INTERVIEW: Rabobank CEO Backs Turkey's EU Membership
The head one of the world's leading agricultural financing banks - and a major retail bank in the Netherlands - said Wednesday that he supports Turkey's membership in the European Union and that denying membership because of the Turkey's predominantly Muslim population is nonsense. Bert Heemskerk, chief executive of Dutch cooperative Rabobank (RBK.YY) told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday that he would gladly welcome Turkey as new E.U. member. "Excluding Turkey on the basis of faith - that it wouldn't fit in the Christian tradition - is nonsense," Heemskerk said. Rabobank is the fourth-largest financial services group in the Netherlands with total assets of EUR475 billion and posted a net profit of EUR1.5 billion in 2004. Rabobank is the largest retail bank in the Netherlands and the world's number food- and agricultural financing operation. "On the contrary, Europe should embrace such a country that has a clear divide between church and state," he said. Heemskerk's remarks follow the official start of membership talks between the European Union and Turkish officials Tuesday. Membership talks had stalled because of pressure and conditions set by various EU member states over Turkey's bid to join the EU. The U.K., Poland and Italy support Turkey's quest to join the EU, but poll results in Germany, France and Austria indicate that a majority oppose Turkey's entry into the EU.
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