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Christian Orthodox leader urges European Union to accept Turkey

Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, seen by many of the world's Orthodox Christians as their spiritual leader, has said he backs the bid by Turkey to join the European Union if the Muslim-majority nation meets human rights standards, reports Ecumenical News International.

"Europe needs to bring Turkey into its project," Bartholomeos said in a speech to the European Parliament in Brussels. "Turkey needs to foster intercultural dialogue and tolerance in order to be accepted into the European Project."

In his address, Bartholomeos noted reticence in some European Union countries about Turkey's possible EU membership because the country is predominantly Muslim. "And yet Europe is filled with millions of Muslims, who have come here from all sorts of backgrounds," the patriarch told his audience.

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TAGS: Turkey Istanbul European Union Patriarch Bartholomeos I EU membership

[09/30/2008]

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