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China: Turkey dares EU to break free from 'Christian club'

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  • China: Turkey dares EU to break free from 'Christian club'

    Shanghai Daily, China
    Oct 3 2005

    Turkey dares EU to break free from 'Christian club'
    2005-10-03 Beijing Time

    Turkish nationalists shout during a rally of the Nationalist Movement
    Party in Ankara yesterday. Nationalists protested against today's
    start of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union. -
    Reuters

    TURKISH Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that
    European leaders must decide whether the EU will rise to challenge of
    becoming a global power or remain a "Christian club," as they try to
    break a deadlock on starting membership talks with his country.

    Meanwhile, Turkey Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in statements
    published yesterday that Turkey was not intent on starting European
    Union membership talks at any price - reiterating Ankara's position
    that it will never accept new conditions, or any alternatives to full
    EU membership.

    Predominantly Muslim Turkey, a largely poor country of about 70
    million, is scheduled to start long-awaited membership talks today,
    but those talks have now been thrown into disarray over Austrian
    objections.

    European Union foreign ministers were meeting yesterday to plead with
    Austria to drop its objection to Turkish membership in an emergency
    session. Austria balked at the last minute at opening entry talks
    with the predominantly Muslim nation, and has suggested the EU
    consider a "privileged partnership" instead.

    As EU foreign ministers gathered in Luxembourg for the emergency
    meeting, Turkish officials _ waiting in Ankara for word on the
    outcome of Sunday's talks _ ruled out anything less than full EU
    membership.

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said European leaders
    must decide whether the EU will rise to challenge.

    "We are not striving to begin negotiations no matter what, at any
    cost," Gul said in an interview published in Yeni Safak newspaper.
    "If the problems aren't solved then the negotiations won't begin."

    Several countries also have been pushing Turkey to recognize EU
    member Cyprus, and the European Parliament called on Turkey this week
    to recognize the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks at the
    beginning of the 20th century as genocide.

    Erdogan, addressing lawmakers of his party at a resort just outside
    of Ankara, said Europe was at a historic crossroad.

    "Either it will show political maturity and become a global power, or
    it will end up a Christian club," he said.

    "No EU decision will deviate Turkey from its course" toward further
    democracy and reforms, he said. "We will, however, be saddened that a
    project for the alliance of civilizations will be harmed."

    Erdogan spoke to Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel by telephone
    on Saturday, telling him that a privileged partnership was not an
    option.

    After more than 40 years of aspiring to join the European Union,
    Turkey feels it is being held hostage on the eve of negotiations by
    Austrian leaders using Turkey's EU bid as an issue in upcoming
    national elections.

    Some 60,000 supporters of an anti-EU ultranationalist party, waving
    Turkish and party flags, held a rally in central Ankara yesterday, in
    part to protest increasing demands and conditions being forced on
    Turkey.

    "Prime Minister, the concessions that you have given the EU are
    dragging Turkey toward darkness," said Devlet Bahceli, a former
    deputy premier and head of the Nationalist Movement Party.
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