Cannes Film Festival in 2003, Turkish artists Muzaffer Ozdemir and Emin Toprak won the Best Actor awards, and director Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the Grand Prize of the Jury, for the film "Uzak." The same film was named FIPRESCI Film of the Year at the San Sebastian International Film festival. (Additionally, Turkish-German director Fatih Akin won the Golden Bear for best film honors at the Berlin International Film Festival last year for "Gegen die Wand (Head on)," a film about second-generation Turks in Germany.) Sports: Turkish Football, the Golden Girl, and the Sultans of the Net -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶5. The situation is similar in the sports world. Turkish soccer teams are invariably in the thick of the action, as they were in the 2003-2004 UEFA Champions League tournament when Istanbul club Besiktas met Chelsea and Istanbul rival Galatasaray (the 2000 UEFA Champion) took on Juventas. (Note: Turks were miffed, however, when the games they were due to host last year were moved to alternate venues after the November Istanbul bombings. Turks were later quick to note that similar changes in venue did not happen after the March bombings in Madrid. Indeed, to highlight the point, Turkish teams emphasized their readiness to carry through with planned matches in Spain in the bombing's aftermath. End note.) Turkish and second-generation Turkish soccer stars also feature on a number of top European clubs. Although the Turkish national team failed to qualify for EURO 2004, it is still basking in its third-place World Cup 2002 finish. ¶6. Turkey's female athletes often dominate the local sports headlines as well. Elvan Abeylegesse, formerly of Ethiopia but now running for Turkey, broke a world record in the women's 5000-meter event at the Bergen Golden League meeting in Norway on June 11. Track and field star "Golden Girl" Sureyya Ayhan has been a darling of the European media for several years running. She won the silver medal in last fall's 1500 meters final at the 9th World Athletic Championship in Saint Denis, France, and shortly thereafter set a world record in Belgium's Van Damme Golden League Tournament. Turks also took great pride in this year's second-place European finish of the "Sultans of the Net," the national Women's Volleyball Team, and the victory of one of its club teams in the European Women's Volleyball Championship. ¶7. In sum, European public opinion may be skeptical about the politics of GOT joining the European Union, but civil society has shown that sharing space with Turkey in the cultural realm is as natural as can be. ARNETT