AK Party Deputy Chairman of External Affairs and Cankiri MP Suat KINIKLIOGLU attended the conference titled “Debating Security: Changes and Challenges for Turkey”, held at Bahcesehir University on October 22 and 23, 2010.

KINIKLIOGLU made a speech in the panel titled “Turkey in the Western Institutional Security Framework” and emphasized Turkey’s contribution to both regional and global security.

Speaking at the meeting KINIKLIOGLU said “As a founding member of the UN, member of NATO and all leading European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, as well as a negotiating country for membership in the European Union, Turkey actively pursues a policy geared at enhancing friendship and cooperation in her region and beyond.”

Additionally, KINIKLIOGLU pointed out to emerging power of Turkey in the region and added: “Turkey has been an efficient and significant ally of NATO during the Cold War era and by protecting the south wing of the Alliance, provided significant contribution to specifically Europe and NATO’s security defense in general. However, Turkey is no more a third world country defending the southern wing of NATO like in the 70’s and 80’s. Turkey has become a central country at the intersection point of the Balkans, Black Sea, Caucasia, Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean regions. In addition to its historical background Turkey is now the emerging power in its region due to its political, economic and cultural relations as well as its proactive foreign policy initiatives.”