Turkey asked to mediate in cartoon row

The Austrian Presidency has invited Turkey to mediate in the conflict over the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

The EU is asking Turkey to step in as mediator between the West and the Muslim world over the crisis sparked by the recent publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The Austrian Presidency has thus invited Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to attend the scheduled informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Salzburg, Austria, on 10-11 March. Gul will deliver the opening speech at the meeting, where the agenda will include a debate on the aftermath of the cartoons’ publication by several newspapers. The protests worldwide have claimed at least 45 lives (see EURACTIV 31 January 2006).

“The topic to be discussed […] is the need for dialogue between civilisations, religions,” said a spokeswoman for the Austrian Presidency. Gul will also meet with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja in Vienna on 8 March. Gul is expected to promote the creation of an ‘Alliance of Civilisations,’ an initiative that was launched by the leaders of Spain and Turkey in November 2005 (see EURACTIV 7 February 2006) following a call from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Turkey, a secular state with a predominantly Muslim population, is a candidate for membership of the EU.

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