Erdogan: December 17th Is A Historic Turning Point For Both Europe And Turkey

LONDON (AA) - ''December 17the is a historic turning point for both Europe and Turkey,'' Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.
     Erdogan replied to the questions of Financial Times' Turkey correspondent Vincent Boland about Turkey's EU membership and Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
     Asked about his views on EU, Erdogan said, ''If the EU is not (to be) a Christian club then it has to accept Turkey.''
     ''Turkey would join as the representative of a different civilization, and Turkey's joining would make the EU the home of the merging of civilizations. I believe that EU leaders have recognized this fact,'' he noted.
     Asked about the opposition against Turkey, Erdogan said, ''as for the doubts that have emerged in some EU countries, notably France, about Turkey's credentials for membership, these ''can be overcome by political leadership''.
     When Boland asked about historical significance for Turkey of the EU decision, Erdogan said, ''for Turkey, a positive outcome will ensure that it is no longer 'an isolated and closed society' but 'an open and transparent one, in touch with the rest of the world. Countries on their own do not mean, do not represent, much any more. They can achieve a lot more in solidarity with their friends.''
     Replying to another question, Erdogan said, ''Let me be quite open and clear in stating a fact - we don't find it appropriate to mix religion and politics. We are not Muslim democrats, we are conservative democrats. Some in the west portray us as (Muslim democrats) but our notion of conservative democracy is to attach ourselves to the customs and the traditions and the values of our society, which is based on the family. This is a democratic issue, not a religious one.''
    ''The AK Party is not a religious party, and to portray it as such would be to misunderstand it. When I say that we are not a religious party, some people say, 'yes you are a religious party'. What can I say? If there are some people in the party who practice their religion and if that bothers people, there is not much I can do about it'' said Erdogan.
     Erdogan said he was a little tired of having to justify and explain his religious practice, and that of other members of his government. ''It's just like in the Christian world, where it is normal for politicians to practice their faith,'' he protested. ''It is the same here. Isn't this one of the requirements of the secular state?''
     (AY)
2004-12-04