Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-02-14-Speech-3-041"
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"en.20010214.2.3-041"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start by wholly echoing the thanks which Commissioner Verheugen addressed to Mr Swoboda for his excellent report on Turkey’s pre-accession aid which has been discussed in this Chamber. I am convinced that your report, Mr Swoboda, will play a key role in the difficult discussions we are all so involved in, namely how best to bring Turkey closer to the EU.
I asked to speak in order to reply on behalf of the Council to the question which Mr Sacrédeus addressed to the presidency concerning religious freedom and tolerance between religions in Turkey. Let me just say that we in the Council naturally see these issues as being extremely important. Our discussions with Turkey on religious freedom are, of course, based on the fundamental Copenhagen criteria and on what we encounter in the partnership with Turkey concerning fulfilment of the requirements to respect the rights of minorities.
Mr Sacrédeus takes up the important issue of how to stimulate dialogue between different religions in Turkey and generally. We see this as an important element, not only in the partnership with Turkey but generally in Europe-Mediterranean cooperation. As far as the Swedish Presidency is concerned, we have tried to build on some of our own experiences. For example, there is the Euro-Islam project and the conferences against intolerance which were recently held in Stockholm, and of which Mr Sacrédeus is no doubt aware. We have tried to build on experience from these and to introduce a number of similar ideas into the partnership with Turkey in order to highlight the importance of respect for religious freedom.
Mr Sacrédeus also takes up the important issue of the trial of a Turkish priest. The Council is monitoring this matter extremely carefully. We know that the next trial hearing is on 22 February. The Council will be monitoring what happens then very carefully and we will react in a way we believe is appropriate."@en1
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