Few concerned over missed Erdogan-Pope meeting, which still might happen
Ankara (AsiaNews) Torrential rains, which have devastated eastern Turkey killing some 30 people, have made the front pageswith colour photos to matchof Turkey's main papers today. Turkish troops and various national and international humanitarian organisations are involved in the rescue operations. The result has been that Turks have time for this tragedy, not much for anything else.
Not much space has been given to the fact that Prime Minister Erdogan will not meet Pope Benedict XVI during the latter's November 28-december 1 visit to Turkey.
An aide said the PM had not excluded meeting the Pope, and that he would be glad to meet him if both sides could agree on the timing. Erdogan's willingness is confirmed by a Vatican press release which noted that the Holy See already knew from preparing the papal visit that the Turkish prime minister would be involved in a NATO summit in Latvia and that he would try to be at home to meet the Holy Father but that he could not guarantee his presence. In his absence, the deputy prime minister would represent him.
The Turkish PM's absence was taken for granted ever since Turkey's President Necdet Sezer agreed to the Pope's visituntil the murder of Fr Andrea Santoro, doubts had persisted on the visit's feasibilitybut on the understanding that Erdogan would be in Latvia for the NATO summit.
For President Sezer, changing the date was out of the question since November 30 is the feast day of St Andrew, patron saint of the Orthodox, which Benedict XVI himself wants to celebrate with Patriarch Bartholomew I. This also meant, Turkish papers reported, that the president would not travel to the NATO summit as expected in order to personally greet Benedict XVI as the head of the Vatican state on Turkish soil.
It is no secret that PM Erdogan places great value in meeting with US and NATO leaders to confirm Turkey's international commitments at a time when negotiations with the European Union remain difficult and controversial. However, the NATO summit in Riga will take place on November 28 and 29 so that Erdogan could be home on the 30.
Speaking yesterday about the Pope's visit, Alì Bardakoğlu, head of the country's Religious Affairs Directorate, noted that criticism of Islam was a real threat to peace. He said that "it was saddening" to see Islam criticised whilst the religion's contribution to civilization is ignored. "This attitude, which fuels division and lack of mutual trust, is seriously threatening world peace". What is more, in confirming a meeting with Benedict XVI during the latter's visit to Turkey, Bardakoğlu said that "people meeting does not mean that they approve each other."
On the whole, it would seem that Turkey is still uncertain as to what approach to take. So is Europe, according to the Turkish press, which has focused on "European schizophrenia" vis-à-vis Turkey.
Till recently, Europeans seemed favourably disposed towards Turkey's entry into the Union, praising the progress it made and acknowledging its efforts towards democratisation. Now they seem to have slammed the breaks, threatening entry talks scheduled to start next December.
To further complicate matters, observers are anxiously waiting for the European Commission's report on Turkey due for release on November 8. Early leaks indicate suggest that is application faces some tall obstacles such as trade with Cyprus, freedom of expression, protection for ethnic and religious minorities, the place of the military in the country's politics and the use of torture in its prisons.
All this uncertainty has led to a shift in Turkish public opinion. Until last year, some 70 per cent backed entry into the EU, not they are only 54 per cent.
This is worrisome signal that might have real negative consequences for those same ethnic and religious minorities whose protection is sought if the European Commission makes the wrong decision.
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24/09/2018 18:07
22/07/2022 10:11
