"Will the EU ever permit Turkey to join its ranks?
By Abid Mustafa
Al-Jazeerah, January 16, 2005
On Sunday 19th of December 2004, Turkey�s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said,� The European Union's decision to extend membership talks with Turkey contributes to the Muslim country's stability and gives it a new position in Europe and the Islamic world.� The move was also welcomed by Tony Blair who said, �We are stating a fundamental principle that the fact Turkey is a Muslim country does not mean it should be barred from Europe. On the contrary, if it fulfils the same principles of human rights, then Muslim and Christian can work together.� The US holds a similar view and regards Turkey as an ideal model of Muslim democracy. However, earlier Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president said bluntly that the entry of Turkey, as an Islamic and mostly Asian power, would spell 'the end of Europe'. The majority of EU members share Giscard concerns and are weary of 70 million Muslims joining Europe. "
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