4th INTERNATIONAL BALKAN FORUM WILL BE HELD IN EDIRNE
The 4th of International Balkans Forum will be held in Edirne with international cooperation of TASAM, Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies, Governorate of Edirne, Turkey Development Agency, Institution of Yunus Emre.
The Forum will be held in Ekmekçizade Ahmet Paşa Kervansarayı in Edirne between 28th and 30th April. The topic of 4th International Balkans Forum is determined as “ Cultural Diplomacy”. The opening speech will be made by the Chairman of TASAM Süleyman Şensoy, the director of the Institution of Yunus Emre Prof. Dr. Ali Fuat Bilkan, the Secretary General of Trakya Organization for Development M. Gökay Üstün, The Chairman of TIKA Turkish International and Cooperation &Development Agency V. Dr. Mehmet Yılmaz, The Governor of Edirne Gökhan Sözer, The Secretary General of Presidency Prof. Dr. Mustafa İsen
Over hundred representatives of think thank and NGO, Scholars, Ambasadors researchers and journalists will attend to the 4th International Balkans Forum from both Turkey and Balkan States.
THE CHAIRMAN SENSOY: CIVIL SOCIETY AND CULTURE WILL BE PROMINENT IN THE NEW DIPLOMACY
The Chairman of TASAM Süleyman Şensoy who mentioned in his speech about the topic that Today; hard power has been replaced by soft power and intelligent power underlined that the international diplomacy has changed form and traditional diplomacy channels have been replaced by new diplomacy channel. He also said that “ This new diplomacy has been consisted of relation for states with other states, for government with other countries’ public opinion and the communication and interaction established between different public opinions. In this context; the diplomacy has started to give more importance to the culture and elements of culture and civil society. Diplomacy which could be defined as the exchange of opinions, information, elements of culture, other system of life styles, beliefs, customs and other respects of culture is a prominent diplomatic tool for assuring stability and pacific settlement of both internal and regional conflict.”
CULTURE OF LIVING TOGETHER IN THE 100TH YEAR OF BALKANS WAR
Şensoy told that the year of 2012 will be the 100th year of Balkans War and There is a traumatic atmosphere resulted from conflict. He also added they believe that developing culture of living together will prevent its repetition although it could not cause to forget.
The Chairman Şensoy also said that “There is a need for developing a kind of diplomacy based on underlining the common ground between different countries for establishing, resuming and corroborating the friendship lasting forever instead of long-time hostility. From this need; 4th International Balkans Forum aims analyzing the cultural integration problems of friends and communities in Balkans with both society and country in which they live and drawing perspective with the representatives of relevant countries concordantly opening a live and academic qualified discussion related to the protecting and developing of cultural elements. We hope that this forum will be useful and have important contribution for developing culture of living together both in our country and in other Balkans states.”
GOVERNOR SÖZER: EDİRNE AND ITS SURROUNDING IS A SMALL BALKAN
The Governor of Edirne Gökhan Sözler stated that Balkans is a meeting point that various cultural cross and effect each other. He also added that throughout the history; different cultures have lived together and this is always visible in common historical heritage, literary work, art objects, monuments, buildings, language, customs, museums, archives and libraries.
The Governor Sözer underlined that Edirne and its surrounding is closely to Balkan and said that “ In this respect;holding this forum in Edirne is a meaningful and right decision”
The title of first session of forum leaded The Embassador Ömür Orhun: “ the Culture of Living Together in Balkan: From Identity Conflict to Cultural Integration” the title of second session the leaded Alain Servantie from General Directorate of European Enlargement Commission “ Protecting Cultural heritage in European Union Process and Cultural rights”, the title of third session leaded Murat Birhan (E) Vice Chairman of TASAM “ Towards a new civil society in Balkans 1: Developing the Civil Society and Association of Development Agencies in Balkan states” , the topic of 4th session leaded by the former Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Hakkı Altun “ Belief and Religion in Balkans: Collaboration for mutual leniency and understanding”, the topic of 5th session leaded by Doc. Dr. Safet Merovci from Priştine University in Kosovo “ identity Policy in Balkans: Identity as a determiner in Balkans: generating pluralistic society”, the topic of 6th session leaded by Prof. Dr. Dona Kolar Anoc from Üsküp New York University in Macedonia “Searching for Democracy in Balkans and Media” and the topic of 7th session leaded by Bisera Turkovic (E) from Bosnia Herzogevina “ Towards a new civil society in Balkans 2: Dialogue between NGOs and joint projects” are determined.
They will be affirmed.
NOTE FOR PRESS MEMBER ATTENDANCE: Belonging all transportation and accommodation expenses to the institution arranging the Congress on limited available basis; They could take accreditation one journalist and photo journalist or journalist for each news agency, one journalist and one cameraman for each TV channel, one journalist from each paper or internet news agency. Also quota is set for executive directors and column writers. All the institutions represented have to be at either national or international status. Other press members could take accreditation belonging the transportation and accommodation expenses to them.
For detailed information you can use this link;
For press member attendance please contact Ihsan TOY; 0 212 635 61 51
Link tıklanıldıgında yazanlar;
“hard power” has been replaced by “soft power” and “intelligent power” underlined that the international diplomacy has changed form and traditional diplomacy channels have been replaced by new diplomacy channel. He also said that This new diplomacy has been consisted of relation for states with other states, for government with other countries’ public opinion and the communication and interaction established between different public opinions. In this context; the diplomacy has started to give more importance to the culture and elements of culture and civil society. Diplomacy which could be defined as the exchange of opinions, information, elements of culture, other system of life styles, beliefs, customs and other respects of culture is a prominent diplomatic tool for assuring stability and pacific settlement of both internal and regional conflict.
they believe that developing culture of living together will prevent its repetition although it could not cause to forget. There is a need for developing a kind of diplomacy based on underlining the common ground between different countries for establishing, resuming and corroborating the friendship lasting forever instead of long-time hostility. From this need; 4th International Balkans Forum aims analyzing the cultural integration problems of friends and communities in Balkans with both society and country in which they live and drawing perspective with the representatives of relevant countries concordantly opening a live and academic qualified discussion related to the protecting and developing of cultural elements. We hope that this forum will be useful and have important contribution for developing culture of living together both in our country and in other Balkans states.