Former U.S. National Security Advisor Says Turks Vital to Resolving Regional Economic and Social Issues    
 
Istanbul, Turkey… Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has underscored the international importance of energy production in the Eurasian region. He says it as an issue that affects both trade and diplomacy, and one whose importance will continue to grow with global demand.
 
“Turkey serves as one of the most important energy corridors in the world,” said Erdoğan in describing oil and gas pipeline projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan.
 
Erdoğan made the comments at the opening session of the Atlantic Council’s Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum. The Forum brings together hundreds of government and business policy leaders from around the globe to discuss Eurasia’s emerging economic and energy challenges and possible solutions.
 
The location of the Forum in Istanbul was appropriate according to the Prime Minister, who described Istanbul as the "crossroads of East and West, Europe and Asia and a center of trade, commerce, and culture."
 
In commenting on Turkey’s on-going effort to become a member of European Union, Erdoğan said it would be a case where "Europe wins and Turkey wins.” He said Turkey is committed to close relations with its neighbors and allies.  
 
The vital role of Turkey in resolving regional economic and social issues was underscored by former U.S. National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft.
 
“Turkey is playing an important role politically – in the Balkans, in Iraq, on the Iran nuclear issue and in Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere,” said Scowcroft, in introducing the Turkish Prime Minister. “Turkey is strong and stable, newly confident about itself and its role in the region, and ambitious for both.”
 
In addition to the Turkish Prime Minister and Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, some of the major policy leaders attending the 2-day forum include: Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Former U.S. National Security Advisor; Egemen Bağış, Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Republic of Turkey; Alexander Khetaguri, Minister of Energy, Georgia; and Taner Yıldız, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Republic of Turkey.
 
 
To read Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan remarks, go here: http://www.acus.org/tktktktk/.
 
To learn more about the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum, go here: http://www.bseef.org/.
 
To review the Forum agenda, go here: http://www.bseef.org/2010-forum-agenda.
 
To learn more about the Atlantic Council, go here: http://www.acus.org/about.
                       
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