Pope defuses tensions on visit to Muslim Turkey

ANKARA, Nov 28 (Reuters) Pope Benedict today told Turkey he backed its bid to join the European Union and believed Islam was a religion of peace, hoping to soothe rows overshadowing a delicate visit to the mainly Muslim country.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan hailed the comments, which he said Benedict made to him in their private talk at the airport, and Turkish commentators said they changed the tone of a visit clouded by disputes over the Pope's view of Islam.

Asked about Turkey's EU entry bid, which Benedict opposed before his 2005 election as Pope, spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Vatican took no political stand but supported Turkey's entry ''on the basis of common values and principles.'' Security was heavy but protests rare under Ankara's sunny skies as Benedict arrived, laid a wreath at the mausoleum of the republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and met Turkey's president and director of religious affairs.

Erdogan, who had originally said he was too busy to meet the Pope, greeted Benedict warmly as he descended from his airplane and held short talks with him before leaving for the NATO summit in Riga.

''He said we are not political but we wish for Turkey to join the EU,'' Erdogan told journalists after meeting the Pope.

Erdogan, who began his career in Islamic politics, added: ''The most important message the Pope gave was towards Islam, he reiterated his view of Islam as peaceful and affectionate.'' MAKING UP FOR REGENSBURG Benedict later followed up with a speech that praised Turkey, once the heart of the Ottoman Empire and seat of the Islamic caliphate, as a great country and said Christians and Muslims had to continue an open dialogue.

His host at that event, Turkey's Religious Affairs Director Ali Bardakoglu, echoed earlier criticisms by warning that Islam was not a violent religion and presenting it as such could encourage wrongdoers who abused religion.

The atmosphere seemed cool at the meeting between Benedict, in simple papal white, and Bardakoglu, who wore a white hat and a white robe with red trim. But Lombardi said the Turk's speech was ''thorough, positive and respectful, never polemical.'' Benedict's comments appeared to go a long way towards making up for a speech in September in Germany where he quoted a Byzantine emperor who said Islam was violent and irrational.

This sparked protests across the Muslim world, including attacks on churches and the murder of an Italian nun in Somalia.

Benedict denied sharing the opinion he quoted and expressed regret for any misunderstanding, but did not withdraw his words.

''The Pope said today ... that he supported Turkey's EU bid.

That means he elevated Turkey from a second class membership into a first class membership,'' Cemal Usak, a Turkish Muslim active in interfaith dialogue, told CNN Turk.

''His Regensburg speech supported a clash of civilisations but now in today's remarks he apparently backs an alliance of civilisations,'' said Usak.

Political scientist Cengiz Aktar said Benedict should repeat his new view on Turkish EU membership at the Vatican to confirm what he called ''a new dialogue and a new era.

''This is not only something that will please Turks but will help all other Muslim countries because they're also watching,'' the Bahcesehir University professor told Reuters.

FEW PROTESTS Fears of large protests by Islamists and nationalists failed to materialise at the start of Benedict's four-day visit, with only two small and peaceful demonstrations reported in Ankara.

About 3,000 police were out on patrol to keep order.

Instead of protesters' shouts, Benedict could hear muezzins calling Muslims to prayer both as he entered the Ataturk mausoleum and later at the Religious Affairs Directorate.

He also paid a courtesy call on Ahmet Necdet Sezer, president of the overwhelmingly Muslim and officially secular state.

The visit by the leader of 1.1 billion Roman Catholics was meant to be a mostly Christian event but it has taken on wider ramifications in Western-Islamic relations, Catholic-Muslim relations and Turkey's own desire to be part of Europe.

More than 20,000 Muslim protesters rallied against the Pope's trip on Sunday in Istanbul, chanting ''Pope don't come.'' The main focus of his trip will be talks on Christian unity with Patriarch Bartholomew, the Istanbul-based spiritual head of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians.

REUTERS SBA BST0123