Istanbul, February 5 (AZERTAC). The 17th Eurasian Economic Summit, organized by Marmara Foundation, has kicked off in Istanbul, Turkey.

Ali Hasanov, head of the Socio-Political Affairs Department at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, read out a congratulatory message of President İlham Aliyev to participants.

“The global issues that will be addressed in this year’s summit require all participants to discuss them in details and with cooperation,” the president’s message said.

In his message, President Ilham Aliyev placed emphasis on development of energy, and stressed the role of pipeline projects in the revitalization of Silk Road and the establishment of welfare in the Eurasian region.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül underlined the necessity of cooperation in terms of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

UNESCO`s Secretary General Irina Bokova stressed the role of politicians, cultural and religious figures in establishing global intercultural dialogue.

The keynote speaker, Marmara Group Foundation President Dr. Akkan Suver, delivered the inauguration speech, placing particular emphasis on the revitalization of the Silk Road, which is embraced as a philosophy by the Marmara Group, and the policies required to be adopted by all nations of the Eurasia geography to enable them to attain their national potentials.

“The summit will tackle the question of how to reshape Eurasia amid the continuing crisis of globalization,” Suver said.

He stressed that the summit’s panel will be exploring solutions to settle the specific dilemma of the economy and trade with respect to the Silk Road and the vitality of international political cooperation in this bid.

“The economic development without political aspects will cause a crisis,” Suver warned in his speech, calling for special attention to be paid toward energy within this framework.

He said the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) projects had especially expanded the cooperation level of the countries involved to a new degree and that they held great significance and offered massive potential in shaping new power balances and a new order. We attach great importance to Shahdeniz as it will be expanded to make Turkey and Caucasia energy hubs,” he said.

Therefore these energy import links will prompt “political stability and economic welfare to reach new potentials,” according to Suver. The Marmara Group chairman also touched upon some other key issues that will be explored and debated throughout the summit, including the importance of informatics as a sustainable bridge, women’s participation at all levels and commercialization of new, innovative ideas.

He said the poverty and inequality in the world prevented democracy from being internalized in countries, including Turkey.

Suver also stressed the importance the Marmara Group attaches to Turkey’s European Union membership bid and its relations with the bloc.

“Turkey is part of Europe, and I believe it will celebrate the Republic Day of Turkey in 2023 as a member of the EU,” he said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Prime Minister Vjekoslav Bevanda and United Nations High Representative to the Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser were the foreign guests at the ceremony.

In addition to Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, who delivered a speech on behalf of Turkey, Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, Chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce İbrahim Çağlar, Chairman of İzmir Chamber of Commerce Ekrem Demirtaş had chances to put forward some aspects of establishing a “global” point of view. The acting president of the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), Ali Rıza Arslan, and the chairman of the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Associations (İHKIB), Hikmet Demirtaş, also addressed participants in brief speeches.

Addressing section meetings of the summit, chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Bartholomew I, Patriarch of the Fener Rum Orthodox Patriarchate, head of Azerbaijani Mountain Jews community Milikh Yevdayev, Chairman of the Baku Religious Community of European Jews and Head of the Catholic Church in Baku Vladimir Fekete and Bishop Alexander of Baku and Azerbaijan hailed roles of religious figures in societies.

They praised state-religion relations and tolerance in Azerbaijan.

During the section meeting on economic affairs, Azerbaijan`s Minister of Energy Natig Aliyev, Vice-Speaker Valeh Alasgarov, Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Shimshek and other speakers exchanged views over the global economic situation, and the future of energy sector.

The speakers also praised energy projects like TANAP and TAP, initiated by Azerbaijan and Turkey, saying these pipelines will bring economic and social progress to the region and contribute to energy security of Europe.