Zenit News Agency, Italy
Nov. 1, 2004
Holy See Neutral on Turkey’s Entry Into European Union
Depends on EU Criteria, Says Vatican Official
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 1, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See does not have an
official position on Turkey’s entrance in the European Union, and
considers that the decision must be made according to EU rules.
In an interview with the Turin newspaper La Stampa, Archbishop Giovanni
Lajolo, Vatican secretary for relations with states, clarified that “in
the case of adherence, Turkey must satisfy all the political criteria
set forth at the Copenhagen Summit in December 2002.”
These criteria include the complete guarantee of human rights as well
as full individual and corporate religious freedom, “founded on the
dignity of man.”
In particular, the prelate analyzed the situation of religious freedom
in the country, and stressed that “not only must it be guaranteed at
the level of the Constitution, legislation and administration, but must
also be effectively protected in the concrete aspects of the social
fabric.”
Those who are opposed to Turkey’s entrance into the European Union
generally think that such a decision might weaken the cultural unity of
the Continent. Those who promote it believe that it would give the
Muslim world an example of integration into the Western world.
Archbishop Lajolo said that these arguments show that “what is at stake
is of transcendental relevance, and therefore it is very understandable
that some European governments wish to be supported in their decision
by a referendum.”
“Anyway, the Holy See is not afraid of an enlargement of Europe: John
Paul II has spoken on several occasions of a united Europe from the
Atlantic to the Urals. It is critical that the New Europe have profound
inner cohesion,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Lajolo added that “more attention should be paid to states
that are already candidates, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, as
well as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia — countries that have an
old and great culture.”
“And the list could continue with other states of the Balkans, such as
Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania, which Europe cannot do
without and to which the Holy See also feels very close,” he concluded.