Published by Ekathimerini.com, October 26, 2004  Prince Charles supports Turkish EU bid on visit to consulate in Istanbul

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Britain’s Prince Charles yesterday praised Turkey as an example of religious tolerance and lent support to its bid to join the European Union, at the reopening of the bombed British Consulate in Istanbul.

The historic building was partly destroyed on November 20, 2003 in deadly twin bombings which also targeted the headquarters of Britain’s HSBC bank.

The carnage, blamed on a Turkish cell of the Al Qaeda network, came just five days after similar car bomb attacks on two Istanbul synagogues.

“Far from sowing division between us, those who planned these murderous attacks simply brought us together — Briton and Turk, Muslim, Jew and Christian,” Charles said at the ceremony, according to a copy of his speech released by the British Consulate.

The heir to the British throne praised Istanbul as a city where “different people, cultures, religions and even civilizations have come together... and lived alongside and learnt from each other.” He said Turkey’s EU bid was an “extraordinary opportunity” for the Muslim nation to prove “that secular democracy does not have to come at the expense of Islamic values; and that accepting Turkish cultural and social values within Europe does not mean that democracy and the rule of law are under threat.”

“For many years, the United Kingdom has been one of Turkey’s most steadfast supporters — in Europe and more widely. I know we will continue to provide that support in the years to come,” he added.

Although it is unusual for a member of the royal family to venture into a political debate, royal speeches abroad are generally vetted by the Foreign Office.

Turkish Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu and religious leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios, also attended the ceremony.

The consulate, in the crowded business district of Beyoglu, was under tight security for Charles’s visit. Police snipers were positioned on rooftops and security forces blocked off approaches to the building for the ceremony.

Later yesterday, the prince flew to Ankara, where he met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.