BERLIN, Dec 15 (AFP) - Turkey's bid for membership of the European Union presents the continent with "one of its biggest challenges since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989", German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said.
Fischer set out five reasons in Bild newspaper on Wednesday why EU leaders should give the predominantly Muslim nation the go-ahead to enter membership talks when they meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
"If, as seems highly likely, EU leaders give the go-ahead on Friday... a new chapter will be written in the history of Europe," Fischer wrote.
"Turkey belongs to Europe. Seen from a historical point of view, Christianity and Western values have left their mark on Turkey just as much as Islam and Oriental traditions," he added.
And Fischer said that admitting Turkey to the European club could create a pole of peace between Europe and the Middle East.
"A tolerant, modern and moderately Islamic Turkey at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East would have a big effect on the whole Islamic world."
But Fischer warned that stopping short of offering Turkey full EU membership -- the German opposition for example is calling for only a "privileged partnership" -- would be seen by most Turks as an insult.
"Slamming the door of the EU in Turkey's face would only strengthen those in Ankara who reject Europe and democratic traditions. No one can want that and no one has the right to want that," he added.
Germany, which is home to the largest Turkish immigrant population in the EU at 2.8 million, is one of the strongest supporters of Turkey's bid.
12/15/2004 09:53 GMT - AFP