DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 28 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan laid his country's case for European Union membership Friday before leaders from all over the world, saying it would help bridge a divide between civilizations.
"We want a Europe, a world, where there is a reconciliation between civilizations," Erdogan told political, business and social leaders gathered for the World Economic Forum at this Swiss ski resort.
Responding to critics who have questioned Ankara's historic right to join the 25-member EU, the Turkish leader recalled how, in the dying years of the Ottoman empire in the early 20th century, it "was defined as 'the sick man of Europe', not as the sick man of Asia."
"The European Union is no longer a union of steel and coal, it is no longer (just) an economic union," Erdogan said.
"It is not a Christian club, the European Union is the totality of its political values," to which Turkey would contribute, he added.
Ankara first applied to join the emerging bloc in 1963, but was only given formal approval to start membership talks last year.
Asked what would be the biggest obstacle to EU membership, he pointed to Europe's controversial Common Agricultural Policy, which aims to reconcile providing farmers with a reasonable standard of living and consumers with fair prices.
"For the rest we won't face any major difficulties," he forecast.
When forum founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab asked Erdogan how he might convince an average European to accept Turkey's bid, he stressed the need to reconcile differences between civilizations.
"We have to succeed in that, you are responsible, I am responsible, and we will have to succeed hand in hand, that would be my approach and I don't think they would say no to that," the Turkish leader said.
01/28/2005 20:15 GMT - AFP