Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The 51^st General Assembly of the İKV was held at the TOBB İstanbul Service Building with the attendances of the TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, EU Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and İKV President Prof. Dr. Haluk Kabaalioğlu and foundation members.

In his speech, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the real sector shoulders an important mission in regards to the EU as the country’s only specialized institution. Pointing out İKV as the first and most concrete proof of the business world’s support to the EU process, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I would like to present my gratitude to the foundation’s President, Professor Haluk Kabaalioğlu, the Board and personnel for their successful efforts. Under Prof. Kabaalioğlu’s direction, İKV has been very active in keeping the country’s EU vision alive. They have undertaken very important projects and activities domestically as well as in Europe. We’ve achieved important progress in regards to solving such problems as the freedom of travel and visa issues, significant issues especially for the real sector. As TOBB, we will continue to support the Financial Development Foundation.”

Expressing his pleasure in Minister Çavuşoğlu’s presence Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “He is not just a successful academician and politician but has also been working in regards to Europe actively for the last ten years. He is both experienced and knowledgeable in his field.”

- Emphasis on reform

Stating that the EU economic and political criteria are providing a compass during out period of financial and political change, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It has placed at the foundation of our reform process, human honor and respect for basic human rights and freedoms. It has strengthened respect for the rule of law. Our competitive power has increased. Our production standards and quality have begun to compete globally. Our consumers have benefited from it. Our people have benefited from it. Turkey benefited from it. Turkey’s EU membership process is still underway. Significant ground has been covered. We are going to need further reforms to improve our financial, political and social structures; consolidate our successes in democracy and the rule of law.

In this regard, we must continue with the reform which we began in 2001. The Minister is shouldering a great burden in this regard. As TOBB, we will continue to support İKV and all of our institutions in every step taken towards the EU.

Patience, determination and endurance are important. We all know that we are not making these reforms for the EU. We are making them for our people, for our people to live on a level with modern civilization. The meaning of EU membership is to become a country of rules and institutions. It is instating the means for fair and just competition. It is a tangible roadmap for building a better and healthier structure. It is an important opportunity to be a country which strengthens the freedoms of enterprise, idea and conscience; which put people first.”

- Hisarcıklıoğlu’s call to the EU,

“I would issue a call to our friends in the EU,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and stated that Turkey began its membership process with the joint decision of all EU members. Stating that all who contributed to this decision would be remembered with fondness, he went on:

“Likewise, those who cause undue problems during the process, those who mix up politics with technical matters will, those who choose not in the interest of generations to come but with regards to coming elections will end up losing.

After a long time, a new chapter has been opened for negotiations. Steps have been taken towards visa exemption. People have been given hope. The dominant impression is that the EU membership process has begun to move along. There is excitement. All of these developments are greatly satisfactory.

The duty which now falls to us all is to make the best use of this ray of hope. We must open the chapters we are technically prepared to fulfill as soon as possible.

It has been over 30 years since the first visa procedure applied to Turkish citizens by EU member countries.

The visa procedures and the fact that the have become calcified over time is unacceptable for the EU and Turkey which have left behind it 50 years together.

Visa procedures which are a nightmarish issue for citizens; which are inhumane and unjust and which cause unfair competition in our real sector should be brought to an end.

Visa negotiations should not be seen as open ended talks, Turkish citizens should be able to travel freely as soon as conditions are met.”

- “We must make us of the EU’s transformative power”

Stating that Turkey should benefit more from the globally respected transformative power of the EU, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Although we may think that we know very well where we want to go, having a roadmap and compass will take us there better than guesswork.”

Expressing that furthering the optimism created with addressing the problems encountered regarding free trade organizations and transportation quotas, the TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In this regard, the inclusion of Turkey in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations will aid in this. It will allow the making of more difficult decisions. This will positively impact all of us.”

Emphasizing that this agreement between the EU and the USA is of vital importance for Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this will create a new structure encompassing 70% of global trade. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this structure would have the power to determine trade, investment and global standards.

The TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We cannot be left out of this, we can’t afford to be left out of it. If we are to have say in the global order; if we want to produce and profit more, we must take our place at the table.

- Ömer Cihad elected as İKV President

Former MÜSİAD President Ömer Cihad Vardan was elected to İKV Presidency during the İKV 51^st General Assembly presided over by İTO President İbrahim Çağlar. 2013-2015 İKV Board of Directors is comprised of:

Ömer Cihad Vardan, Prof. Dr. Haluk Kabaalioğlu, Mesut Okyay, Yavuz Canevi, Atilla Menevşe, Işınsu Kestelli, Ahmet Sayar, Mehmet Nuri Görenoğlu, Zeynep Bodur Okyay, Baha Telli, İlyas Gençoğlu, İlhan Soylu, Şükrü Alkan, Münir Üstün, Tuğrul Kutadgobilik, Hikmet Tanrıverdi, Simone Kaslowski.

Hasan Hüseyin Coşkun and Kenan Atalay were also elected to the Supervisory Board.