[Bilimsel Haber] CONF.- Central Asian Security and Turkey's Role, May 9-10, Istanbul

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

CONF.- Central Asian Security and Turkey's Role, May 9-10, Istanbul

Call for participants: 'Central Asian Security, Regional Organizations
and a Role of Turkey' Conference

9-10 May 2006
Bogazici University
Bebek, Istanbul/Turkey

Bogazici University-TUSIAD Foreign Policy Forum in association with the
Department of Political Science and International Relations is planning
to organize a conference on 'Central Asian Security, Regional
Organizations and a Role of Turkey' during 9-10 of May, 2006 at the
campus of the Bogazici University.

Conference Concept: The aim of this conference is to explore the
development of Central Asian security focusing on the potential for
cooperation of the major external powers. Central Asia has traditionally
been seen as an arena of interplay between Russian, American and Chinese
influence. This was most recently underscored by three unexpected, but
important events that took place in Central Asia in 2005: the 'Tulip
Revolution' of March in Kyrgyzstan, the 'Andijan incident' in of May in
Uzbekistan, and the July 5th Astana Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation
Organization calling for the eventual removal of U.S. troops. The goal
of this conference will be to examine the underlying reasons for this
nascent balance of power rivalry developing among the external powers
and determine if there are ways that this tension can be mitigated and
the world can avoid a new 'Great Game' in Central Asia.

We recognize the existence of the strategic interest of three external
powers in the region, however our goal in the conference is to go beyond
the zero-sum understanding of security in Central Asia and elaborate on
the possibilities of cooperation between the regional security
organizations that are generally viewed to be as either Western or
Russian and Chinese dominated. Within the context of the non-Great Game
analysis of Central Asian Security, partnership and cooperation
opportunities among the regional bodies like North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that have similar goals,
but different non-regional members will be given major focus. These
issues will be discussed in their relation to the security problems such
as terrorism, religious extremism, drug and human trafficking, border
and disaster management as well as transnational organized crime.
Viability of partnership and cooperation that will be immune to the
fluctuations of international political environment will also be
scrutinized.

The conference will also pay special attention to an evaluation of
Turkey's potential role as a mediator between the 'East' (Russia and
China) and the 'West' (U.S., EU, and NATO). An influential member of
NATO and OSCE, Turkey, also enjoys high level of trade and economic
relations with Russia and China. Equally important is the existence of
strong cultural, linguistic and religious ties with states of Central
Asia. Turkey's potential affiliation with SCO and its possible role as a
catalyst of amelioration of relations between Uzbekistan and
organizations of OSCE and NATO in post-Andijan context will also be
addressed.

Conference Central Asian Security, Regional Organizations and the Role
of Turkey

Bogazici Universitesi, Garanti Kultur Kerkezi, Ayhan
Sahenk Hall, Cengiz Topel Caddesi, Etiler

Programme

9 May 2006

9:30-10:30

Welcoming Remarks Assoc. Professor S. Gulden Ayman (Director of Foreign
Policy Forum) and Yeter Yaman (NATO PDD Co-ordinator for Central Asia,
Caucasus and Turkey)

Opening Speech
Prof. Dr. Ayse Soysal (Rector of Bogazici University)

10:30-11:00 Coffee Break

11:00-12:30 Session I
Chair: Prof. Dr. Kemal Kirisci (Bogazici University, Department of
Political Science and International Relations)
Panelists:
Assoc. Professor Erhan Buyukakinci (Galatasaray University, Department
of International Relations) Russian Foreign Policy in Central Asia and
Possibilities of CSTO-NATO Cooperation

Assist. Professor Oktay Tanrisever (Middle-East Technical University,
Department of International Relations) Russian Foreign Policy in Central
Asia and Possibilities of CSTO-OSCE Cooperation

Prof. Zhao Huasheng (Director of the Center for Russia and Central Asia
Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai) Chinese Interests in the Region,
Perspectives of SCO-OSCE and NATO-SCO Cooperation and the Astana
Declaration
of 5th July, 2005

Q &A

13:00-14:30 Lunch Break

15:00-16:00 Session II
Chair: Assist. Professor Gul Sosay (Bogazici University, Department of
Political Science and International Relations)
Panelists:
Dr. Gamze Gungormus Kona, SCO - CSTO Capabilities in Dealing with the
Central Asian Security Issues and Perspectives of Enlargement

Ambassador Aydin Idil, (Former Head of OSCE Center in Bishkek) Past
Achievements and Future Involvement of OSCE Missions in Central Asian
Countries - the Case of Kyrgyzstan Republic

Q & A


10 May 2006

9:30-10:30 Session I
Chair: Prof. Dr. Busra Ersanli (Marmara University, Department of
Political Science and International Relations)
Panelists:
Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar (Bilkent University Ankara, Turkey, Department of
International Relations ) The Myth and Realities of Terrorism and
Religious Extremism in Central Asia

Assist. Professor Idris Bal (Police Academy) Drug Trafficking, Border
Management and Transnational Crime in the Region

Q & A

10:30-11:00 Coffee Break

11:00-12:30 Session II
Chair: Assoc. Professor Gulden Ayman (Director of Foreign Policy Forum)
Panelists:
Dr. Hakan Gunes (Istanbul University, Department of Political Science
and International Relations) and Dr. Firat Purtas (Gazi University,
Department of International Relations)
The 'Tulip Revolution and Andijan Incident: Implications on Foreign
Security Policy of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Prof. Dr. Ahat Andican (Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty of
Medicine, Former Minister of State Responsible for Turkish Republics and
Turkish Communities) Changing Dynamics in Central Asia: Central Asian
Republics Relations with the U.S., Russia and China

Q & A

13:00-14:30 Lunch Break

15:00-16:30 Session III
Chair: Prof. Dr. Gunay Goksu Ozdogan (Marmara University, Head,
Department of Political Science and International Relations)
Panelists:
Assoc. Prof. Kamer Kasim (Abant Izzet Baysal University, Department of
International Relations) Turkey's Involvement in Preserving Peace and
Security in the Region and Reactions of Russia

Prof. Zhao Huasheng (Director of the Center for Russia and Central Asia
Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai)
Turkey's Involvement in Preserving Peace and Security in the Region and
Reactions of China

Yeter Yaman-Naucodie (NATO PDD Co-ordinator for Central Asia, Caucasus
and Turkey) NATO PDD and Dialogue Between Regional Organizations

Q & A

16:30-17:00 Closing remarks

Adres: Bogazici Universitesi Garanti Kultur Merkezi, Ayhan Sahenk
Salonu, Ucaksavar Kultur ve Spor Tesisleri, Cengiz Topel Cad. Etiler

Tarih: 9-10 Mayis, 2006

LCV: Inanc Ozekmekci 358 15 00 / 7156 or inanc at dispolitikaforumu.com




Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian
Studies