The Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) has been working on creating joint strategies with the neighbors of Turkey and with the countries that are in its region or in the region Turkey is interested in. Prof. Dr. Seyyid Rıza Ameli-the Vice-Rector of the University of Tehran-, Seyyid Turabi-the Culture Specialist of the Undersecretariat of Culture, Embassy of Iran-, and A. Hekimpour- Assistant Undersecretary of Culture- visited SDE. The Ambassador (R) Emin Gündüz, Vice Chairman of SDE Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Çağıran, the Board Member Aydın Bolat, and the Specialist Dr. Kaan Dilek hosted the guests from Iran at SDE.
The meeting started when Mr.Turabi, the Culture Specialist of the Undersecretariat of Culture, Embassy of Iran, introduced Rıza Ameli. Thereafter, the Board Member Aydın Bolat gave information on SDE and the projects of the institute in detail. After Bolat, Emin Gündüz- SDE Middle East Desk Consultant- made a short speech on the projects of the Institute and the neighborhood relations between Iran and Turkey. Upon Gündüz’s speech, “We see Turkey as our home.” said Rıza Ameli and he said that he was pleased with this meeting.
Dr. Kaan Dilek, SDE Middle East Desk Specialist, talked about the current and future projects. He also asked Dr. Ameli his opinions about forming the basis for the exchange of specialists and assistants for the common fields of study between the two countries. Dr. Ameli emphasized the important role of think tanks in shaping the relations between the two nations apart from governmental relations. In addition to this, he expressed his positive opinions about the common fields of study and he said that there should be a mutual consultation between the two countries for each step. Moreover, Aydın Bolat talked about the plan of organizing “Iran Presentation Day” as a part of SDE Economy and Business Council (EBC) projects and Dr. Ameli gave the name of the people who could be references for this project. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Ameli said that he was very pleased with the meeting and hospitality.
After the bilateral discussions with Prof. Dr. Rıza Ameli, the Vice-Rector of the University of Tehran, they decided to take steps for joint projects between SDE and the think tanks in Iran and for regional bilateral and multiple cooperation. They reached an agreement on organizing various organizations in a mutual cooperation with the authorities from the Undersecretariat of Culture, Embassy of Iran, who visited SDE.