French FM says no to Obama's call for Turkish EU admission

Because of "Turkey’s evolution in, let’s say, a more religious direction." Yeah, let's say that. "France Foreign Minister rebuffs Obama's call for Turkey's EU admission," by Philippe Naughton for the TimesOnline, April 7

France's powerful Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, said today that he had turned against the idea of allowing Turkey to join the European Union because of Ankara’s behaviour at last week’s Nato summit.

Mr Kouchner, who came to prominence as co-founder of Medecins sans Frontieres, made the comment as Barack Obama - speaking to a gathering of students in Istanbul on the final event of his eight-day European tour - called once again for Turkey to be granted EU membership.

President Sarkozy has long been opposed to Turkey’s EU bid and that has been official French policy, but his left-wing Foreign Minister had been more open to the idea - at least until Saturday's summit in Strasbourg.

“Turkey’s evolution in, let’s say, a more religious direction, towards a less robust secularism, worries me,” the minister told RTL radio....

As it should worry everyone.