- A Reception was Held at the Washington Embassy in Honor of the Conference
In honor of the 10th year of Sakıp Sabancı Conference Series organized jointly by Sabancı University and Brookings Institution, a reception was held at Turkey's Washington Embassy Residence. Hosted by Sabancı University Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Güler Sabancı and Turkey's Washington Ambassador Serdar Kılıç, the reception was participated by ICF CEO Jin-Yong Cai, former IMF Director Anne Krueger, Brookings Institution Chairman Strobe Talbott, Deputy Chairman Kemal Derviş and representatives from many think tanks.
Sabancı University Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Güler Sabancı underlined at the reception: “We would like to thank the esteemed Ambassador and his wife for hosting this reception. We are celebrating the 10th year of Sakıp Sabancı Conference, organized jointly by Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center and Brookings Institution. We are proud that Sakıp Sabancı Conferences are an important platform since 2005 in the discussion of Turkey's relations with the US. From the very start, these conferences brought a new perspective into international relations. I hope this valuable cooperation will continue to flourish in the coming years. Sakıp Sabancı was an outstanding individual. He was not only a businessman or a charitable person he was a real leader who believed in democracy, freedom of speech, and free market economy. He attached great significance into Turkey's relations with the US. He believed in long-term partnerships based on mutual trust. This way of thinking is his legacy for us. Long-term partnerships create value. The world we are living in highlights the importance of such partnerships. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone from Brookings Institution, Sabancı University and Istanbul Policy Center who took part in this valuable partnership, especially Strobe Talbott, Kemal Derviş and Professor Kemal Kirişçi.”
Turkey's Washington Ambassador Serdar Kılıç stated: “By hosting very important individuals, Sakıp Sabancı Conferences create an ideal opportunity to convey Turkey's international role. It has been constituting an important standard with its content and speakers from the very beginning.”