"Christian Europe Does Not Exist"

This brief from La Tribune, posted also at François Desouche, focuses on the words of Socialist European deputy, Vincent Peillon, who reproaches Nicolas Sarkozy for what he sees as an "irresponsible" stand against Turkey in the EU. (I don't think Monsieur Peillon has much to worry about):

On Sunday, Socialist Vincent Peillon deemed as "irresponsible" the opposition of Nicolas Sarkozy to Turkey's accession into the European Union.

"Nobody has said that Turkey is entering now. The negotiations are very long and very complex, but to say "a priori, I am against it", is to assume a heavy historical responsibility with respect to the century that is beginning and to the geo-strategic stakes of the future," he said on the televised news journal "Dimanche soir politique" (Sunday night politics).

"This remark from Nicolas Sarkozy is irresponsible," added the man whose name will be first on the Socialist ballot for the South-East voting district in the June 7 European elections.

Note: In the upcoming European Parliamentary elections, on June 7, Peillon's name will be on the ballot for the South-East, which includes the region of Lyons, even though he normally serves the district of the North-West. He claims that this was done against his will and that the decision was made by the general secretary of the Socialist Party Martine Aubry. See French Wikipedia.

The Socialist deputy recalled the role played by Ankara in the relations between Israel and the Palestinians, in the negotiations with Iraq and Iran, and in discussions on Afghanistan and Pakistan. "And we are supposed to deprive ourselves of the possibility of one day adding Turkey, because of one fallacious issue?" asked Peillon, for whom "Christian Europe does not exist."

Nicolas Sarkozy had declared on Sunday that he remained opposed to the entry of Turkey into the EU, in reaction to Barack Obama's position in favor of such a move.