‘Foreign Policy of Turkey during the EU Accession’
CENTRE FOR TURKEY STUDIES
WESTMINSTER DEBATE
‘Foreign Policy of Turkey during the EU Accession’
7 May 2013
Committee Room 1, House of Commons
Keynote Speakers:
Sir David Logan, Former British Ambassador to Turkey (1997-2001)
Ziya Meral, Researcher and Writer
Lord Sheikh, Conservative Peer, Centre for Turkey Studies Advisor
Mike Gapes Labour MP for Ilford South
Chair: Lord Tim Clement Jones, Liberal Democrat Peer
Sir David Logan was a Turkish specialist in the Diplomatic Service, serving in the political section of the British Embassy in Ankara from 1966-1970 and as Ambassador to Turkey from 1997-2001. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the British Embassies in Moscow and Washington. His postings in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office included appointments as Assistant Under Secretary of State for Central and Eastern European Affairs and Assistant Under Secretary of State for Defence Policy. From 2002-2007 he was Director of the Centre for Studies in Security and Diplomacy at the University of Birmingham. He was until recently a non-executive director of a British company operating in Turkey and of a Turkish company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Currently, he is chair of the British Institute at Ankara, which supports and enables research in Turkey and the Black Sea region in the fields of history, archaeology and related social sciences.
Ziya Meral is a researcher and writer. He publishes widely on Middle East and Turkish politics, human rights as well as political theory and comparative literature. His last book in Turkish was a comparative study of thoughts and lives of Nietzsche and Dostoyevsky. He worked as a human rights advocate on Middle East, wrote numerous briefings and reports. He frequently comments on the region in the international media. He is a PhD candidate in politics at the University of Cambridge and a Research Associate of the Foreign Policy Centre.
Lord Sheikh is the Chairman and Director of Iqra Ethical plc (Islamic and ethical insurances & financial services) and Macmillan Sheikh plc (Conventional insurances & financial services) which have offices in Westminster, London. In addition he is the Chairman of two successful property companies. Lord Sheikh was elevated to the House of Lords in 2006. He was in fact the first Muslim to be appointed a Peer by the Conservative Party. He is an active Peer and speaks regularly in the House of Lords on a variety of subjects.
Mike Gapes is a Labour MP for Ilford South and a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. His political interests include defence, international affairs, European Union, economic policy, education and mental health.
Summary
The Centre for Turkey Studies held a Westminster Debate on ‘Foreign Policy of Turkey during the EU Accession’.
Our keynote speakers examined Turkey’s foreign policy regarding the brutal conflict in Syria, Turkey’s relations with its neighbours and Israel, Turkey’s stance regarding the EU accession process, and Turkey’s political manoeuvres and financial advancements in the region and beyond that have taken place in the last decade. The discussion was informative and comprehensive thanks to the speakers’ distinctive perspectives.
The discussion was concluded with a question and answer session in the packed committee room.
The Chatham House Rule was invoked in this meeting.
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