[autom.vertaling] Turkije krijgt de steun van Vatikaan voor zijn bod van de EU (en)

The Vatican is not objecting to Turkish EU membership and does not regard the EU as a Christian club, the Holy See's Ambassador to Ankara, Edmond Farhat, said today.

However, the Ambassador was quoted as saying that the Vatican would like to see Turkey complete its reforms over personal and religious liberties before joining the EU, Ansa reported.

The Vatican is also complaining that Turkey has still not officially recognised Christianity.

This statement comes months after two senior figures in the Vatican publicly questioned the suitability of Turkey for eventual EU membership and comes amid debates on whether there should be a reference to Christianity in the future EU Constitution.

The Roman Catholic Church wants to see a reference to "religious, and especially Christian, heritage" in the preamble of the Constitution.

This demand also seems to be supported by seven current and future EU member states.