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ISTANBUL, May 3 (AFP)-Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit criticized Western Europe for discriminating against Muslim Turkey at the start of a conference on dialogue between religions here on Wednesday. "It is an interesting example of negligence that some circles in Europe are still discussing whether Turkey is European or not," Ecevit said in his address to the five-day gathering. "There are two reasons for this. One is that racism is still an important factor in Europe and the other is the prevailing opinion which views the European Union as a Christian club," he added. Turkey, officially a strictly secular but overwhelmingly Muslim country, was named a candidate for EU membership last December, ending two years of frosty ties with the EU. When its bid to join the EU was rejected in 1997 on account of its poor human rights record, Turkey angrily suspended political dialogue with the Union, accusing its members, especially Germany, of rejecting its bid on religious grounds. "It is undeniable that Turks are a part of Europe both geographically, historically and culturally," Ecevit added, citing half-a-century of Ottoman rule in Eastern Europe and the large number of Turks living in EU countries. The International European Union Council was organized by Turkey's general directorate of religious affairs to look into ways of contributing to Ankara's accession to the EU. It lasts until May 7. The some 150 delegates from Turkey, France, the Vatican, Austria, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden are expected to discuss issues, ranging from Turkey's EU candidacy to Islam's image in Europe.
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