In 2003, the Republic of Turkey is celebrating her 80th anniversary
OTW organises a symposium and a series of workshops in the Diplomatic Academy
under the patronage of
H.E. Minister Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner and H.E. Minister Doz.Dr. Abdullah Gül

Detailed plan of the event:
otw.cc/80jahre.pdf

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, the Austrian-Turkish Forum of Sciences decided to organize a conference focusing on the relations between Austria and Turkey during the past 79 years.
The conference will take place in Vienna during the last week of October.

So far, Austrian-Turkish studies have mainly concentrated on the time of the Turkish Wars respectively on World War One. Therefore, the Austrian Turkish Forum of Sciences initiated an essential impulse for an intensive research-programme starting with the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in the year 1923; in the following years, we are going to emphasize scientific activities in this direction.

Since April 16, 2003, with the Agreement of Athens, which has provided the European Union with ten new Member Countries, a new constellation in regard to Turkey has developed and has positioned Turkey within the immediate sphere of interest of the European Union. Therefore, an evaluation of the Status Quo of the existing co-operations between Austria and Turkey in various current areas of Economy, EU, Science&Technology, Diplomatic Relations, Culture etc. are of pivotal concern.

Due to this fact, the Austrian Turkish Forum of Sciences (OTW) organises a symposium and a series of workshops in the last week of October 2003 in the rooms of the Diplomatic Academy in the 4th district of Vienna.

Co-organizers of this conference are the Institute of Oriental Studies, Vienna University (www.univie.ac.at/Orientalistik/), the Turkish Historical Society (Türk Tarih Kurumu)(www.ttk.gov.tr)and the Diplomatic Academy (www.da-vienna.at).

Regarding the workshop European Union , the Austrian Turkish Forum of Sciences co-operates with the renowned Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) www.idm.at .

SYMPOSIUM
A team of 16 scientists – 8 Turkish and 8 Austrian – from different disciplines are therefore invited to present their papers at the symposium. Main focus of the symposium is the bilateral relations in the course of the past 79 years.
The scientists will primarily concentrate on comparing the structures of Austria and Turkey in the fields of historiography, politics, diplomatic relations, archaeology, literature and architecture. Working languages will be German and English.

The conference will be split into 4 periods of time. These will be the following:

1. Time after World War One, formation of the Republic of Turkey till the annexing of Austria (with a special view on the re-establishment of bilateral relations and setting-up of permanent missions in Vienna and Ankara)

2. Relations from 1938 until the signing of the Austrian State Contract in 1955

3. Relations from 1955 until the 1980

4. Description of the temporary relations

The following researchers were invited to deliver a paper (in alphabetical order):
Univ.Prof. Dr. Zeki Cemil Arda (Gazi University, Ankara)
"Cultural Relations between Austria and Turkey in the 1980s"
Mag.Dr. Inanc Atilgan (Austrian Turkish Forum of Sciences)
„August Ritter von Kral and Norbert von Bischoff: Two Austrian Diplomats in the Republic Turkey of the 1930s. Their works as laudatio on the potential of foundation of the Republic of Turkey“
Univ.Prof. Dr. Hüseyn Bagci (Middle East Technical University, Ankara)
Univ.Prof. Dr. Jürgen Borchhardt (Vienna University, Department of Archaeology)
"Europa in the Vilayet of Antalya"
Mag. Dr. Evelyn Dawid, Vienna
"One can’t stand this solitude for a long time. The life- and family history of a working migrant in Vienna. A Case Study"
Univ. Prof. Dr. Gertrude Durusoy (Ege University, Izmir)
"Literatur als Bindestrich in den kulturellen Beziehungen zwischen Österreich und der Türkei seit 1945"
Univ.Prof. Peter Gerlich (Vienna University, Department of Government and Comparative Social Science)
"Republics in Comparison"
Dr. Andreas Holzer (University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna)
"Joseph Marx as Musical Ambassador in Turkey"
Univ.Prof. Dr. Halil Inalcik (Bilkent University, Ankara)
„Developments in Turkish Historiography since 1923“
Dr. Ernst Petritsch (Austrian State Archives)
"Die Republik Türkei in Dokumenten des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs"
Univ. Prof. Dr. Hikmet Özdemir (Turkish Historical Society)
"Political Dimension of Kemalist Turkey"
Univ. Prof. Dr. Stanford Shaw (Bilkent University, Ankara; International Relations)
Ambassador Dr. Bilal Simsir (International Relations)
"International Relations between Austria and Turkey in the Years 1923-1938"
Univ. Prof. Dr. Karl Stuhlpfarrer (University of Klagenfurt)
"An outside look at the Turkish History"
Univ. Prof. Dr. Arnold Suppan (Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European Studies)
"Austrian Perceptions on the Rule of Atatürk"

WORKSHOPS

Workshops will be organised in the following six pivotal areas:

Workshop Economy
workshop EU
workshop Science and Research
workshop Culture
workshop Diplomatic Relations
workshop Significance of the Turks in Today's Vienna

Key-note speakers from Austria, Turkey and Belgium who are primarily related to the respective subject are invited to deliver their statement.

