European Parliament Hosts First Iftar

October 13, 2005

Source: Turkish Weekly/Zaman.com

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=20694

On October 13, 2005 Zaman.com reported, "The European Parliament (EP) hosted an iftar dinner for the first time in its history. The 'fast-breaking dinner for Ramadan' took place one week after the EU launched accession talks with Turkey; it was organized by the Belgian-Turkish Businessmen Association (BETIAD), the Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP) and the EP. The iftar dinner hosted by EP members Cem Ozdemir, Claude Moraes, Dr. Georges Chatzimarkakis and German State Minister Armin Lachet was said to be the most crowded dinner organized in the EP. Greek-origin Chatzimarkakis said, 'Islam entered the EU with this iftar organization,' also mentioned the tolerance of the Ottoman era in a positive way. Christian Democrat members opposing Turkey's entry to the EU also showed interest in the iftar dinner attended by nearly 30 EP MPs."