Turkije wil dat ook Allah in de EU-Grondwet genoemd wordt (en)

Abdullah Gül, Turkey's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, has stoked up the debate on religion in the Constitution by saying that a reference to Islam and Judaism should be included in the text if Christianity is to be mentioned.

Speaking at the Foreign Ministers' "conclave" in Naples, Mr Gül said - according to Turkish Daily News - "I told those who want a clear reference to Christianity that the history of Europe had to be examined, because there were not only Christians, but Muslims and Jews in the history of Europe".

"Therefore if the Constitution has to mention Christianity, it should also refer to Judaism and Islam".

Despite this, Mr Gül repeated his conviction that the Constitution should remain free of references to religion.

"But we prefer the draft to remain with its existing form as a secular constitution", he concluded.

The argument over religion is one of the most difficult to resolve in the negotiations over the EU's draft Constitution and Foreign Ministers were unable to make progress on the issue over the weekend in Naples.

France and Belgium have traditionally objected most strongly to any reference to Christian heritage. But others, notably Poland, insist that such a clause be inserted into the text.