2nd Panel Discussion Held in the Memory of Amb. Suna Çokgür Ilıcak
Commemorating Amb. Suna Çokgür Ilıcak, GPoT Center, in collaboration with the Center for Strategic Research (SAM) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, and the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences (FSES) of the Comenius University in Bratislava, organized the second panel discussion held in her memory on 6 March 2014.
Amb. Suna Çokgür Ilıcak, who had passed away while serving as Turkey’s Ambassador to Slovakia, played a pivotal role in strengthening relations between the two countries. "She keenly supported collaboration between Slovakia and Turkey on the highest possible level and believed in the regional cooperation between peoples. I am very happy that we have been able to carry on her dream," said Dr. Sylvia Tiryaki of GPoT Center when delivering her opening remarks.
The event entitled Turkey and the EU: Turning Long-Term Relations into Effective Collaboration took place on the premises of the FSES with the participation of students, academics, local civil society and media representatives, experts, and members of the diplomatic corps based in Bratislava. Speakers included:
- Amb. Mehmet Hasan Gögüş | Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Austria
- Amb. Haluk Ilıcak | Undersecretary, Ministry for EU Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
- Prof. PhDr. Silvia Miháliková, PhD | Dean, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of Comenius University
- Doc. Dr. Mesut Özcan | Chairman, Center for Strategic Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
- Mehmet Özkan, PhD | Researcher, Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research
- Erzsébet Rózsa, PhD | Academic Director, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
- Dr. Sylvia Tiryaki | Deputy Director, Global Political Trends Center - Istanbul Kültür University
- Amb. Lebibe Gülhan Ulutekin | Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Slovak Republic
The audience had a unique opportunity to engage in a frank debate with the speakers and discuss the current state of EU-Turkey relations, issues related to the accession process, and the prospects of collaboration between the two actors to support stability in the Middle East.
"I am very pleased to see the sapling we planted last year in the garden of the university in the memory of Suna growing. I consider this sapling the symbol of the friendship between Slovakia and Turkey and between our two nations," said Amb. Haluk Ilıcak of the Ministry for EU Affairs of the Republic of Turkey during his keynote address.
The organizers announced the launch of the Amb. Suna Çokgür Ilıcak scholarship program, which will enable university students from Slovakia to participate in short study visits to Turkey and enhance their academic knowledge of the country through a unique hands-on experience.
Following the panel discussion, participants commemorated Amb. Suna Çokgür Ilıcak by lying flowers at the tree planted in her memory in the garden of the FSES during the inaugural round in 2012.