General Deborah Jones' Welcoming Remarks at USTDA’s “Electricity Beyond Borders: A Central Asia Power Sector Forum”

Conrad Hotel, Istanbul
June 13, 2006 9:00 a.m.

Distinguished Ministers and Honored Guests,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you here to beautiful, albeit somewhat soggy, Istanbul on behalf of Ambassador Wilson and the entire U.S. Mission in Turkey. Ambassador Boucher and Ms. Zak will outline the key goals of this important gathering, with its focus on enhancing the entire regional power system, and I won’t repeat those points. I did want to note, however, how appropriate it is that this meeting is taking place here in Istanbul, given Turkey’s central role in the emerging energy architecture between Central Asia and Europe.

Just as we often speak of Turkey as a bridge between West and East in a political sense, so too is it assuming that role on the energy stage. This was dramatically evident at the end of last month with the arrival of first oil at Ceyhan, marking the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. That accomplishment will be feted next month in a gala celebration here in Istanbul, at which time I hope some of you will have an opportunity for a return visit, with better weather, Insallah!

Your topic here is different of course, but all these strands of energy policy come together as we seek to address the reality of a new global energy environment where oil and other fuel prices are significantly higher than they have been in the past, with greatly increased demand. Development of mechanisms that spur energy interconnectedness and effectiveness are key to our efforts to address this new situation.

Your presence here is important for another reason -- if you will permit me another parochial observation -- for it highlights as well Istanbul’s importance as a key regional center, not just for the Black Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans, but for Central Asia as well. Turkey’s opening to the emerging republics of Central Asia, which of course has historical roots and in modern times dates to the tenure of the late President Turgut Ozal, has perhaps not yet achieved all that he and its other architects envisioned. But it has laid the groundwork for an effort which of course passes through Ankara and whose activity we see in Istanbul’s private sector and in our contacts with companies and the bilateral Turkish-Eurasian business councils that are centered here. I hope you will have an opportunity to touch base with some of your counterparts in Turkey’s dynamic private sector during your stay in this amazing city.

Again, let me wish you every success in your deliberations. Hos geldiniz!