On je pohvalio i sekularni karakter turske države: "Turska pokazuje da sekularna demokratska republika, s pretežno muslimanskom populacijom, nudi moćnu alternativu fundamentalističkim iskušenjima širom svijeta, kao i vrijedno sredstvo za promoviranje dijaloga između civilizacija i vjera," naglasio je on.
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.