Posted on 04/20/2005 9:37:07 AM PDT by Destro
New Pope's Views on Turkey/EU Stir Unease in Ankara
Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:49 AM BST
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish newspapers said on Wednesday that the new pope's opposition to Ankara joining the European Union could raise fresh obstacles to its membership.
Joseph Ratzinger, elected pope on Tuesday, has said Muslim but secular Turkey should seek its future in an association of Islamic nations rather than the EU, which has Christian roots.
In an interview last year for France's Le Figaro Magazine, Ratzinger, then doctrinal head of the Roman Catholic Church, said Turkey had always been "in permanent contrast to Europe" and that linking it to Europe would be a mistake.
"The new pope is against Turkey," said the liberal daily Radikal in a headline.
The centrist Milliyet described Ratzinger as "one of the fathers of the concept for offering Turkey a privileged partnership" instead of EU membership.
German and French conservatives also favor "a privileged partnership" for Turkey falling well short of full membership. Ankara, which is due to start entry talks with the EU on Oct. 3, says it is interested only in membership.
"It would be bad news if Cardinal Ratzinger continues to hold his views as Pope Benedict XVI," said commentator Selcuk Gultasli in the pro-government Zaman daily.
"At a time of rising opposition against Turkey's EU membership in countries like France, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands, the Vatican joining this opposition would send a wrong message not only to Turks but also to Muslims."
"Undoubtedly, the EU is a secular union ... but despite this secularity the Vatican's influence should not be underestimated," he added.
I think the Vatican needs a seat on the EU, get another Conservative Voice in Europe...Do they have a rep. in the UN?
Turkey should spend time cleaning up other Muslim countries, instead of trying to destroy Europe.
Yes, they have permanent observer status, no vote, but can debate and otherwise participate. That is way above the status of organizations such as the Red Cross and the World Council of Churches. Catholocism is the only religion to hold such a status in the UN.
I agree with the views, but I wouldn't expect the Vatican to give this kind of opinion.
Right. I suppose Ataturk was a muslim stooge in your opinion. I spent many years in Turkiye and I can assure you you want the Turks with us, not against us.
He was a proto Nazi.
By all means, feel free to elaborate. Keep in consideration that the new Pope was a real Nazi, if a reluctant one.
To be precise, it is not the religion of Catholicism that has permanent observer status. It is the independent nation of the Vatican that has observer status.
A refreshing revival for the West.
yes the Holy See has a permanant observer seat in the UN.
He was a member of the Hitler Jugend. To be a Nazi you had to be a party member, which wsas a privilege. But Ataturk had much in common with the
fascist leader Mussolini, except he was a much greater man.
I don't pretend to be an expert on Nazi's. I will say that Ataturk did more to pull Turkey away from muslim fundamentalism, and step his country in a western direction, than any other leader in the middle east could even hope to dream these days. One of my favorites was "Hat Day", the day all good Turks took off their kafiyas and wore western style hats. He also imbued the Turkish military with the ability to "coop" anytime a Turkish government strayed from his western path (something that has happened on several occasions). Call it what you want, but Ataturk's influence was and is still incredible in a part of the world better known for opium fields and radical muslims.
Benedict XVI is absolutely right about Turkey. Allowing Turkey into the the EU would greatly facilitate even more Moslem immigration into Europe. I'm glad the good guys won at Poitiers, Lepanto, and Vienna. If Europeans want to survive ( abig "if"), they will say no to Turkey.
Current events 101, the EU nations are being swarmed by muslims, period. The Kurds, under EU protection as persecuted peoples, have been pouring into Germany for years. The Turks have had a battle front against the Northern Iraqi Kurds for many years. Who's holding whos borders?
If Turkey is in the EU, closing the door to Moslem immigrants will be impossible. Pope Benedict XVI is absolutely right about Turkey.
Closing the door to muslim immigration is already impossible, unless socialism in the EU ceases to exist. Pick your immigrants, educated westernized Turks, or the dredge of the middle east.
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