Ankara, Turkey - The Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs is setting up "permanent representative" structure in Brussels to contribute to the full membership negotiations between Turkey and the European Union.
The works to be conducted as a half civilian organization will be realized under the umbrella of the Europe Religious Institutions Union. One aim of the Religious Affairs Directorate is to correct the misunderstandings about Islam and to repair the negative image. In the activities, it will be underlined that Islam is not is not an obstacle before Turkey's EU membership. A research center will be set up in the Religious Affairs Directorate building in Brussels. In addition to the Religious Affairs Directorate staff, scholars, artists and non-governmental organization representatives will serve at the center, where reports for the Turkish negotiation delegation will be prepared. Religious Affairs Directorate Deputy Chairman Mehmet Gormez giving information to Zaman on the issue said the statements they made about missionary activities in Turkey were reflected as a campaign against Christianity. Gormez noted the misconceptions in European countries also entered the European Union Progress Report.
The Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, whose proposal of establishing a permanent representative office in Brussels was rejected, will realize its lobbying function in the EU capital through the Europe Religious Institutions Union.
Religious Affairs Directorate Deputy Chairman Gormez, stating the EU Progress Report is full of mistakes about religious freedoms in Turkey and the Religious Affairs Directorate, asserted "The reaction we showed to the missionary activities was reflected as an antagonism of Christianity. The Europe Religious Institutions Union will correct this wrong and unjust situation. The research center will contribute to Turkey's EU membership with reports it will publish at certain intervals and it will inform the negotiation delegation."