Turkish State Minister Aydin: Islam Conforms With Democracy

MADRID - Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin said on Thursday that Islam conforms with democracy.
Aydin delivered a speech at a conference on Turkey-European Union (EU) relations as the guest of Carlos Amberes and FRIDE Foundations in Madrid.
Aydin said that Islam was a tolerant, open and pluralist religion which conforms with democracy.
Recalling that there were different views in Europe which oppose Turkey's EU membership, Aydin said, ''multiculturalism and tolerance is a universal value. Europe should not create a new culture, it should be pluralist. Cultural difference or religious difference do not exist in Copenhagen criteria.''
Aydin said regarding inclusion of ''Christianity'' expression in EU Constitution, ''we do not want reference to religion in an international document.''
Aydin will proceed from Spain to Germany on Friday.
(GC-AÖ) 04.06.2004