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“INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
CENTRAL ASIA AND NORTH CYPRUS RELATIONS:
PERSPECTIVES IN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND
STRATEGIC ISSUES”
A Two Day Conference on 20-21 November, 2008
At
Eastern Mediterranean University,
North Cyprus
Principal Sponsor:
Center for Strategic Studies (CSS)
This Conference aims at strengthening collaboration between CSS and likeminded
strategic research centers and academic institutions in the Central Asia with a
view to enhancing relations between North Cyprus and Central Asia countries.
The Conference is conceived as an academic event of the highest standards,
intended to bring world-class researchers, academics and policymakers to share
research findings and ideas on the following vital topics of mutual interest.
POLITICAL: Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) is still suffering from
political isolation, despite having voted overwhelmingly for the UN Peace Plan,
known as the Annan Plan, in Referendum on 24 May 2004.
Even though the Greek Cypriot side resoundingly rejected this Plan, it was
rewarded by becoming a Member of the European Union which ignored the ethnic
division in Cyprus. The 2008 Conference is intended to explore ways and means of
enhancing the status of TRNC internationally, particularly in the Central Asia
countries.
ECONOMIC: Despite political isolation and economic barriers, TRNC has
experienced rapid economic growth since 2002, achieving GNP growth rates
averaging in excess of 10% p.a. Income per capita currently exceeds US $11,000
and is projected to rise to US$15,000 by 2012. We are interested in academic
papers exploring growth prospects in small island economies such as TRNC
dependent on tourism, higher education and offshore banking services, as well as
on how to attract foreign investment and more trade relations with Central Asia
countries.
STRATEGIC: TRNC has become an especially strategic location as a result of two
developments in the energy sector:
•
The opening of the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Terminal at Iskenderun less than 70
kms. Away from the tip of Karpaz peninsula in TRNC, and
•
Oil exploration agreements between Greek Cypriot authorities and Egypt and
Lebanon. It will be useful to have a few academic papers focused on these
topics, again within the larger Central Asia perspective. |