Immediate Media Release –
“TURKEY DECODED” with Ambassador Ann DISMORR
Date: On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, NYC.
Today’s Date: January 28, 2009, NY
For INVITATION of the Program>
LIGHT MILLENNIUM in collaboration with the COLUMBIA University Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures, Middle East Institute, and the Consulate General of SWEDEN in New York, proudly presents:
A Book Presentation and Signing:
TURKEY DECODED
by:
Ann DISMORR
Swedish Ambassador to Turkey from 2001-2005
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Introduction of the author by:
Ambassador Ulf HJERTONSSON
Moderator:
Professor Peter AWN
Dean of General Studies and Director of MEI at Columbia University
WHEN:On Wednesday, February 25, 2009
TIME: Registration & Reception 6:30 pm, with program to follow
WHERE:Columbia University, International Affairs Building (IAB room 1501, 15th floor)
Located at 420 W. 118th Street (at Amsterdam Avenue)
Please RSVP by: February 24, 2009, 5PM.
Please RSVP to> contact@lightmillennium.org
Web site:
– This event is free and open to the general public.
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Ann DISMORR’s book, “Turkey Decoded”, examines Turkey’s foreign policy, ties with the US and the Middle East, as well as troubled relations with the EU.
Some of the twenty-first century’s greatest challenges are reflected in Turkey-EU relations: the widening gap between the West and the Muslim world, terrorism, and the struggle for human rights and democratization. Although membership talks were launched more than three years ago and are anticipated to finish in 2014, fully fledged membership is far from certain. There is growing concern in both Turkey and the West about Turkey’s “Islamization.”
Ann DISMORR examines the implications of Turkey’s affiliation with Europe while also addressing its role in the Middle East and its complex relationship with the U.S. She pays particular attention to the sweeping reforms initiated by the Justice and Development Party, and to the career and policies of one-time political prisoner and current Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
From the unique view point of one of the few female ambassadors to Turkey, DISMORR describes a country in transition, covering topics from the Kurds to the Iraq War, women’s rights, the crisis over Cyprus and the polarizing presidential election of 2007.
“Turkey Decoded” includes the following 12 chapters:
1) Turkish Identity;
2) Turkey in the Waiting Room of the European Union;
3) Changing EU-Turkish Relations, 1999-2007;
4) Pro-Islamic Party Gained Power and Succeed in Historic EU Breakthrough;
5) From Human Rights Deficit to Progress;
6) The Kurdish Question: A Roadblock to Turkish EU Membership?; |
7) Women Between Tradition and Transformation;
8) Changing US-Turkish Relations and their Impact on the EU Process;
9) Turkey’s Role in the Middle East: Possibilities and Limitations;
10) Turkey: Bridge or Barrier Between East and West?;
11) Turkey’s Future: EU Success Story or Unfulfilled Promise?;
12) The Beginning of a Post-Kemalist Era. |
Following the presentation, there will be an open discussion moderated by Prof. Peter AWN.
The American Turkish Society(www.americanturkishsociety.org), as a part of its Meet the Ambassadors program, will host a reception in honor of Ambassador Ann DISMORR and guests at the event’s venue.
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About the Author:
Ann DISMORR has extensive knowledge of the region and of Islam, having lived in Saudi Arabia, worked on the Middle East peace process and served as an ambassador in Lebanon. Since 2006 she is the Ambassador/Head of the International Department of the Swedish Parliament, and working actively to enhance the understanding and dialogue with the Muslim world.
