Independent Commission members in Turkey, activating for EU membership

Two important members of the Independent Commission, created with the support of the Open Society Institute, were in Turkey this week. They were the former Charge d'Affaires from the Austrain Foreign Ministry, Albert Rohan, and the former Spanish Foreign Minister Marcelino Oreja Aguirre. I met with Rohan one day before the "Turkey's Star Cities" meeting in Kayseri, and with Aguiree the day after the meeting.  As you might know, the Independent Commission is doing some serious lobbying for Turkey on the matter of the EU. Its members believe with all their hearts in our membership in the EU.  Rohan, before he takes over the rotating presidency of the commission, is trying to organize big events in Vienna, like inviting members of the business world in favor of Turkey entering the EU. The theme of the dinner will be "A Turkish EU membership would mean important opportunities for Austrian business people."  Interestingly, Rohan has been so affected by Orhan Pamuk's recent novel "Snow," that he told me he was heading from Kayseri to Kars to inspect the scene of the book in person. Â