Akkan Suver

(President, Marmara Group Foundation)

Author

Dr. Akkan Suver is President of Marmara Group Foundation, which is the most prestigious NGO of Turkey. Dr. Suver received Honorary Causa Doctorate from Azerbaijan Tefekkür University and Honorary Causa Professorship from Kyrgyzstan Bishkek University. He is the founder of Eurasian Economic Summit, which is has been held since 1998. Dr. Akkan Suver was appointed to Honorary Consul General of Montenegro in 2008. A well-known journalist and writer in Turkey, he is writing columns for G?zlem Newspaper.

Abstract

I regard the Silk Road as a "Silk Road of Iron". At Marmara Group Foundation, we believe that people of the Silk Road countries showed an example of enduring friendship throughout history. Mutual benefit and trust in the basis of common advantage, equality, tolerance and sharing of experience are characteristics of the Silk Road. We can re-actualize Silk Road line for concentrating economical relations between Europe and Asia and deepening cooperation. I used the expression of "Iron Silk Road". With this expression, I wanted to point out Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway project. This project will conclude next year. Marmaray Project, which concluded on October 29, 2013, connected Beijing and London with railways. Silk Road of yesterday was connected with only camel caravans. Why shouldn't we connect Silk Road of today with airways, railroads and highways?