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22 Temmuz 2014

IKV DELEGATION VISITED MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF LABOUR ORGANIZATION

In previous months, members of the IKV Board of Directors participated in a series of meetings held with President of the Republic Abdullah Gül, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Justice Bekir Bozbağ, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı, and TOBB Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu. This time, the delegation held a meeting in 22 July 2014 with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Ahmet Davutoğlu. This meeting, which was held at a crucial period during which latest developments in neighboring regions reminded once again the importance of Turkey’s EU accession process, gave the opportunity for the participants to exchange views on the latest economic and political developments.  The IKV Delegation also presented in details its working programme and the activities foreseen by the organization in this term.

IKV Delegation, under the presidency of IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan, attended to a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu in 22 July 2014. Along with IKV Chairman Vardan, IKV Member of the Executive Board Responsible for Accounts Mehmet Nuri Görenoğlu, Executive Board Member Hikmet Tanrıverdi, Board of Directors Member Işınsu Kestelli, Auditor Hasan Hüseyin Coşkun, Head of TOBB’s EU Department Mustafa Bayburtlu, and IKV Deputy Secretary-General and Research Director Melih Özsöz have also participated to the meeting held in the Official Residency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

 

 

While giving a briefing about the foreseen activities of the IKV Board of Directors for the period covering the years 2014 – 2015, IKV Chairman Vardan ensured that IKV as an organization which has contributed to Turkey’s EU accession process for over 50 years, was ready to pursue its efforts to speed up the accession process in the upcoming period. IKV Chairman Vardan gave detailed information about the four different working group areas defined by IKV and the foreseen activities under these groups. Foreign Minister Prof. Davutoğlu welcomed recent changes that have occurred within IKV, and he pointed out to the importance of the institution as the only specialized body in Turkey with focus on EU-Turkey relations.

 

 

 

Minister Prof. Davutoğlu pointed out that the “public diplomacy” conducted by independent institutions which are focusing on Turkey-EU relations became more crucial than ever with the ongoing political and technical negotiations process. Within this framework, Minister Prof. Davutoğlu explained that there was an increasing need for NGOs specialized in Turkey-EU relations to take part actively in this process. Minister Prof. Davutoğlu stressed the importance for the NGOs to “exercise public diplomacy” both within and outside Turkey. In this respect, Foreign Minister Prof. Davutoğlu also pointed out to the significant role that organizations such as IKV have to play in order to increase the trust about EU among Turkish public.

IKV Board of Directors has also participated at an iftar dinner organized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Ahmet Davutoğlu, together with the members of the Board of Directors of Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM). Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Ahmet Davutoğlu, TIM Chairman Mehmet Büyükekşi, IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan and members of TIM Board of Directors came together in this dinner organized at Ankara Palace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The IKV Delegation, under the presidency of IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan also participated to meetings with Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) Chairman Ergün Atalay, Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (Hak-İş) Chairman Mahmut Arslan, and Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) Chairman Bendevi Palandöken in 22 July 2014. The accession negotiations in regards to Chapter 19 on “Social Policy and Employment” and working conditions and security were the main topics discussed during these meetings.