US warns against Muslim-Christian clash over Turkey

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned that the failure of the European Union to eventually admit Turkey could have dire consequences.

She said it was important that Turkey be admitted after it meets EU standards “because what we cannot afford to have is a divide between Turkey and the rest of Europe”.

She said that “might look like what was once described as the clash of civilisations” between Muslim Turkey and Christian Europe.

“That would be a very terrible thing,” she said.

Rice made her comments after a speech at the Commonwealth Club, responding to a question about the ratification of a new EU constitution. French voters appear likely to vote against the constitution in a referendum tomorrow.

Turkey is to start membership talks in October. Many Europeans worry about admitting the relatively poor country and some see that as a factor in opposition to the constitution.

Rice said she didn’t want to say anything that could be perceived as intervening in the debate over the constitution. She noted the importance of the US-European relationship and said that the prospect of membership in the EU has served as incentive for nations in central and eastern Europe to move toward democracy.

“We believe that the European Union has been a source of stability and hope that it can continue its efforts toward integration and unification,” she said.