The Turkish government said a visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey in November will proceed as planned, describing the pontiff's remarks about Islam as ``unfortunate,'' the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

Canceling the pope's trip to Turkey on Nov. 28, the first by a leader of the Roman Catholic Church in more than 25 years, is ``out of the question,'' Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in Ankara today, according to Anatolia.

The pope today apologized in person for causing offense to Muslims with comments he made in a university lecture implicitly linking Islam to violence. He made the apology during the traditional Angelus blessing, his first public appearance since the Sept. 12 speech in Germany that led to protests worldwide from Muslim groups.

Joseph Ratzinger before he was elected pope in April last year opposed Turkey's membership of the European Union, saying the nation belongs to another continent. Membership talks began on Oct. 3 last year. Turkey's supporters in the EU say its accession is needed to help prevent a clash of civilizations.

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