He also praised the secular character of the Turkish state: "Turkey demonstrates that a secular democratic republic, with a predominantly Muslim population, well integrated in Europe, offers a powerful alternative to fundamentalist temptations throughout the world, as well as a major asset in promoting dialogue between civilisations and religions," he stressed.
Također je pohvalio sekularni ustroj turske države: "Turska pokazuje kako sekularna demokratska republika, s pretežito muslimanskim stanovništvom, dobro integrirana u Europu, nudi moćnu branu fundamentalističkim pobudama diljem svijeta, kao i važan resurs u promicanju dijaloga između civilizacija i religija", naglasio je.