TOD TURKEY Project of Think Tank Organizations Dialogue of Turkey

Activities of Cooperation between Think Tank Organizations on the Main Concept of “Civilization of Peace”

7-12 April 2008 Turkey

Final Report

Representatives of 24 Think Tank Organizations from Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and Turkey met in Istanbul between 7-12 April 2008 with aims of discussing international and regional issues and to establish a “Communication Network Between the Think Tank Organizations”.

The Conference, initiated by TASAM (Turkish Asian Centre for Strategic Studies) and its above-mentioned partners have said the general framework for the establishment of a “communication network”, which aims to enhance the cooperation among think tank organizations and to create a platform providing the member centres with an opportunity for sharing information about their activities, researches, publications and joint projects.

The participants of the conference agreed on the following:

Structure of Think Tank Organizations Communication Network

Membership

1. The participating organizations of the first founding conference held in Turkey in 2008, who share the spirit and the values for the establishment of the “network” are the “founding members”.

2. The main concept as it can be understood from the name of the project (TOD-TR) is; common cooperation and sharing on the basis of mutual good relations with Turkey.

3. The membership to the network will be open to all think tank organizations of any country, with the approval of the annual conference.

4. The organizations willing to participate in the “network” shall address to TASAM.

5. The applicant centre shall be invited to the regular meetings of the member organizations by TASAM.

Presidency

1. Until the institutionalization has been done, TASAM will carry out the presidency duty. TASAM also will organize annual conference(s).

2. TASAM will also carry out the functions of the “secretariat” during its presidency.

3. If any research centre applies for term presidency with all financial responsibility after the institutionalization, TASAM will appreciate it and give its support. At the end of this term presidency will be back to TASAM.

Mechanisms of TOD-TR

1. TOD-TR will have a website which will provide a regular, comprehensive and interactive framework for the exchange of information between the member organizations.

2. Necessary mechanisms, such as “Risks and Analysis and Security Culture Promotion Group”,” Monitoring Group”,” Fact Finding Group” etc. may be established within the concept of Conflict Prevention, Crisis Management and Peace-Building Processes and a Wise-Men Group may be created.

3. The Member Centres will cooperate within the International and intra-regional Organizations and for this purpose a “Contact Group” be established.

a) TOD-TR Communication Network Website (todturkey.org)

1. The “todturkey.org” will provide a regular, comprehensive and interactive framework for the exchange of information between the member organizations.

2. The “todturkey.org” will give an opportunity to all who are interested in regional and international issues, to follow the activities of the member organizations and of the other mechanisms of the “network”, such as “Contact Group” and” Wise Men Group” etc.

3. TASAM will host the website with the technical assistance and facilities, kindly provided by the Computer Centre of TASAM.

4. “The network” will be managed by an administrator, who hosts the deployment of the website. (Managerial Staff of TASAM Computer Centre)

5. The administrator will upkeep the website technically and will protect it against illegal attacks.

6. All the information within the todturkey.org will be publicised in Turkish, English and Russian languages.

7. The “todturkey.org” will be open to public access, excluding the secured area(s) which can only be used by member organizations with aforementioned special username and password.

8. The information and other publicised documents deployed in the “todturkey.org” website will be subject to international rules regarding the privacy and copyright protection.

b) Wise Men Group - WMG

Activities of the Wise Men Group

1. WMG monitors, analyses and identifies the situation, potential risks and threats, as well as focal points of conflicts in the international and regional situations and reports its findings and recommendations to the national authorities and international bodies.

2. WMG, in order to establish, promote and enhance transparency, good governance, human rights and democracy among members countries, organizes seminars, conferences and training courses to determine, recommend and establish norms and principles of a security culture.

3. WMG, for a rapid settlement of existing frozen conflicts makes appropriate recommendations to encourage the conflicting or contentious parties to resolve their problems through democratic and peaceful means.

4. WMG, in the post conflict period carries out studies and makes recommendations on strengthening the civil society and its contributions to the sustainable stability and security, as well as peace-building processes.

Structure of the Wise Men Group

1. WMG consists of chairmen / directors or eminent personalities of the member organizations.

2. In order to ensure the efficiency in accomplishing its mission, the WMG will not be composed of more than ten persons.

3. The WMG takes its decisions by consensus.

c ) Network Contact Group - NCG

Activities of the Network Contact Group

1. Follows the current issues related to the regional and international issues included in the agenda of the international organizations such as UN and its specialised agencies etc.

2. Informs and disseminates, if necessary, all relevant documents to the member organizations.

3. Awakens the sensibility of member organizations towards these topics, to harmonise policies and to develop appropriate common strategies.

4. Advises the governments, relevant international organizations and other authorities about these policies and strategies.

5. Coordinates and communicates with the member organizations, “Wise Men Group” and other sub groups established within “the network”.

6. To make use of national and international expertise; establish regular communication channels with national authorities and international bodies.

7. The NCG will seek the possibility to acquire “consultative status” within the aforementioned international and intra-regional organizations.

8. The NCG is the main “coordination organ” of “the network” for informing and coordinating all other issues concerning the member organizations.

Structure of the Network Contact Group

1. The NCG is composed of the senior representatives of the member think tank organizations.

2. Each member organization will designate a senior managerial staff level “contact person” for the creation of the “Network Contact Group” and inform TASAM about his name.

3. In order to fulfil its responsibilities, the NCG meets at least once a year or more, if deemed necessary.

4. The NCG will establish its own rules and procedures in its first meeting.

5. The NCG will hold regular coordination meetings and exchange of views and opinions, using the member think tank organizations’ special secured area(s) / platform within “the network website”.