8/7/2019 Student Report Seminar UETD-UFL 08.03.2011 Ors

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Omer Ors

EUS 4950 Sec. 3508

Sinan Ciddi Brussels Capstone

Venue- UETD, Meeting Mehmet Alpaslan Sagin: Secretary General of UETD Date- March 08, 2011

The meeting with Mehmet Alpaslan Saygin, the Secretary General of UETD, was a broad

discussion containing a sum of information. The UETD is an independent civilian

organization that officialized in 2006. Its mission is the optimization of Euro-Turks on

political and socio-economic levels. The five core objectives include the promotion of

sociological identity for Euro-Turks that include the European citizens who hold on to their

Turkish origin and culture. This includes two feelings of identity, not caused of suspicion but

a positive consequence of globalization of the social environment. Second, it includes theirpolitical participation that challenges integration to be out-dated while it defines the termparticipation is more up to date and a more comprehensive concept. It puts Euro-Turks in

new methods to gain political consciousness. Its third objective focuses on the intercultural

dialogue and combating discrimination in the form of racism and extreme nationalism.

Fourth, it focuses on the Euro- Turks essential involvement in the media and am ong political

authorities. The last striking objective of this civilian organization is a decision by theEuropean Union on Turkeys membership. They promote positive contribution to plurality

within the EU and democratization of Turkey. The organization also clearly participates in

various activities in promoting their core objectives. These activities include conferences,cultural concerts, round-table discussion, and other forms of political participation.

Following the detailed presentation that also focused on the political structure of

Belgium, a number of critical questions was raised. One was the concerning the biggest

obstacle facing Turkey, on its mission to join the European Union. This has various answersbut the Turkish democratization process of its constitution and the private funding of the

mission are on top of the list.

My overall reflection on the theme is positive. The idea of a civilian organization that

was started by a large group of young Turks is a seed of democracy. UETDs mission ca n beaccomplished with such grassroots efforts. The main problem with Turkeys accession

process includes the lack of grassroots organization in Turkey. The process is a bureaucratic

effort for accession. Seeing such organization in Brussels, the capitol of the EU, gives onehope on Turkish accession. Their presentation clearly outlined the organizations objectives

and gave a detailed explanation of the political problems Belgium is facing today.