Ambassador Michael B. Christides, General Secretary of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (KEİ), participated the first meeting of Western Platform in 2017. Christides stated that Chairmanship-in-Office of KEİ shall be held by Turkey in the first half of 2017 and said that KEİ serves as a bridge between the east and west.
Western Platform established under the Istanbul Aydın University Western Research and Application Center held it first meeting in 2017. Ambassador Michael B. Christides, General Secretary of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (KEİ), attended to the meeting as a speaker and besides the establishment and history of KEİ, he talked about its function within the existing conjectural process.
In his speech, Christides underlined that Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization has a very significant function during an era while the fundamentalism rises in the east, extreme right rises in the west, and reminded that Chairmanship-in-Office passes to Turkey in the first half of 2017, and stated that Turkey is one of the most significant and pioneering members of the organization and he said that "Idea of KEİ was bandied about by Turkey first during the Özal period. Today international general secretary office is held by Turkey too. Therefore, I see Turkey as the headquarters of KEİ
Turkey is very important for KEİ
Michael B. Christides – General Secretary of KEİ
Today, the position of BSEC on the regional policies is very significant. We faced with a multi-polar world after the Cold War. There is the USA at one side, Russia in the other, and China and EU in other sides. USA is tired and losing its power, or it seems like that. Trump elected as the president unforeseeable way. Against the principle established by Woodrow Wilson, ex-president of USA, and saying "Any international issue is an issue of the USA", this might cause the USA to turn in on itself. Furthermore, there will be elections in many European countries within the next two years and these countries, like France and Italy, are the constituents of the EU. These elections shall set the tone of the EU. If the extreme right, which have been in a rise in EU recently, become more powerful after these elections, international trade shall get into hot water. Under such circumstances, the function of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, celebrating its 25th establishment anniversary this year, becomes very significant. KEİ is in the middle of these two problematic regions, it serves as a bridge enabling the communication of these two zones. In the first half of this year, Turkey will be held the chairmanship-in-office. We aim that Turkey shall take a role to bring the West and East and obtain closer cooperation. The chairmanship-in-office of Turkey, who bandied about the idea of BSEC during the period when Özal was the prime minister, shall strengthen the BSEC's mission to be a bridge between the East and the West.
"We should Establish Cooperation in Our Region First"
Dr. Mustafa Aydın – President of Board of Trustees, İAÜ
The Black See Economic Cooperation Organization, is an establishment for the cooperation of the countries especially within the surrounding regions and Black Sea Basin in economic, social, political, cultural and educational aspects. Turkey is the originator of this organization. Therefore, KEİ originated relations are more significant for Turkey than any other countries. As you would appreciate, we have to build cooperation first in our own region. Strong cooperation within our own region shall spread in waves to the other parts of the world. As of 1 January, Turkey become the Chairmanship-in Office of KEİ for the first half of 2017. This is a very significant development both for KEİ and Turkey. Thanks to Turkey, activities of BSEC shall become more powerful in the region. On the other hand, Turkey shall have an important role to determine the position of KEİ in the efforts for a solution in Cyprus or in case of a possible merger. It is beneficial for everyone that BSEC develops and deepens its function in this chamber of fire, where we live in, and strengthen its position as a bridge of peace between the East and the West.
KEİ's Role is Important
Faik Tunay – Ex- MP of Istanbul
No one expected the election of Donald Trump as the president of the USA. Because Trump resembles Putin from some structural aspects. Therefore, I think the USA-Russia relations shall be calm for a while after Trump takes his office, In these relations, mediator role undertaken by KEİ is also important.
It Enables the Energy Safety
Prof. Dr. A. Sedat Aybar – İAÜ Academic Member
The region coordinated by KEİ also contains the international energy corridors. Therefore, the function to be performed by BSEC in the region, has a key importance for the world energy markets and energy safety. KEİ has already performed this mission in the best way for 25 years.
KEİ shall Determine the Future
Ünal Çeviköz – Ex Ambassador
KEİ celebrates its silver establishment anniversary this year. The point where KEİ reached within this 25 year long period, is the proof for the importance of KEİ for the peace and economics of the regions. KEİ shall continue to determine the future of the significant part of the region called Old World in the near future
Compromise on KEİ Leads the Peace of the World
Egemen Bağış – Ex EU Relations Minister
Actually Turkey is both the most eastern country of the west and the most western country of the east. An active role played by such country like in an organization like KEİ is a chance for the region too. If a compromise can be reached in KEİ with the help of this position of Turkey, KEİ shall be able to solve all the chronic problems of the region and contribute the peace in the world.
KEİ Open Up New Horizons
Prof. Dr. Kenan Gürsoy – İAÜ Manager of Western Research Center
When the member countries are taken into consideration, KEİ leads a deep synergy in our historical and culture geography. Benefiting from this, as a bridge between the west and the east, has a great significance for the peace of the world from political and economical aspects. Considering this collaboration is also open to cultural cooperation, it is beneficial to think it as a new horizon for the world.