DISMORR’s other key positions:
Swedish Foreign Ministry 1981
Senior advisor on Parliament’s project on its relations with the Muslim world in the EU’s immediate vicinity (launched in 2005)
Ambassador in Turkey and Azerbaijan 2001-2005
Ambassador in Lebanon 1999-2001
Counsellor, Swedish UN Mission in Geneva 1995-99; in charge of human rights issues
Deputy Director, Foreign Ministry in Stockholm 1993-95; political department, Middle East department
Diplomatic Advisor to Sten Andersson, Former Foreign Minister and special envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks 1993-97
Executive assistant to Foreign Minister Margareta af Ugglas, 1991-92
Negotiating EU-EFTA affairs, Foreign Ministry Trade Department, 1988-89
Embassy in the UK; first secretary, economic affairs, 1985-88
Embassy in Zimbabwe; second secretary, 1983-85
Chairperson of the Friendship Association of the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul.
Author of the book “Turkey Decoded” (published by Saqi books, London in 2008)
Co-author of the book “Plikten och äventyret” (published by Carlsson Bokförlag 2008)
PhD studies at Yale University, Connecticut, USA, 1990-91, political science (EU-USA relations)
Postgraduate studies (political science), University of Gothenburg
Bachelor of Arts, University of Stockholm
Lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1979-1981, 1982-83.
About Ambassador Ulf HJERTONSSON:
As of March 1, 2006, Ambassador Ulf HJERTONSSON is the Consul General of Sweden in New York. Ambassador Ulf HJERTONSSON has worked for the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs since 1965. His career in the Swedish foreign service has included a number of key appointments, both in Stockholm and abroad.
Most recently, from 2001 to 2006, he was Ambassador of Sweden in Helsinki, Finland. Prior to this, he served as Special Adviser to the Foreign Minister and Chairman of the EU-US Task Force during the Swedish EU Presidency in 2001.
Previous appointments include Director General for Political Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm in 1995; Ambassador of Sweden in Madrid, Spain, in 1989; Minister at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington DC in 1985; Foreign Policy Adviser to Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1984; and Assistant Under-Secretary for Political Affairs in 1983.
His first diplomatic assignment was at the Swedish Embassy in Santiago de Chile, followed by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations in New York in 1967, and the Swedish delegation to the European Communities in Brussels in 1978.
Ulf HJERTONSSON has a special interest in language and literature and has published a number of literary translations, including works by Pablo Neruda and Michel Tournier.
About Professor Peter J. AWN:
On July 1, 2008, Professor Peter J. AWN took up his three-year term as Director of the Middle East Institute. He also continues to serve as Dean of the School of General Studies at Columbia.
Peter J. AWN is Professor of Islamic Religion and Comparative Religion in the Department of Religion. He received his Ph.D. in Islamic Religion and Comparative Religion from Harvard University in 1978, at which point he joined the Columbia faculty. Previously he earned degrees in Philosophy, Classical Languages, and Christian Theology. Professor AWN‘s book, “Satan’s Tragedy and Redemption: Iblîs in Sufi Psychology“, received a book award from the American Council of Learned Societies. In 1984 he was the first recipient of the “Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Award” for distinguished teaching and research. In 1995 Professor AWN was awarded the “Great Teacher Award” from the Society of Columbia Graduates. Professor AWN has received numerous grants including a Fulbright and several grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was also a Principal Investigator on the Muslim Communities in New York City research project, sponsored by the Ford Foundation. In addition to his work at Columbia, Professor Awn has been Visiting Professor of Religion at Princeton University. Professor AWN has traveled widely in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, and South Asia.
In addition to his service as Dean of the School of General Studies (GS), Professor AWN currently serves as Acting Dean of the School of Continuing Education (SCE). He has served as chair of the Department of Religion, chair of the Steering Committee of the Chairs of the Arts & Sciences Departments, and chair of the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. In addition he has served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Religion, and Arts & Sciences Faculty Liaison to the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations.
Producers of the program: Bircan Ünver, Light Millennium & Prof. Etem Erol, Columbia University &
Martina Högberg, Consulate General of Sweden in New York
For more information: contact@lightmillennium.org, ee2105@columbia.edu, martina.hogberg@foreign.ministry.se or/ martina.hogberg@gmail.com
– For INVITATION> https://www.lightmillennium.org/events/ann_dismorr_turkey.html |
