Mediterranean Programme - [06/29/2007]

CIDOB participates in round table on Turkey at ISS-EU in Paris

Eduard Soler, the coordinator of the CIDOB Foundation's Mediterranean Programme, has taken part in a round table discussion in Paris that analysed the political upheaval experienced by Turkey in spring and summer of this year. The conference was organised by the Institute for Security Studies of the European Union (ISS-EU), a body linked to the Council of the European Union.

Some of the participants in the discussion defined the period under analysis as a crisis that reached its decisive point with the opposition to the election of Abdullah Gül as president of the Republic of Turkey. The arguments covered by the debate were based on the pro-secular demonstrations that took place in Turkey's main cities and, particularly, on the intervention by the Armed Forces in the political debate.

The speakers also discussed other subjects linked with Turkey's international and domestic policy. Particular emphasis was placed on the phenomena of moderate Islamism that the AKP represents, Turkey’s complex international situation deriving from the country’s application for membership of the EU and the unstable situation in the north of Iraq.

Others who took part in the round table included Soli Özel, from IstanbulBilgiUniversity, Ibrahim Kalin, from the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) of Ankara, Atila Eralp, from the Middle East Technical University of Ankara and Heather Grabbe, from the cabinet of commissioner Olli Rehn.

>> See report on conference