By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL (TURKISH JOURNAL)
The Istanbul World Political Forum (IPWF) 2012 opens today on a note of hope with this year’s theme “A Brand New World.” The two-day talks are designed to bring some of the world’s most influential statesmen, activists, academics, dignitaries and politicians together for a “no boundaries, no censorships” roundtable discussion on the most pressing issues facing every nation currently.
Some of these include how to resolve the continuing global financial crisis, environmental issues, the influence of social and digital media, new strategies for Africa and the Caucaucus.
IWPF Chairman, Ahmet Eyup Ozguc said, “There have been efforts to stop the IWPF from meeting here, Ozguc said. He added, “We will not stop telling the truth. We need to recognize the change and be a part of it. The old ideologies that have dominated the last century do not provide solutions to our new challenges, they just do not connect to the new world of global competition.”
Ozguc also commented: “We. all of us are universal witnesses of a rapidly changing world and there is an economic crisis for the last four years. The political and economic shifts are not regional but global, they are being experienced in countries that have the highest level of economic prosperity like the U.S. and Canada.”
He concluded by saying: “Our inability to solve these financial crises means we need a new world order that must involve multilateralism and participation. Social political and economic justice that brings nations together is not our foe but our friend.”
Another prominent speaker who gave his opening remarks was Denis MacShane, former minister for Europe under Tony Blair and an EU-geopolitical expert from London. MacShane praised Turkey: “The world ‘s moving east and Istanbul and Turkey are at the center.” MacShane emphasized that, “Turkey as a whole has transformed itself. It’s the people that have transformed.” He said that all nations need to “rethink their economics” and added that the EU “needs Turkey.”
MacShane said, “I regret the enormous Turkophobia,” referring to a fear of Turkey entering the EU by some nations in Europe. He encouraged the Turkish people to “continue looking West.” His final remark was, “Believe me, the Turkey of today is a nation of tomorrow.”
IWPF continues through May 18 with a number of notable speakers – some who have been influential as activists and have been influential in changing the face of their own civil societies. A number of major Turkish and international organizations are sponsors for the two-day event.
