Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, who was a guest on the show "Reflections from the Frame" broadcast on TGRT TV and anchored by Türkiye Newspaper Editör in Chief Fuat Bol, evaluated the process of accession to the EU. in the show Erdem voiced his views: 'Turkey, for the good of its citizens, has been struggling for a period of 41 years to be a member of this association of contemporary civilizations. And it has made great strides in this respect European states, on the other hand, are stili in a dilemma ever since 1860, on whether to admit Turkey into their midst. The administration in power is an administration that knows what it can gain from Europe and it has been successful in obtaining a date for the start of negotiations. Both Pnme Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül are highly successful. We were not given a date for start of negotiations for our good looks! Neither does the decision have a calculated reason behind it. Turkey's role has changed since September 11. The pressure of a worldwide islam population of 1.5 Billion people can be felt in our country as well as in other Müslim states. On the other hand the U.S. has ambitions in the Middle East, and these ambitions go well beyond the EU. Societies prove themselves by taking steps forward, not by retreating. The administration will guard its red lines and will assert its tone on those matters which it finds unacceptable. On this issue, the govemment has worked hard to prepare in the last two years to grasp December 17 in ali its importance. Yet we need to act even more carefully after December 17. l believe that Turkey will be admitted to the EU. l do not mind the date of 2014 being pronounced, as we can easily get it done in 5 years."