Workshop Economy:
working language: German
In this sector, the positioning of Austria in Turkey and the positioning of Turkey in Austria in economic terms will be of pivotal interest. Practical aspects of Austrian-Turkish economic relations are another essential point of interest.
Key-note speaker in this workshop are Mag. Peter Sedlmayer , Austrian Chamber of Commerce (Austrian Trade Commissioner in Turkey (1995-2003), Ömer Berki (Turkish Trade Commissioner in Austria (1993-1997; 2000-2003), KR Ing. Heinz Giljum , Vice President of the Austrian Turkish Business Council, Ing. Ceyhan Pusmaz, Managing Director of EVIM (www.evim.at), and Dr. Burçin Yurtoğlu, Vienna University, Department of Economics and Dr. Ismail Ergener , Director General of Denizbank.
Mag. Dr. Manfred Pittioni , (OTW) moderates this workshop.

Workshop EU
working language: English
Within this category, the Austrian Turkish Forum of Sciences co-operates with the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM). The essential issue is Turkey’s positioning as an EU Candidate Country with special status and Austria’s role in this respect.
Ambassador Dr. Martin Sajdik , Director of Economic Affairs and European Integration (Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs) will moderate this workshop.
Keynote-speaker are Mr. Alessandro Missir Di Lusignano, EU Commission, Directorate-General Enlargement,
Turkey Team,Ms. Ursula Stenzel Head of the ÖVP-Delegation in the European Parliament, Dr. Hannes Swoboda , Head of the SPÖ-Delegation in the European Parliament , Abg. Mag. Ulrike Lunacek, die Grünen, and Yasar Yakis, Chairman of the European Union Integration Committee in the Turkish Grand National Assembly.


Workshop Science&Technology
working language: English
In this workshop, the Status Quo in the fields of S&T and the positioning of Turkey within the European Research Area (ERA) are of major concern. Which perspectives emerge for Turkey due to the fact that Turkey participates in the Sixth Framework Program? Which co-operations exist between Austria and Turkey in the various scientific areas; which ones are thinkable/possible /expandable? Are there any strong or weak sides in regard to the so far existing co-operations? What is the Turkish Scientific Potential?
Moderator of this workshop is SC i.R. Dr. Raoul Kneucker , keynote-speakers are Hon.-Prof. DI Manfred Horvat (Bureau of International Technologies), MR Dr. Anneliese Stoklaska (Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture) and Prof. Dr. Namik Kemal Pak President of TÜBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey).

Workshop Culture
working language: German
There is no cultural agreement between Austria and Turkey so far; what is the reason for it? Which bilateral co-operations exist in this area? Which co-operations should be realized? How does Austria represent itself in Turkey?
Keynote-speakers are Ambassador Mag. Dr. Emil Brix , Director General for Foreign Cultural Policy in the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Univ. İnci Häusler-Altınok (University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna), Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sayar (Ancient History), Mr. Aret Güzel Aleksanyan, Director General of the „Interkulttheater”, Univ. Prof. Dr. Karl Kaser , University of Graz, Department of History and Mr. Lojze Wieser , Wieser Publishing House.

Workshop Diplomatic Relations
working language: English
Status Quo of the Austrian-Turkish bilateral relations in the context of the 250th anniversary of the Diplomatic Academy in 2004. What can be done to strengthen the well established relations between Austria and Turkey?
Ambassador Dr. Ernst Sucharipa, Director of the Diplomatic Academy, will moderate this workshop. Keynote-speaker are Ambassador Mithat Balkan (Turkish Embassy in Vienna) and Ambassador Dr. Marius Calligaris (Austrian Embassy in Turkey), Mag. Hermine Schreiberhuber , Austrian Press Agency and Univ. Prof. Dr. Norman Stone, member of the scientific board of the Austrian Turkish Forum of Sciences.

Workshop Importance of the Turks in Today’s Vienna
working language: German
In this workshop, we will concentrate on the Turkish population in Vienna. What is the positioning of the Turkish woman? What is the role of the second, third and forth generation? What do politicians of Turkish origin contribute in the Austrian political system? What is the position of Turkish entrepreneurs in Vienna? What do Turkish NGOs contribute in the means of integration?
Mr. Ayhan Evrensel, M.I.S. , OSCE Press and Public Information.
Keynote-speakers are Ms. Nurten Yilmaz (SPÖ), Mag. Alev Korun (Grüne) und Ms. Mag. Sirvan Ekici (ÖVP). Two entrepreneurs tell about their companies, these are Ing. Edip Bayizitlioglu, WEDCO (www.wedco.at) and Mr. Mehmet Atis from Atis Elektroinstallationen.