The Faster The Better!

According to Dr. Bahadir Kaleagasi, the Brussels representative of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), the meeting between Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union Enlargement Commissioner, Gunther Verheugen was "very positive."

"The crisis and the situation was brought to an end," said Dr. Kaleagasi. "The attention shifted to the real aim- which is, to win a positive progress report by the EU Commission on September 6."

"It seems that we are back to our senses, how nice..." said Dr. Cengiz Aktar, an EU enlargement expert at the Galatasaray University.

Both, Dr. Kaleagasi and Dr. Aktar, who spoke to bianet, think that the debate about the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the adultery article "were unnecessary," and argue that the tension that was created "has harmed Turkey to a certain degree."

"The faster we improve in terms of democratic credibility, the better," said Kaleagasi.

"That way, those opposing Turkey's EU membership will run out of excuses. Such contradictions are never beneficial. They cause mistrust and inconsistency."

As he commented on Erdogan-Verheugen meeting, Dr. Aktar said: "The government first did something without thinking, and then backtracked as expected. But neither Turkey, nor relations between Turkey and the EU needed such a tension at this time."

"Verheugen got what he wanted. He did not say anything on purpose. He was satisfied. According to insider information, he was assured during the meeting that the TCK would be approved..." (YS/BB/EA/YE)