Turkey should join Arabs, not EU - Vatican official

Mainly Muslim Turkey should seek its future in an association of Islamic nations rather than try to join a European community with Christian roots, the Vatican's top theologian said in an interview distributed yesterday.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, doctrinal head of the Roman Catholic Church, said Turkey had always been "in permanent contrast to Europe" and linking it to Europe would be a mistake.

He also told France's Le Figaro Magazine that the European Union should continue to debate the issue of its Christian heritage, a discussion that appeared to be closed in June when the EU adopted a constitution that avoided any mention of Christianity.

A secular state with a majority Muslim population, Turkey has been introducing political reforms to bolster its bid to open entry negotiations with the EU, which is due to decide in December whether to launch accession talks.

"In the course of history, Turkey has always represented a different continent, in permanent contrast to Europe," Ratzinger told the weekly magazine, noting that the Ottoman Empire once threatened Vienna and fought wars in the Balkans.