The Club of Rome, an international forum of prominent figures in academia, politics and business from more than 50 countries, held its annual conference October 27 and 28 at Bilkent University. The Club of Rome, established in 1968, brings together former presidents and prime ministers as well as Nobel Prize winners. This year’s session focused on the many issues involved in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea regions.

Among the participants were: Prince El Hassan Bin Tallal from Jordan, Ricardo Hochleitner Diez from Spain, Prof. Alexander Rondeli from Georgia, Sadık Safaev from Uzbekstan, Baroness Nicholson from the European Parliament, Eberhard Von Koerber from Germany; present from Turkey were: Ambassador İlter Türkmen, Prof. Oktay Yenal, Prof. Baran Tuncer, and from Bilkent Prof. Talat Halman and Prof. Orhan Güvenen. During the conference the Club of Rome also conferred upon Prof. İhsan Doğramacı an Honorary Membership.

Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan, current President of the Club of Rome, emphasized in his opening address the extent to which Turkey serves as a bridge between Europe, and the Black Sea and Caspian sea areas. This fact should serve as a reminder, Prince Hassan noted, that the Club of Rome itself has its own bridge-building role in its quest for global solidarity.