Gül attends Chatham House Istanbul meeting

President Abdullah Gül speaks during the inaugural Wilton Park annual address on ‘Historic transition in the Middle East and its impact on global politics’ at the Royal Society in London Nov 23. REUTERS photo

Turkish President Abdullah Gül attended the Chatham House Istanbul Roundtable Meeting yesterday in Istanbul where regional developments and the Arab Spring were discussed.

The meeting took place at Sakıp Sabancı Museum in Istanbul, which was closed to the press over the weekend. An inevitable democratic process has started in the region and there might be ups and downs until each country finds its stability, Gül said to participants in the meeting.

Gül also stressed Turkey might inspire these countries in the region. EU minister Egemen Bağış attended the meeting Nov. 26. Forming a new government based on the demands and power of the people is what is now important in the Arab Spring countries, Bağış said during the meeting on Nov. 26.

“It is crucial to understand the demands of people in the region and to be able to have an active role in changes in North Africa and Middle East,” said Suzan Sabancı Dinçer, the chairwoman and an executive board member of Akbank, as well as a member of the Chatham House Panel of Senior Advisers.

Chatham House aims to be a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all. Chatham House was founded in 1920 and is based in St. James’s Square, London.