Turkey, a long road” “

“We are happy at the European Commission’s decision. This is a fundamental moment for Turkey. Entering Europe will become an irreversible process confirming and committing the country to the process of democratic reform that is already underway”. In the words of spokesman Msg. Georges Marovitch, Turkish bishops are satisfied at the “yes” expressed in Brussels by Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, to the start of negotiations for joining the European Union. “However, we must not forget” Msg. Marovitch declared to SIR, “that we are still at the beginning of a long road, and that years will be needed to bring all the reforms into effect”. The spokesman recalled the still unresolved “questions associated, for example, with legal recognition for Churches and the recovery of buildings that once belonged to Churches. We need these buildings to maintain schools and hospitals run by ecclesial organisations. Advances have been made, even in other sectors, but the Institutions must be supported, especially now. The Catholic Church will do her part, fully respecting the various roles”. The spokesman concluded: “Some people are talking of Turkey not joining Europe before 2015, but it seems premature to make forecasts. Many things can happen, including a change of government and a renunciation of the negotiations. What counts now is that the process of reform and democratisation of Turkey does not stop, in order to bind us more closely to Europe”. lights and shadows. Doubts about Turkish entry to the EU are not related to religious differences; quite the contrary, from this point of view Turkey may become “a bridge between the Muslim and Christian worlds”. There are, however, restrictions to freedom and some oppression of minorities, throwing some darkness over the possibility of Turkey joining the European Union. This is a very brief summary of the conclusions reached by the Christian Churches of Europe in a document published yesterday by the “Church and Society” Commission of the Kek, the body that brings together 125 Churches of the Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican traditions. The KEK communiqué is the fruit of a broad-ranging consultation launched in February, in which Churches and communities were asked to reflect on a discussion paper. According to the conclusion, “for the Churches of Europe, the question of religious differences does not represent an obstacle for the continuation and improvement of relations between Turkey and the EU, or for proceeding towards an eventual Turkish entry to the Union”. Indeed, the fact that Turkey may become an EU member “could potentially have a beneficial effect on the development of positive relations between religions and cultures in Europe, even becoming a bridge between the Christian and Muslim worlds”. However the European Union, say the Churches, is also “a community of States and nations founded on the values of justice and peace, solidarity and pluralism, reconciliation and tolerance, freedom of speech and mutual respect”, and “at the present time we do not see the same expression of these values in Turkey”. On this matter, the Churches quote reports that speak of “torture in prisons” and the phenomena associated with the “oppression of minorities”, especially the Armenian minority. “Despite many promises from the Turkish authorities”, adds the KEK, “the Christian communities in the country still have a lot of problems in gaining legal recognition, property rights and freedom of education”. The document of the European Churches concludes by asking the EU to launch a wide-ranging study of this subject and of European community identity. “The European Churches are ready participate in this debate”.