EU not a Christian club; Erdogan

If Turkey was not given a firm date by the EU at its December summit for opening accession negotiations, Ankara would continue to process of bringing the country’s laws and regulations into line with those of the EU, Erdogan told a press conference in Paris
“If the EU does not set a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey during its summit on December 17, 2004, we will change the name of the Copenhagen political criteria as the Ankara political criteria, and continue progressing on our own path,” the Turkish Prime Minister said on the second day of his three day visit to France. “Also, we will maintain our friendly relations with the regional countries in that case.”
“We do not consider the EU a Christian club. On the contrary, we describe it as a whole of political values in which civilisations meet each other,” he said.
Speaking after meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, Erdogan said that Turkey’s reform program was an ongoing process, one that aimed to improve the country and the lives of its people, not just to meet the requirements of the EU
“The Copenhagen political criteria are clear,” he said. “Fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria is required for opening of accession talks with the European Union (EU). We have done all necessary constitutional and legal changes to this end. There are still some changes to be made in the Turkish Penal Code. It will be concluded in the new legislative year.”