|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Search
for stability in the Caucasus
Conference
proceedings
Questions like '11 September's impact on Caucasus' 'Purpose of attacks to Abkhazia' 'What is U.S. stand on Russian moves in the region' were among the actualities of the second conference by TESEV - The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (established 1961) held at Brussels Hilton on 25-26 October,2001. The official presence was combined with strong representation of civil society groups and regional specialists from across the world. The leading NGO from Turkey, "Kafkas Vakfı" The Caucasus Foundation of Istanbul joined the conference by its director Ömer Duran, board member Mustafa Naç, international department Mustafa Özkaya and Agency Caucasus editor Fehim Taştekin.
The Caucasus Foundation of Istanbul contributed to the Brussels conference with reports named "An Abkhazian photograph" "War torn Chechnya" "Chechen refugees question" and a declaration named "Stability for Caucasus; But How?" Meetings Caucasus Foundation delegation actively held meetings with Turkish and foreign representations and energeticly participated the reception at guest house of The Turkish Ambassador with The European Union. Caucasus Foundation delegation met with Mr. Ismail Cem, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs immediate after the first session of the first day of the conference. Caucasus Foundation reports are presented to Mr. Cem. Caucasus Foundation delegation had also audience with Ambassador Steven R. Mann, Senior Advisor, Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy of The Department of State Washington. North Caucasus considerations of the Caucasus diaspora are communicated to Ambassador Mann. In turn, Ambassador Mann asked what are the proposals of the Caucasus delegation. The delegation expressed that Chechnya and Abkhazia have declared their independence and Russia, Georgia have ventured to impose their will by means of military superiority. Ambassador Mann further asked; "A nation of 100 thousand people will form an independent Abkhazia, and how will it function with its own money, own universities etc.,?" The delegation informed that the population of Caucasus are decreasing, languages and cultures are under threat. Ambassador Mann finally said that "I understand that there is a great problem here and I join the anxieties of the Caucasian Peoples."
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
conference under the auspices of The Turkish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs was cautious about official representation of Chechnya and
Abkhazia and that naturally gathered the focus on the delegation
of The Caucasus Foundation with thesis of the Peoples of The North
Caucasus. This position is highlighted by TESEV Director and Ambassador
Özdem Sanberk in his speech in first day of the conference that
"The conference will be successful in bringing the very different
participants together in an atmosphere of conviviality, however
deep their differences might be and the presence of the delegation
of The Caucasus Foundation here is an important achievement."
Caucasus
Foundation delegation held meetings with Ivan Koedjikov, from The
European Council Political Department. With Michael Emerson of CEPS.
With Prof. Brenda Shaffer of Harvard University. With Yiğit Alpogan,
The Deputy Undersecretary of The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Journalists Sami Kohen, Cengiz Çandar. With Former Turkish Foreign
Minister Emre Gönensay. With Ünal Çeviköz, The Director of Caucasus
Department of The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With Can
Peker, TESEV Director. With Kemal Köprülü, leader of ARI movement.
With Zeyno Baran, CSIS Director. With Jerry Matos, CIDC Director.
With Arif Memedov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to E.U. With Arif Memmedov,
Ambassador of Iran to E.U. With Mehredad Mosenine, Ambassador of
Iran. With Robert Corzine Project-Investment Advisor of United Kingdom.
With Ali Hashemi, Member of Iran Energy Commission. 
