16th EU-Turkey Conference of Journalists to be held on 11th March in Istanbul

The 16th EU-Turkey Conference of Journalists will take place on 11th March 2008 at the Sabanci University in Tuzla - Istanbul.

The forum will bring together senior journalists from the European Union and Turkey. The discussions will focus on the gap between perceptions and reality regarding the EU-Turkey relations.

This year’s participants are: Florence Aubenas - Le Nouvel Observateur (France), Manuel Erice – ABC (Spain), Walter Friedl – Kurier (Austria), David Gardner - The Financial Times (United Kingdom), Costas Iordanidis – Kathimerini (Greece), Atanas Todorov Matev – BTA (Bulgaria) on the EU side and Mehmet Altan (Star), Ergun Babahan (Sabah), Abdülhamit Bilici (Zaman), Mehmet Ali Birand (Kanal D), Ferhat Boratav (CNN-Türk), Yasemin Congar (Taraf) and Sirin Payzin (CNN-Türk) as moderator.

Launched by the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey in 1992, the annual conference is co-hosted this year by the Sabancı University. The conference aims to contribute to an improved understanding between the European Union and Turkish media and to foster and generate discussion and debate.

During their visit to Istanbul, the EU participants will also visit the Dogan TV Medya Center and the headquarters of Zaman daily, as well as the EU co-financed Marmaray Tube Tunnel and Rehabilitation of Urban Connections Project.

For further information:
Ms Selda Düzenli
Tel : 90-312-459 87 00 (203)
Mailto : selda.duzenli@ec.europa.eu

For accreditation :
Ms Nesrin Balkan
Sabanci University
Tel : 90-216-483 9097
Mphone : 90-542-432 8998
Mailto : nesrin@sabanciuniv.edu