EU: You Need Vatican’s OK For Membership

They met with E.U. enlargement commissioner Günther Verheugen, Matthias Ruete who is the E.U. enlargement official in charge of Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, and Irish diplomats. Ireland will hold the E.U. presidency next term.

The IKV delegation observed that support for Turkey’s membership had increased.

Reportedly, the talks focused on the importance the E.U. gives to freedom of religion and Turkey’s problems regarding the subject.

European sources said that it was necessary to receive the Vatican’s approval for Turkey’s membership. E.U. officials noted that in case problems with freedom of religion in Turkey cannot be solved, the Vatican could use its influence with some countries against Turkey.

Complaints about X, Q

The E.U. delegation informed that despite the reforms on native language laws, complaints are still being heard from southeastern Turkey about not being able to use the letters X and Q in proper names.

IKV officials countered that when Turks go to Europe, some Turkish letters such as ?, ü, and ö are not used in names.

E.U. officials acknowledged the fact and replied: “You are right, we have not thought about it that way.”

Verheugen praised the government and stressed that it was time for E.U. leaders to prepare their public for Turkey’s full membership. E.U. officials were agreed that, within this perspective, Germany is doing whatever was necessary but France needed to put some effort into that direction.

Reportedly, Verheugen also told the IKV delegation: “In the 21st century, a clash between the Islamic World and the Christian World would be prevented solely by Turkey, the only democratic and secular Muslim country.”
He also said: “I like [Bulent] Ecevit; and Ismail Cem was my friend. However, they did not fulfill the requirements for reform. They were not ready to pay the price of reform.”