22/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Werner Langen and Hartmut Nassauer, CDU MEPs, have stated in press releases that Turkish prime minister Erdogan is not the most appropriate person to play the role of mediator between Christian and Muslim countries. Mr Langen deplored the fact that Mr Erdogan had given himself this role while religious freedom for Christians and “minority Muslims” was not being assured, explained Mr Langen, in a reference to the pressure exerted on Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches. The MEP said that it was not coincidental that since the founding of the Turkish state in 1924 the percentage of non-Muslims had fallen from around 20% to 0.5% of the population.