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Turkey's bid for entry could fuel debate for European Union
Catholic World News
Dec 16 2004
Dec. 16 (AsiaNews) - European leaders will decide tomorrow whether or
not to open talks with Turkey about that country's bid to enter the
European Union. The European Parliament has passed-- by a substantial
407 to 262 margin-- a non-binding resolution approving the opening
of negotiations.
But Turkey's bid for member is controversial, the AsiaNews service
observes. As Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip headed for Brussels
this week, he encapsulated the controversy in one public statement,
claiming that the European Union "has an obligation to prove that it
is not a Christian club" by accepting the Turkish bid.
Discussion of Turkey's possible entry is likely to cause a serious of
potentially heated debates, beginning with the question of Europe's
Christian identity. Other questions sure to be raised include
Turkey's attitude toward the death penalty, the rights of ethnic and
religious minorities, and even the refusal of the Turkish government
to acknowledge the Armenian genocide of 1915.
Catholic World News
Dec 16 2004
Dec. 16 (AsiaNews) - European leaders will decide tomorrow whether or
not to open talks with Turkey about that country's bid to enter the
European Union. The European Parliament has passed-- by a substantial
407 to 262 margin-- a non-binding resolution approving the opening
of negotiations.
But Turkey's bid for member is controversial, the AsiaNews service
observes. As Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip headed for Brussels
this week, he encapsulated the controversy in one public statement,
claiming that the European Union "has an obligation to prove that it
is not a Christian club" by accepting the Turkish bid.
Discussion of Turkey's possible entry is likely to cause a serious of
potentially heated debates, beginning with the question of Europe's
Christian identity. Other questions sure to be raised include
Turkey's attitude toward the death penalty, the rights of ethnic and
religious minorities, and even the refusal of the Turkish government
to acknowledge the Armenian genocide of 1915.