Pope and Patriarch ponder an EU-member Turkey
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Pope Benedict and the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians said on Thursday minority rights must be protected as the EU expands and appeared to jointly support Turkish membership if it protected religious liberties.
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Pope Benedict sets off on Tuesday on one of the most delicate trips by a Pontiff, visiting Turkey, where resentment is seething over his comments on Islam and opposition to Ankara's EU bid.
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THE European Union has offered to start membership negotiations with Turkey, opening the way for the EUâs borders to reach Iraq and Iran, and for a poor Muslim nation in Asia to become the largest member of the Union.
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STRASBOURG, France - The European Union has recommend Turkey be put on the path to full membership, a historic move that could push Europe's borders to the Middle East and stoked fears among Europeans wary of bringing a poor Muslim country into the prosperous bloc.    Reflecting widespread misgivings, the 30-member EU executive commission on Wednesday set tough conditions to prevent Turkey from backtracking on sweeping democratic and human rights reforms, prompting a sharp response from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan...
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ISTANBUL -- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to meet Pope Benedict XVI in Turkey today, a change of plans that appears to signal openness to a visit that has angered many Turks.
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Last week&#39;s European Union summit offering Turkey talks on membership finished with hugs, kisses and a toast to a decision of historic moment.
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Pope Benedict XVI told a visiting Cypriot Orthodox leader Saturday that he holds hope that the Catholic and Orthodox churches can be united, despite centuries of painful division.
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EFES, Turkey  - Turkey on Wednesday praised the conciliatory tone of Pope Benedict during his visit to the predominantly Muslim country and his apparent new support for Ankara's bid to join the European Union.
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ISTANBUL -- A poster of a pig with the face of Pope Benedict XVI plastered to its head and a cross painted on its pink belly hinted at the fierce reception the pontiff could face in Turkey tomorrow when he kicks off his first papal trip to a Muslim country.
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Just the prospect of admitting Turkey, a Muslim country of 71 million people, into the European Union has set off a fierce debate over the nature of European identity.
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Pope Benedict XVIÂs visit to Turkey in late November is likely to be a flash point for a surprisingly broad array of issues.
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Turkey's top Muslim official said on  Thursday Pope Benedict should state clearly during a planned  visit to Turkey next week he believes Islam, like Christianity,  to be a religion of peace.
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Pope Benedict backed Ankara's EU entry bid and said Islam was a religion of peace on Tuesday, according to Turkey's prime minister, in a bid to soothe rows over his views in the mostly Muslim state.
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Commentators in Switzerland are divided about the effect of Turkey's possible entry into the European Union, following a recommendation to start talks with Ankara.
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All eyes are on Pope Benedict XVI's meeting with the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Church in Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew, says BBC's Europe analyst Jan Repa.
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Snipers and police security teams took up positions around Ankara airport as Pope Benedict XVI arrived for his first visit to a Muslim country. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shook hands with the pope at the foot of the plane. But dozens of Turks demonstrated against the pope, denouncing his visit to Turkey and saying he was not welcome.
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A Turkish policeman patrols in front of the St. Esprit Cathedral in Istanbul. The European Commission is to recommend a partial freeze on negotiations with Turkey on EU accession because of Ankara's refusal to ...Comment