a1/2009 - Issue 11
 In an era of global economic crisis, when all political and economic
analysts underline risks prevalent in the global sphere, The Bridge
adopts an optimistic stance. This optimism derives from the tendency to
build regional schemes and the inclination to form regional
partnerships based on civil initiatives. This tendency has to transform
to solid action involving civil society in order to promote cultural
and religious dialogue as well as economic relations.
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| cover story
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Union for the Mediterranean
The recent developments in the Mediterranean region following the July EU declaration on a “Union for the Mediterranean” have provoked heated debates not only in the elite circles of state officials and academics, but also among civil society actors, including businessmen, NGOs, and researchers. The new initiative launched a number of concrete projects that highlight the need for dealing with several urgent issues: the pollution of the Mediterranean, ...read more » |
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| frontlines
|  | Discovering its Eastern neighborhood The EU after the Georgian crisis
By Yannis Tsantoulis
The EU's policy towards the South Caucasus: From apathy to engagement?
The EU's 'foreign policy' -- if this is the right term to use --
towards its emerging eastern neighborhood was trapped during the
post-Cold War period in a membership/non-membership dilemma. To put it
bluntly, if membership was on the table, then the EU had a fully
developed policy framework at its disposal, but if it was not, then the
EU institutions were very reticent to advocate any...read more » |
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 | Is there any other foreign policy option?
Yasar Yakis interviewed by Dimitris Maziotis and Eleni Fotiou
On the occasion of the Third International Centre for Black Sea Studies
(ICBSS) Annual Lecture, H.E. Yasar Yakis, Chairman of the European
Union Harmonization Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
and the Former Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke on "The Black Sea and
the Georgian Crisis". After the event, which was held in Athens on 13
November 2008, H.E. Yasar Yakis agreed to talk to The Bridge co...read more » |
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| dialogue
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The return of the Balkans
Are we entering a new critical phase in Southeast Europe after the
declaration of Kosovo’s independence? How has the war in Georgia
impacted Southeast Europe? How should we interpret the recent
developments in the region? Does the news coming from the region allow
for optimism? Or are we entering a new phase of regional instability?
...read more » |
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| turquoise
|  | Hostage to power play
By Dana Moss
The renaming of the Mediterranean Union as ‘Barcelona Process: Union
for the Mediterranean' (UfM) symbolizes the dismantling of Sarkozy's
grand project. First outlined in February 2007 in Toulon, a recent
commission communication embodies the latest transformation of the
idea, and the UfM was officially launched on July 13, under the French
Presidency of the EU.
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 | Mustafa of Thessalonica
By Ariana Ferentinou
"It was a winter night in 1881. The storm was howling over
Thessalonica. Everyone was trying to get warm in his 'yatak' and
Kyra-Thodora, a well built Turkish-Rum midwife whom her fellow
inhabitants in the city knew for her unique abilities (she had the
reputation of a zero death rate in births that she took care of), is
about to go to bed. Suddenly, loud knocks on the door are heard and she
rushes to the door where she comes across the blushed face of a gi...read more » |
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 | 2009: A turning point in relations
By Mehmet Ali Birand
The progress report, as a mirror reflecting relations between Turkey
and the European Community, has shown us the breaking point: 2009 will
be a turning point. I’m sure you noticed. We are facing a situation
that looks like Turkish and EU authorities have agreed to do their best
to slow down the negotiations.
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 | Caucasus: The new battle zone
By Mitat Celikpala
The Caucasus had been on the agenda in the first half of 2008 due to
the instability in the region during and after the elections in Armenia
and Georgia. The Caucasus dominated the world's attention in the second
half of 2008 with its elections issues, their potential impact on
Azerbaijan, and solution initiatives for the frozen conflicts.
...read more » |
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| culture
| Istanbul now and forever part of Europe
By Ali Osman Egilmez
"Europe is an unfinished project. Everyone has a role to play and I
include Istanbul in this statement,'' said Professor Laura Kolbe at a
symposium taking place in November. It seems the choice of place to
answer the question “what is European culture” was not random.
According to Professor Kolbe, Istanbul has always and will always be at
the heart of European culture and deserves to be the continent’s
cultural capital in 2010.
...read more » |
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All your dreams in a suitcase
By Stamatia Petropoulou and Marianna Tzouleki
Are you a young student? Do you like traveling abroad, meeting new
people, and experiencing new cultures? If the answer is yes, and you
are searching for a way to make your dreams come true, then take a look
at some interesting ideas:
...read more » |
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| book reviews
| book reviews
 The role of Europeans of Turkish origin in Turkey-EU relations
This piece of research deals with a wide range of issues, ranging from
the relationships that Belgian-Turks have with Turkey and Europe, as
well as their relations with Belgium, its citizens and institutions.
Questions of identity and integration, where Islam, on both the
personal and public level, plays an essential role is also discussed.
Moreover, Belgian-Turks’ links with Turkey, Belgium and the European
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