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ANKARA: Arabs: 'Rejection of Turkey Shows Crusader Logic Continues'

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  • ANKARA: Arabs: 'Rejection of Turkey Shows Crusader Logic Continues'

    Zaman, Turkey
    Oct 2 2005

    Arab Media: 'Rejection of Turkey Shows Crusader Logic Still
    Continues'

    By Ali Ihsan Aydin

    The Arab media is also discussing whether or not Turkey will start
    membership negotiations with the European Union (EU).

    Algeria's La Tribune newspaper editor-in-chief Abdelkerim Ghezali
    told Zaman that EU's rejection of Turkey, although it has fulfilled
    all the criteria, will definitely show that Europe still has not
    overcome its `Crusader and Medieval' logic. Ghezali noted EU's
    starting negotiations with a Muslim country even though it would last
    for a very long period, was very significant for the Muslim world.
    Algerian journalist, claiming the main reason behind problematic
    attitudes of some EU members, including France, against Turkey was
    based on cultural and religious concerns, indicated it is a big
    paradox that the disappearance of 'European humanism' comes to the
    agenda when Turkey is the subject matter. Ghezali, asserting these
    countries perceive Muslims as a' threat,' continued: `Based on what
    grounds would they reject Turkey's membership if it has already
    fulfilled all the criteria? Is it religion, race, or culture?
    Prevention of Turkey will show that the EU can not overcome the clash
    of civilizations phobia and Crusader logic yet. Moreover, concerns
    regarding racism will increase.' Ghezali, reminding Turkey is a big
    power in the region, maintained Turks should also trust themselves.

    Tunisian weekly magazine Tunis Hebdo's editor-in-chief Tahar Selmi
    said Turkey's start of membership negotiations with the EU will be a
    mediating factor between Europe and Islam. Selmi stressed that the EU
    has always behaved hesitantly towards the 70-million populated
    Turkey, 99 percent of which is Muslim, and this mostly stemmed from
    religious motives. Selmi, indicating former French President Valery
    Giscard d'Estaing had openly described the EU as a `Christian Club,'
    argued that denial of Turkey would prove this hypothesis.

    Egypt's Al Watan Al Arabiya newspaper editor-in-chief Ahmed Vecdi
    commented on the issue as: `Europe raises several problems in order
    to not accept Turkey to the membership. The latest EP decision on the
    Armenian issue is one of them. Turkey's place is absolutely Europe.
    Turkey will be the interception point of different civilizations. If
    Europe accepts Turkey, it will show that it is not solely a Christian
    entity. If Turkey integrates with the EU, it will both become the
    most powerful country of the Islamic world and introduce the Islamic
    culture to Europe.'
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