Remarks by Najib Mikati, Former Prime Minister of Lebanon
Dean's International Council Meeting
Istanbul, Turkey | October 18-20, 2009
East Meets West
It is a pleasure for me to be here among you for Dean’s International Council’s meeting of the Harris School at the University of Chicago.
I am also delighted to be in Turkey, a nation where history making is of its permanent characteristic. Turkey is also a moderate and dynamic country evolving towards openness and moderation.
Indeed, Turkey is a dynamic emerging-market economy strategically located between Europe and Asia, bordering the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas. Its modernity is the result of decades of hard work from the various secular, political, social, and military elite.
Despite some nations has bet on a weakened role of Turkey following the collapse of the Soviet Union, we cannot today but recognize Turkey’s importance and its growing role. In fact, those who made that bet ignore Turkey’s 450 years old history, which we in the Levant area are very familiar with. Turkey’s unique position delineates from its ability to reconcile between secularism and modern Islam, which started emerging as early as the beginning of the 21st century, and was crowned by the establishment of the AKP.
Turkey adopted a policy of reconciliation in resolving the various conflicts in neighboring nations, by pushing for the launch of the “Caucasus Stability and Partnership Platform” for Georgia, and recently embarking a historical reconciliation with Armenia. In brief, Turkey’s new foreign policy is one that is free of tensions, a policy of “zero conflicts with all neighboring countries.”
Its history, power, and geo-political position make Turkey today a major player in the Middle East and a necessary balancing force amongst regional powers, with influential and important sway.
We see Turkey seeking a European future, yet it remains inextricably bound to the Middle East region. Retaining good ties with Iraq and Iran are also dear to the Turkish government.
Turkey also believes in constructive dialogue to resolve peacefully the issue of nuclear power in Iran, as demonstrated in their foreign policy.
And during the Israeli aggression on Lebanon in July 2006, Turkey strived to interfere to put an end to hostilities. This role of pacificator was possible only thanks to Turkey’s good relations with the different warring factions.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January of this year, I personally witnessed Turkey’s prime minister withdrawing from the conference, as he considered that the Israeli president lacked humility and fairness towards the Palestinians when referring to the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza. This gives Turkey a major leeway as a go-between among the various factions in the Palestinian issue.
Fact is Turkey encourages constructive dialogue in Iraq towards a national reconciliation in that country. The strategic dialogue between the two countries is of primordial importance. Turkey also strives to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the vision of two states living in peace and harmony next to one another- a basic requirement in regional and international peace, with Palestinian unity being the catalyst for an independent Palestinian state.
Turkey believes justice for all constitutes the basis for peace. As indeed, with the Syrian-Israeli negotiations, hosted by Turkey in 2008, underlining its preemptive role.
And also with Lebanon, which Turkey views as crucial for peace in the region, doubling efforts to reach a full political settlement and durable stability, helping with its new political role in solving the Lebanese crisis.
Turkey stood by Lebanon, its sovereignty, its independence, and its unity, supporting UN resolution 1701 in 2006. Foreign Minister Daoud Oglo visited us in Beirut more than few times in the last two years alone. Our people in Southern Lebanon received humanitarian and medical aid from Turkey. Turkey also contributed in the reconstruction of the region, and with the UN peacekeeping force.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Turkey’s geo-political role is unique. It has one of the most important passageways in the world for energy, gas and oil. It is a bridge between East and West, and a country which successfully recovered from a deep economic crisis in 2001.To do so, Turkey kept its fiscal and monetary policies tight, helping to reduce inflation, and introduced wide-ranging structural reforms that have strengthened the banking sector, enhanced competitiveness, and began to attract foreign investment.
Turkey is becoming a valuable pivot in the energy supply for many countries in Europe and Asia. we have seen lately an agreement on two main gaz pipeline, where Turkey play a leading role in their happening, thus strengthening it s stature of a prominent regional power.
It is most gratifying to observe Turkey’s successful economic resurgence, parallel to its dual regional and international political roles. Its large scale market makes it an outstanding investment destination, answering the demands of the region, namely those of the GCC.
Success in the new economic order will be harder to achieve , a reality that should push both Turkey and the Arab world for creating a regional economic bloc or alliance that could further the interests of its member states while helping them to withstand new global challenges.Ladies and Gentlemen, ever since the birth of the Turkish Republic in 1928, following the collapse of the Ottomans, and until the last years of last century, Turkey looked intently towards the West, wishing to join the European Union with sometimes thorny conditions and demands. However, thanks to its natural and manpower resources, it could stand at the forefront of Islamic nations and the Arab region.
In conclusion, I have been following up and am convinced with Turkey’s leadership and their ability to grow their economy and demonstrate real moderate Islam in a secular state. I salute Turkey’s role model in bringing together all nations in peace and harmony, reflecting its own accomplishments and success. With these policies, Turkey’s role in the region and beyond, cannot but expand and prosper. Turkey, thanks to all this, remains, as always, a true friend of Lebanon.
Contact Information
Raluca Rustandi
Associate Director for International Development
Email: rustandi@uchicago.edu
Phone: 773-702-3918
