Turkish PM defends not meeting Pope Benedict XI

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Monday November 13, 2006

Ankara- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday defended a decision not to meet Pope Benedict XVI when the pope visits Turkey later this month, saying he has to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania. "I have to go to the NATO summit," Erdogan said in Istanbul, noting that the pope, as head of state of the Vatican would be meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Turkish head of state.

Explaining that as prime minister it was impossible for him to pull out of the NATO summit, Erdogan said he had held many meetings with religious leaders.

"There is nothing else in this," Erdogan said.

Italian newspaper commentators had earlier speculated that Erdogan's decision to avoid meeting the pope during his visit to Turkey between November 28 and December 1 was based on internal political considerations.

The speculation was that Erdogan, leader of a moderate Islamic party, did not want to be seen with Pope Benedict XI as it may upset more conservative voters ahead of elections scheduled for 2007.

Pope Benedict XI upset many Moslems when he quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who described Islam as a religion spread by the sword. The pope has since expressed regret that the remarks had offended Moslems.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency