Press Relases

Doğuş Group Chairman Ferit Şahenk:
“The European Union should re-evaluate their tone of voice to Turkey. Turkey is a growing country with pride. Turkey has done her part and now its EU s turn to deliver.”

 

The World Economic Forum in Turkey 2006, where governments, business circles and opinion leaders will identify and discuss regional and world economic trends, has begun in Istanbul.  At the opening plenary session addressing the EU-Turkey Relations, Ferit Şahenk, Chairman of Doğuş Group- one of the two regional partners of the meeting- has answered the questions of Co Chair of WEF in Turkey and Leiden University Professor Victor Halberstadt.   Şahenk underlined the importance of communication and mutual understanding between the EU and Turkey and said: “The European Union should re-evaluate their tone of voice to Turkey. Turkey is a growing country with pride. Turkey has done her part and now it’s the EU’s turn to deliver.”

 

This year, World Economic Forum has chosen Turkey as the only summit venue in Europe besides Davos.  The opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum in Turkey 2006 has been led under the heading of “Turkey and the EU: Mutually Influential, Mutually Beneficial?”  Following the welcoming remarks made by the Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF Klaus Schwap, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan gave a keynote address.  In the same plenary session, Doğuş Group Chairman Ferit Şahenk has argued that the European Union and Turkey need each other and the young population of Turkey is especially important for the European Union. 

 

Ferit Şahenk has given a speech addressing WEF Turkey Co-Chair and Leiden University Professor Victor Halberstad’s following question: “Looking at the EU-Turkey relations from a private sector point of view, does the business world perspective show differences, how is your interaction with the government?”    In his speech answering the question above, Ferit Şahenk stated: “These two topics are interrelated.   The most important aspect here is communications.  The communication gap between people impacts world relations.  EU-Turkey relations widen the horizons of the two parties involved and offer many opportunities.  I would like to underline that in the last six years, Turkey, with its young population, has gone through major transformations regarding the economic reforms Turkey has undertaken.  This change is unexampled.  The European Union should re-evaluate their tone of voice to Turkey. Turkey is a growing country with pride. Turkey has done her part and now its EU’s turn to deliver.”

 

Ferit Şahenk, introduced by the WEF Organization as the “Young Global Leader”, has underlined the following points in his speech:  “Mutual interest and trust is an important issue in the EU relations.  The two parties have to embrace the benefits of synergy.  Turkey’s young population is vital for Europe’s future.  This demographic gift is a big opportunity to Europe which is getting older.  If we can understand each other better, and keep our focus on mutually beneficial aspects of this partnership and manage to see the larger picture, we can move further together in a world that is filled with global problems and risks. Both parties can provide a more effective leadership and communication and thus understand each other better.  This will offer mutual benefits.” 

 

Among the participants of the opening panel addressing the European Union-Turkey Relations were President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, the Minister of Economy of Turkey and Chief Negotiator for the European Union Ali Babacan, Doğan Media Group Chief Executive Officer Hanzade Doğan and European Commission Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia.  During two days, the WEF Turkey will carry many panels and host many local and foreign guests.  Among the other headings to be discussed are Turkey’s geopolitical role, competitiveness and dialogue between cultures.