The International congress on “Blue Black Sea” will be
organized by Sakarya University, Department of International
Relations at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative
Sciences. The full title of International Congress is “Blue
Black Sea: New Dimensions of Security, Energy, Environment,
Economy, Strategy and Education”. SAKARYA UNIVERSITY “BLUE
BLACK SEA” CONGRESS will be held between 14 and 17 October,
2008 under the distinguished patronage of the Rector of
Sakarya University, Professor Mehmet Durman.
The Main Aims and Contents of the Congress
The aim of the Congress is to bring together experts and
researchers of (primarily but not exclusively) the Black Sea
regional states in order to analyze political, economic,
social and cultural relations among the states of the Black
Sea region.
In addition to the standard coastal states, other states
that belong to the corridor carrying Caspian Energy sources
to the west through the connection between Asia Europe (Albania,
Serbia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) are all considered as Black
Sea states. In the contemporary world politics, Black Sea is
a pivotal region for the global powers. Color revolutions
are a case in point for they herald a new power struggle in
the line of Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian Sea regions. Not only
the U.S. and Russia but also other global and regional
powers and coastal states and institutions are struggling
for influence over the strategic depth of the Black Sea
region.
International Congress on Blue Black Sea will be convened
with the following objectives: to describe various
dimensions of ongoing relations and existing problem areas
from both theoretical and conceptual perspectives; analyzing
the existing and emerging institutions; to define areas of
disagreements and and discuss peaceful resolutions of
conflicts and hence to bring light to the international
relations of the Black Sea region from scientific
perspectives under different headings and sections. In this
framework, Congress will provide grounds for scientific
assessments of Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The latter is
of importance also because it contributes to the integration
of Turkey with a wider world in line with the ongoing
liberal changes and globalization trends.
Turkey being another country playing for influence had in
mind two objectives when it started the initiative of the
Black Sea Project. The first was to transform the Black Sea
into a sea of peace, stability and prosperity on the bases
of friendly relations and good neighborhood policies. Second
was to improve and diversify economic relations between the
regional states by taking the full advantages from the
existing historical ties and geographical proximity amongst
the states. On the other hand, the congress has increased
these aims by adding plans to approach and analyze from a
scientific perspectives the ‘International Free Trade City’
that is to be constructed in Sakarya Turkey, which is
designed for the Black Sea regional states.
The name Blue, symbolizes both a clean environment and peace.
In view of above aims, the Congress plans to invite not only
high level participants but also Presidents or Prime
Ministers, Ministers and diplomats of the members states as
keynote or guest speakers. Such a gathering will produce
valuable academic assessments to a wider world community by
sharing and disseminating findings about regional and global
policies
The security of the Black Sea is not just a matter of
regional interest; it has global importance, and it directly
affects the political and economic security of the global
powers such as the United States. The latter will encourage
and support the new democracies around the Black Sea. Their
success, stability and prosperity are all essential to the
security and peace of the whole region.
Congress Logo
THE MAIN SUBJECTS of Sakarya University’s “Blue Black
Sea” Congress, will focus on different factors and actors
striving to actively engage in the Black Sea region. Topics
may be assessed under the following headings:
1) Global powers: the United States., the European Union,
and Russia.
2) Regional powers: Turkey, Ukraine, Romania. These actors
have difficulties in formulating policies independent of
global actors thus they have to work in coordination with
them.
3) International organizations: NATO, EU, OSCE, GUAM, Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC).
4) The history of 19th and 20th centuries as well as current
political, social, economic, national and cultural issues
related to the main subject.
5) Special attention will be given to the problems of the
communist and post-communist world in the Black Sea region.
Therefore, the Caucasus and Central Asian issues will be
also relevant for the conference.
Below we present more specific topics of the 2008 Congress:
