"The dialogue between civilizations is no longer a joke," said Borrell

By Al-Amin Andalusi, IOL Correspondent

MADRID, September 21, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell has called for giving priority to bridge the gap between the West and the Islamic world under an "alliance of civilizations," warning of denying Muslim Turkey access to the enlarging European Union (EU).

"The dialogue between civilizations is no longer a joke when relations between the West and the Muslim world are on edge," Borrell told a European economic gathering in Madrid Tuesday, September 20.

Spaniard Borrell said "political parties" are not expected to mock at the Spanish-proposed "alliance of civilizations," saying it has become inevitable.

"The alliance of civilizations has reached the point of no return," he said emphatically.

West's Preoccupation

He was responding to bids by the Spanish right-wing parties to belittle the proposed alliance, dubbing it as the "caricature alliance" and an "hoary old idea." 

Borrell said relations with the Muslim world have emerged now as the West's main preoccupation.  

The alliance initiative was first unveiled by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the UN General Assembly in New York in September of 2004.

The initiative was later co-sponsored by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a March summit between both leaders.

Borrell, the former leader of Spain 's Socialist Party, further said an ad hoc group formed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will convene soon in Morocco and Spain to tackle how to put the idea into effect.

The Moroccan town of Al-Sawira , south of Casablanca , is expected to play host to the meeting, IslamOnline.net learnt.

The 18-member group includes international dignitaries from Iran ’s former president Mohammad Khatami to South African and Noble laureate archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Muslim Turkey

Borrell also warned of not allowing Turkey into the euro bloc because of it is a Muslim country with up to 70 million people.

"Rejecting Ankara would inextricably strain relations between the West and the Muslim world," he said.

Borrell said Turkey's bid will put Europe's secularism to the test and show whether it is really secular or Christian, in reference to rejectionists of Turkey's efforts chiefly Pope Benedict XVI.

The new pope had said that allowing the predominantly Muslim nation into Europe ’s club would be "an enormous mistake."

Europe is a "cultural continent, not a geographic one," he said in 2004, and Turkey has "always represented another continent... in permanent contrast with Europe ."

The European Union finally agreed Wednesday, September 21, a hotly-contested declaration on Turkey , voicing confidence that it would clear the way for talks with Ankara next month despite lingering problems.

The bloc's British presidency said the only obstacle to the October 3 start of talks with Turkey is Austria , which wants the EU to offer the vast Muslim country something short of full EU membership, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

EU leaders agreed last December on the October 3 date to start membership talks with Turkey, despite Ankara's refusal to recognize the Greek Cypriot government of Cyprus, which joined the 25-nation Union in May last year.

The EU declaration on Turkey demands that Ankara recognize the Cypriot government at some point before it actually joins the bloc, a step unlikely for at least a decade.