ABSTRACT
The period of 1999–2002 represents a preparation or a transitional phase for reforms and almost no change in minority rights. The period in 2002–2004 signifies an acceleration of reforms including minority reforms and seen as the Golden age of Turkish Europeanization. The decision taken at the Helsinki Summit was a surprising one, since Turkey was not included as a candidate state to the list of candidates at the 1997 Luxembourg Summit. In 1999–2002, like the European Union (EU) level, the domestic-level developments signify a transition period from cautious governance for minority reforms to a pro-minority and pro-reformist platform. In conclusion, push without pull of 1999–2002 resulted with a step to minority reforms, but to a very limited degree. Most importantly, the nationalist coalition government came to a breaking point when the EU-candidacy process pressed for domestic reforms. Justice and Development Party leaders refrained from using the term ‘ethnic groups’ to signify ethnic minorities, such as Kurds.
