CARDINAL OPPOSES TURKEY JOINING EU

Yerkir
05.07.2006 14:28

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The recent stabbing of a Catholic priest in Samsun,
northern Turkey, shows that Turkey is not ready for European Union
membership, according to the head of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper.

"It is not the right moment for Turkey to join the European Union. What
is still missing [in Turkey], is a secular state capable of assuring
real religious freedom, and this is a long process which needs time,"
he said on Tuesday.

Referring to the stabbing by a Turkish suspect of French priest Pierre
Brunissen late on Sunday, Kasper said the Catholic church believes that
"every act of violence committed in the name of God is an insult to
Him and to every religion."

"Islamic fundamentalism is growing in Istanbul and there is hostility
towards foreigners," Kasper explained.

"Europe can have a ‘special’ relation with Turkey, but this is not
the right time for more – Turkey should adapt to European culture
beforehand," he concluded.