GPoT Center is a Proud Associate Member of PASOS

On June 2012, GPoT Center was welcomed as the 56th associate member, and first ever Turkish organization, to join the Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS).

PASOS, an initiative to strengthen independent think-thanks, supports the development and strengthens the outreach and impact of its members, and builds upon the work undertaken by the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI) of the Open Society Institute (OSI). The PASOS initiative aims to promote and protect democracy, human rights and open society values – including the rule of law, good governance, and economic and social development.

By supporting civil society organizations that seek to enhance public participation in public policy issues, PASOS works to ensure that the lessons of transition are understood, shared, and applied, dealing with the public policy at the EU level, in other European or global structures, and in the wider Europe and Central Asia areas.

On GPoT Center’s membership status, Mr. Jeff Lovitt, executive director of PASOS, said that the addition of an independent Turkish think-tank is an important step for PASOS: “Many PASOS members have engaged in projects with partners in Turkey, and I think we will see even more in the future. Turkey is a key country that belongs in a network spanning Europe and Asia”. (Source: PASOS Secretariat, Czech Republic.)

Mr. Lovitt further emphasized Turkey’s regional role and geopolitical importance as a crucial asset in cooperation on many unsolved policy challenges in facing Europe and Central Asia. To this end, he added that “The Global Political Trends Center is in a position to be involved in this transition. Although it was founded only in 2009, it has quickly established itself as a leading think tank in Turkey. It has sponsored dynamic and cutting-edge research and programs.” (Ibid.)