ANKASAM President Professor Mehmet Seyfettin Erol discussed the importance of the integration movement in the Turkish World at the opening ceremony of the conference “In Search of Integration in the Shadow of the Global Power Struggle and the Turkish World”.
The online conference, which is organized under the coordination and responsibility of Ankara Center for Crisis Situations and Politics Research (ANKASAM), held on November 6, 2021.
At the opening ceremony of the conference, Prof. Erol continued his speech as follows:
“In spite of the globalization, the importance of the competition in Eurasia has not lost its significance and the Turkic World has been one of the main centers of this competition. Today, with our witness to new versions of the Great Game, Afghanistan is one of the countries where the competition in question has occurred the most. However, it is possible to mention a new process in Afghanistan nowadays. Yet, it can be said that the third Great Game has been becoming reality with the withdrawal of the USA. In this context, there is serious uncertainty about the future of Afghanistan.
In this day and time, it is possible to say that regional and global interventions create a major crisis, conflicts and security threats such as terrorism. So, what is the most effective way to solve these problems?
Countries generally tend to form alliances based on profits with other actors according to the nation-state thinking. This attitude is actually the main source of the problems that we confront nowadays. However, Eurasia and the World need cooperation, reconciliation, and prosperity. For this reason, it is necessary to act within the framework of a win-win understanding. This policy is a method not only for the countries of the region but also for all actors, which should be followed. Here, the importance of the Turkish World appears once again.
Firstly, I would like to state that the integration movement in the Turkish world is a civilization movement that is needed by humanity, which is based on the common cultural values and destiny in Eurasian geography.
The Turkish world-centered Eurasian geography; is a constructive and embracing joint future-building movement based on stability, security, economic cooperation and prosperity.
The countries of the Turkish World have adopted a great deal of mission to solve the problem in the heart of Eurasia, especially within the frame of the Turkic Council. Afghanistan, which connects Central Asia to South Asia, is also in the position of a bridge that will enable to establish a strong bond that consists of political, economic, and energy dimensions on the North-South and East-West lines. Nonetheless, regional crises, especially the Afghanistan crisis, are required to solve for eliminating the threats.
Thus, the attitude adopted by the Turkic Council and the countries of the Turkic World to solve the especially problems in regional issues is quite valuable in drawing the World’s attention to a peaceful and humane solution. For example, as seen in the issue of Afghanistan. The cooperation of the parties in regional problems and their involvement in various projects is a concrete indicator of this. At this point, it is clear to see not only rough power but also humanity diplomacy has gained importance.
Solving such existing and potential problems through effective cooperation between regional actors undoubtedly means a safer, peaceful and prosperous world, both regional and global scale. Such regional joint efforts and associations will ensure the expansion and acceleration of the Turkish World-centered integration.
As The Center for Crisis and Policy Studies of Ankara (ANKASAM), we will talk about security problems, solution methods, the value of routes, the importance of cooperation, and the role of the Turkic Council in this conference we will hold today. And today, we will understand and explain how reconciliation and stability are valuable for Eurasia and the need for a common future with your contributions. We think that the conference has a great deal of importance both because of the topics which are going to be discussed and because it brings various experts together.”
Prof. Mehmet Seyfettin Erol thanked all the participants by wishing the establishment of cooperation in the Turkish World, Eurasia and the World.