Event Recap: The International Turkic Academy Convenes Symposium on the Silk Road at the UN Headquarters

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Apr 4, 2016) - On March 28^th 2016, the International Turkic Academy (TWESCO) and its partners held a high-profile symposium on the "Synergies Along the Silk Road for Agenda 2030" at the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Chamber salon, focusing on how the Silk Road can promote the implementation of the UN Plan of Action for planet, people and prosperity titled "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." Among the attendees were the Turkish American media, U.S. media, private and public sector representatives, as well as delegations from the participating countries.

The UN ECOSOC President, H.E. Mr. Oh Joon, made the opening speech talking about the cultural heritage of Central Asia. Mr. Joon mentioned that in order to achieve sustainable development goals it is important for countries to cooperate both economically and culturally. Following the President, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Ashikbayev delivered the welcoming address by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. In his letter to the participants, Mr. Nazarbayev called public organizations and scholars, experts and specialists to come together to meet the challenges of the new threats to the mankind, such as terrorism and extremism in some parts of the world, and to jointly stand against them. Later, message by the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser was delivered. Mr. Al-Nasser emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation and highlighted the role of the synergies along the Silk Road in this process. In his letter to the participants of the symposium, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu congratulated the International Turkic Academy for organizing such a timely event at this crucial conjuncture and expressed his confidence for its success: "I am confident that the Symposium will serve as a useful and timely contribution to the efforts for bringing out our region's immense potential along the ancient Silk Road for the mobilization of economic, human and cultural resources between Asia and Europe, as well as, elaborating on the projects with a view to revitalizing the ancient Silk Road."

Once the opening ceremony was over, 2015 Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Aziz Sancar of the University of North Carolina, then the legendary Historian, Professor Kemal Karpat of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Professor Edward Allworth, Emeritus Professor at Columbia University were awarded by TWESCO for their outstanding work for the Turkish World.

After the award ceremony, the symposium continued its work in two different panels. The first panel was dedicated to enhancing global peace and security on the Silk Road and beyond, and to combat transnational crime and extremism. The moderator of the first panel Ambassador Halil Akinci of HASEN (Hazar Strategy Institute), after mentioning that it was an honor for HASEN to have contributed to the preparation of this August gathering and thanking the academy for giving his institute the opportunity, made a general evaluation of the historical function of the Silk Road, underlying that security of the Silk Road was always considered as a common concern for the region. The panelists touched not only regional, but also global peace and security. Among the speakers Admiral Metin Atac, former chief of the Turkish Navy and a member of HASEN stressed the unavoidability of cooperation against crime and violent extremism along the Silk Road. He demonstrated the vicious link between crime and terrorism and the establishment of a common front against non-state actors who are the perpetrators of such actions. Taking the floor later, Professor Norman Graham, Director of Centre for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies of Michigan State University, talked about the security and prosperity along the Silk Road, and one of the key elements to achieving this, which is economic integration. He gave a number of facts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Turkey's current projects with the European countries to support his claim.

The second panel covered broad discussions on reaching sustainable development goals through enhancing the Silk Road through bridging cultures. In both panels, speakers made noteworthy remarks on the importance of the Silk Road and how it helps promote both cultural and economical development across the continents. Moderator for the second panel, Professor Vladimir Kvint, President of International Academy of Emerging Markets, highlighted the increasing import-export relations between China and Turkey these days -- two important points on the Silk Road. Hence, the Silk Road is contributing the process of building cooperative ties between the East and the West, especially through the Republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Professor Ram Upendra Das, who is an expert at Research and Information System for Developing Countries also made remarkable comments on the topic. He mentioned that in order for the countries to interact and cooperate, they need to start with friendship -- it is the beginning and the end of any relationship. The ancient Silk Road connects the whole world from China and India to Europe and Mediterranean and India has been an historic and integral part of this process. Mentioning the 17 goals of sustainable development, Professor Upendra Das added that cooperation along the Silk Road pushes the countries to form their own subdivisions of these SDGs, which is an equally important process. Another remarkable point he made was the essence of simultaneous progression of peace and prosperity, because without one, the other hardly ever develops. Haldun Yavas, the Secretary general of HASEN, reminded the audience the significance of transport using modern technology and methods in the revival of the Silk Road. In this connection he elaborated on the establishment of transit links through the Caspian Transit Corridor for the region and beyond.

H.E. Professor Darkhan Kydyrali, President of the TWESCO said that his organization highly values the participation and discussions of the experts, diplomats and high-level government officials in today's event on the Silk Road, especially on issues that bring the humanity and collective intelligence together. He stated: "Turkic Academy, which itself is an organization that aims to bring peace and education opportunities to people, will continue organizing similar symposiums in the future as well. During this event, we had a successful participation, and fruitful brainstorming with the help of our partners, jointly organized with Permanent Missions of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey to the UN, and supported by the international organizations of the Turkic Council, TURKSOY, Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Michigan State University, Hazar Strategy Institute (HASEN). I would like to express my special thanks to TIKA and Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities for the coordination of such a high level symposium, which we plan to make a regular event. The High-level Symposium entitled "Synergies Along the Silk Road for Agenda 2030" highlighted the important role the region can play in advancing the initiatives spearheaded by the United Nations. The countries of the region need to be deeply engaged as catalysts, partners and supporters of these initiatives."

To watch the archived webcast of the event, please go to: http://webtv.un.org/watch/synergies-along-the-silk-road-for-agenda-2030/4820404503001

For further information on the symposium and partners, please contact Ms. Melike Ayan at melike.nyc@gmail.com

About The Turkic Academy
Established in 2010 and being the brainchild of the president of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Turkic Academy was granted international organization status in 2014 by the agreement signed between four Turkic Council member-states, i.e. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

The Turkic Academy, which is also known as "Turkic World Educational and Scientific Cooperation Organization" (TWESCO) functions as a full-fledged international institution that promotes and coordinates the enhancement of scientific and educational cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations, as well as the establishment stronger ties with scientific and academic community of third countries. To learn more about the Turkic Academy, please visit www.twesco.org

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