HEADLINES | TASAM Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies

From the political economy point of view, a successful transition process toward market economy requires critical and clear intellectual perception of global political and economic trends. From time perspective, intellectuals are those who determine the path that a society pursues in a long term, while politicians lead society in a short term (between elections).

The founding members of the EEC were a homogenous group of coun­tries in economic development terms. The economic architecture of the EU is based on one-size-fits-all (OSFA) framework. European single market (ESM) and Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) are two most important institution of the kind.

In the second half of the 80s and in the 90s, the Balkan states were faced with serious economic and political challenges whose impact altered the logic of social living. These changes were simultaneous with some other crucial changes taking place at the world level. While the so-called Eastern Block was faced with radical social changes,

As is known, Turkey was accepted as one of the strategic partners of Africa at the 12th ordinary meeting of the Executive Council of African Union which was held in Addis Ababa between 25-29 of January 2008. If we consider the fact that only countries such as People’s Republic of China, Japan, South Korea and India have been previously deemed as strategic partners of the Organisation before, the importance of the qualification that Africa has granted Turkey becomes quite meaningful.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, during December 7-18, 2009. There still remains optimism that this conference will result in the revision the Kyoto Protocol and will produce a framework for climate change mitigation beyond 2012. However, as revealed by the intransigence of some of the leaders of the industrialised world during the recent UN General Assembly debate on climate change, there is growing scepticism that this may not happen.

The last months of 2008 witnessed what is being called the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1929-30. The first indications of a serious crisis appeared in January 2008.

Cairo University Cairo, Egypt / I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning; and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt’s advancement.

I would like to thank to Turkish Center for Strategic Studies for this invi­tation and organization of this very important conference. I would like to speak of the importance of the role of GCC countries for the Asian Relational Asian and Development and the Republic of Turkey will be beneficent of these kinds of activities that the Gulf of Asian Council has able to produce for the development of Asia

27-29 May 2009 the SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliev participated in the 4th International Turkish-Asian Congress “Regional Organisations in Asia: Institutionalisation and Cooperation” held in Istanbul, he made statements during the opening of the Congress and the first plenary meeting on the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

I would like to thank fort he generous invitation of “Centre d’Etudes Strategique” of Morocco. And without losing much time, I would like to make my presentation.

Mister Chairman, distinguished participants, dear friends; It is my pleasure to take part in this very interesting "International Balkan Congress". I would like to express my appreciation for excellent organization and commend previous speakers which offered us a lot of fresh and new ideas and views on the present situation and the future of the Balkans.

First of all I would like to express gratitude to our hosts, the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) and Tekirdağ Governorship, together with Namık Kemal University who, by organizing this International Congress, gave us the opportunity to meet each other and exchange views on issues in which we are all interested, since we share the same region, its past, present and future.

Mr. Chairman, distinguish ministers, ambassadors, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, This is very exciting momentum we live in, especially regarding diplo-matic and international relations and new emerging democracies in globalized world. Croatia is a relatively new democracy. Although Croatia is mostly known as touristic destination, with vast historical and cultural heritage, on political level Croatia strives to serve as an example and guiding light for sta-bility in the Balkan region.