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http://www.brookings.edu/comm/news/20061218.htm
T he Brookings Institution
Ambassador Mark R. Parris Named Visiting Fellow and Director of
Brookings-TUSIAD Project on Turkey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shawn Dhar , Senior Communications Officer, 202/797-6284
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2006) - Mark R. Parris, U.S. ambassador to
Turkey from 1997 to 2000, will join the Brookings Institution as a visiting
scholar, Brookings President Strobe Talbott announced. Working under the
joint auspices of the Center for the United States and Europe (CUSE) and the
Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Ambassador Parris will lead a one-year
project - "Turkey 2007" - organized jointly by Brookings and TUSIAD, the
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association. Parris will be
affiliated with Brookings starting February 1, 2007.
"2007 will be a defining year for Turkey. The spring election of a new
President and subsequent fall general elections will set the course of
Turkish internal politics for the next decade," said Carlos Pascual, vice
president and director of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings
Institution. "Developments in Iraq, Iran and the eastern Mediterranean will
both interact with Turkey's election-year politics and clarify the nature
and direction of its relations with the United States, the Muslim world and
Israel."
As a career Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Parris retired in 2001 after
30 years of service that included assignments to Tel Aviv and Moscow, and
policy level responsibilities at the State Department and National Security
Council. His three years in Ankara were a high point in recent U.S.-Turkish
relations. Since leaving government he has remained involved with Turkey as
senior advisor with the Washington office of Baker Donelson, PC and as
chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Friends of Turkey and the
Advisory Board of the American Turkish Council.
TUSIAD, a co-sponsor of "Turkey 2007," is an Istanbul-based association that
represents Turkey's largest and most prestigious private companies. For many
years, it has been a leading voice in Turkish civil society for
socio-economic and political reforms in Turkey and for Turkey's EU
candidacy. "We're pleased to partner with Brookings in contributing to a
better dialogue between the U.S. and Turkey at such a critical juncture,"
stated TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci. In addition to TUSIAD, "Turkey 2007"
will be supported by individual contributions from Turkey's private sector.
"Turkey 2007" will seek to encourage a focused, informed discussion in the
U.S. on developments in and around Turkey during what will be an unusually
full and important year for this pivotal country. "By bringing to Washington
on a timely basis some of Turkey's best political analysts and commentators,
the project will provide an opportunity to move beyond stereotypes that have
recently characterized analysis in this country of Turkey's political
dynamics," Ambassador Parris said.
*****
The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to
independent research and innovative policy solutions. Celebrating its 90th
anniversary in 2006, Brookings analyzes current and emerging issues and
produces new ideas that matter - for the nation and the world.
T he Brookings Institution
Ambassador Mark R. Parris Named Visiting Fellow and Director of
Brookings-TUSIAD Project on Turkey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shawn Dhar , Senior Communications Officer, 202/797-6284
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2006) - Mark R. Parris, U.S. ambassador to
Turkey from 1997 to 2000, will join the Brookings Institution as a visiting
scholar, Brookings President Strobe Talbott announced. Working under the
joint auspices of the Center for the United States and Europe (CUSE) and the
Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Ambassador Parris will lead a one-year
project - "Turkey 2007" - organized jointly by Brookings and TUSIAD, the
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association. Parris will be
affiliated with Brookings starting February 1, 2007.
"2007 will be a defining year for Turkey. The spring election of a new
President and subsequent fall general elections will set the course of
Turkish internal politics for the next decade," said Carlos Pascual, vice
president and director of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings
Institution. "Developments in Iraq, Iran and the eastern Mediterranean will
both interact with Turkey's election-year politics and clarify the nature
and direction of its relations with the United States, the Muslim world and
Israel."
As a career Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Parris retired in 2001 after
30 years of service that included assignments to Tel Aviv and Moscow, and
policy level responsibilities at the State Department and National Security
Council. His three years in Ankara were a high point in recent U.S.-Turkish
relations. Since leaving government he has remained involved with Turkey as
senior advisor with the Washington office of Baker Donelson, PC and as
chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Friends of Turkey and the
Advisory Board of the American Turkish Council.
TUSIAD, a co-sponsor of "Turkey 2007," is an Istanbul-based association that
represents Turkey's largest and most prestigious private companies. For many
years, it has been a leading voice in Turkish civil society for
socio-economic and political reforms in Turkey and for Turkey's EU
candidacy. "We're pleased to partner with Brookings in contributing to a
better dialogue between the U.S. and Turkey at such a critical juncture,"
stated TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci. In addition to TUSIAD, "Turkey 2007"
will be supported by individual contributions from Turkey's private sector.
"Turkey 2007" will seek to encourage a focused, informed discussion in the
U.S. on developments in and around Turkey during what will be an unusually
full and important year for this pivotal country. "By bringing to Washington
on a timely basis some of Turkey's best political analysts and commentators,
the project will provide an opportunity to move beyond stereotypes that have
recently characterized analysis in this country of Turkey's political
dynamics," Ambassador Parris said.
*****
The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to
independent research and innovative policy solutions. Celebrating its 90th
anniversary in 2006, Brookings analyzes current and emerging issues and
produces new ideas that matter - for the nation and the world.