Ayhan Zeytinoğlu was re-elected as IKV Board of Directors Chairman at the occasion of the 55^th General Assembly of IKV which was held on 10 July 2017. At the meeting where chairmen of IKV’s founder and trustee organisations, representatives from supporting organisations and delegates were present, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu realised a presentation with respect to the foundation’s activities between July 2016 and July 2017.

The opening remarks of IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu were followed by the speeches of Undersecretary of the Ministry for EU Affairs Ambassador Selim Yenel, TOBB Deputy Chairman Ali Kopuz, ITO Deputy Chairman Dursun Topçu, ISO Deputy Chairman İrfan Özhamaratlı and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Chairman Fikri Toros.

The representatives of trustee organisations indicated that the EU membership perspective is coming more and more to the forefront and that IKV as “Turkey’s EU expert” is playing a critical role in that process.

In his speech, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu underscored that notwithstanding all the difficulties, the Turkish economy has achieved a 5% growth in the first quarter of 2017 and that it entered a new phase of revival. Stressing that the EU process has had positive effects regarding Turkey’s development and democratisation, Zeytinoğlu reminded that the EU membership process is an important anchor with respect to enhancing structural reforms, fundamental rights, freedoms and rule of law.

Moreover, Chairman Zeytinoğlu highlighted the importance of focusing further on the necessary harmonisation and preparatory activities with respect to the modernisation of the Customs Union which would bring new opportunities for the Turkish business world and the industrial, agricultural and service sectors. In addition, Zeytinoğlu noted the need for Turkey to move beyond state of emergency conditions and accelerate structural reforms and progress in the normalisation process. He formed the wish that this positive course would be maintained.

Finally, Chairman Zeytinoğlu indicated the following: “First of all, from TOBB and on behalf of all our dear founder and trustee organisations valuable supports, as “Turkey’s EU expert”, we envisage to continue working hard with respect to our country’s relations with the EU and focusing on international developments from the perspective of the development, democratisation and integration of our country in the global system. We will strive to meet our challenges and provide benefits which are well beyond what is expected from us”.

The new IKV Board of Directors is composed of Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, Prof. Haluk Kabaalioğlu, Işınsu Kestelli, Atilla Menevşe, Ahmet Sayar, Yavuz Canevi, Zeynel Abidin Erdem, Bülent Kasap, Zeynep Bodur Okyay, Sedat Zincirkıran, Ali Sami Aydın, Sami Yılmaz, İlhan Soylu, Şükrü Alkan, Özgür Burak Akkol, Simone Kazlowski, İsmail Gülle and the Audit Committee is composed of Hasan Hüseyin Coşkun and Musfata İçöz.