Eurasian Economic Summit embraces issues in heart of region

ISTANBUL

The 19th Eurasian Economic Summit, held by the Marmara Group Foundation, welcomed its guests on April 5 and was launched with an opening ceremony later in the day at the start of a two-day marathon to discuss energy and economic ties, as well as the global and regional struggle against climate change. 

“Today we are faced with crucial socio-economic and technological transformations. While these developments are shifting our assumptions, they are modifying our expectations for the future as well,” Dr. Akkan Suver, the president of the Marmara Group Foundation, said at a joint press meeting before the opening with the Istanbul Ready-Made Garment Exporters’ Association (IHKIB), the long-term supporter of the summit. 

“This new global situation will shape the 19th Eurasian Economic Summit to be held on April 5-7, 2016 in Istanbul and render this summit different than its counterparts. Apart from this, the refugee drama will be discussed at the 19th Eurasian Economic Summit. The whole of humanity is encountered by a huge tragedy of migration; the displaced families have been searching for a safer region desperately,” he said. 

Turkish Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş and Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım, will give speeches at the summit on a wide range of issues. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is attending the summit with top level representation, including President Marinko Cavara. 

Macedonia is represented by President Gjorge Ivanov and two ministers. 

Mustafa Akıncı, the president of Turkish Cyprus, will also participate in the summit.

Azerbaijan Deputy President Ali Hasanov will deliver a message by President Ilham Aliyev. 

Bamir Topi, the former president of Albania, Stjepan Mesci and Ivo Josipovic, former presidents of Croatia, Valdis Zalters, the former president of Latvia, Natsagiin Bagabandi, the former president of Mongolia, Petru Lucischi, the former president of Moldova, Emil Constantinescu, the former president of Romania and Abdullah Gül, the 11th president of Turkey, are among the other guests of the gathering. 

In addition, Taher al-Basri, the former prime minister of Jordan, Alenka Bratusek, the former prime minister of Slovenia, and Victor Ponta, the former prime minister of Romania are also attending the summit. 

Ecumenical Patriarch of Istanbul Bartholomeos, Shaykh al-Islam of Caucasia and Azerbaijan Allahşükür Paşazade, Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva in Turkey, Deputy Patriarch of the Turkish Syriac Catholic Church Yusuf Sağ and Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul, Ankara Yusuf Çetin are among the esteemed religious leaders to address the summit. 

During the summit social gender equality will be laid on the table by means of a round table discussion entitled “Leaders of Change - I support Social Gender Equality.”

The global pain of rising terrorism will also be among the core issues the summit will address.

“Turkey has passed a historical turning point nowadays. This is the case for the esteemed countries of the world as well. The chain of events taking place in Ankara and Istanbul are nothing less than those terrorist incidents which have occurred in Paris, London and Brussels,” Suver said. 

 “The unexpected relocation of people is cardinal in indicating that humanity has been at every turn under threat. Capital does not land in locations where instability and chaos have been prevalent; unless a safer place is available, it will not move into another place as well. During the summit all these issues will be substantially discussed,” Suver said. 

It is expected at the summit that good examples and experiences will be shared and common representative resolution models will be perused. 

The Eurasian Economic Summit has also continued the tradition of fashion shows. 

The fashion shows were initially held through the counselling of Nuri Artok before continuing under the guidance of Süleyman Orakçıoğlu. Today they are through the contributions of Hikmet Tanrıverdi and his companions.

This years’ show, organized under the leadership of the IHKIB, is held by Tuğba Ergin, who will present the colors and tones of Turkish draughtsmanship to the guests.