The relations between Turkey and Austria are not only important in the fields of investment and cooperation but also represent a partnership significant for the future of our countries. This partnership expects more entrepreneurs from us.

The Marmara Group Foundation attaches great importance to civil society relations between Turkey and Austria.

The contributions of the Vienna Economic Forum are very important in the development of these relations. Especially, the relations that began with Dr. Erhard Busek and Elena Kirstcheva and developed with former President Heinz Fischer have resulted in a longstanding partnership that has created a new vision between Vienna and Istanbul. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who highly appreciated the Marmara Group Foundation's services to regional peace, awarded Dr. Akkan Suver the Austrian State Gold Medal of Honor on November 13, 2018. We accept this medal, as the Marmara Group Foundation, as a gift given not only to Turkish civil society but also to the Turkish Nation.

With this medal awarded to Dr. Akkan Suver, the Austrian State has recognized Turkish civil society through his person. Below is the speech Dr. Akkan Suver gave in Ankara on November 12, 2018, when receiving the Austrian State Gold Medal of Honor.

"I would like to begin my words by thanking Her Excellency Ulrike Tilly, the Austrian Ambassador to Ankara, for her devoted and meticulous hospitality that brought us together here today.

The Austrian State has shown great gratitude by honoring my modest civil society efforts at the Marmara Group Foundation, carried out together with my colleagues in the name of peace and dialogue, with this medal. This is a strong proof and noble example of Austria's closeness and support for civil society and humanitarian values. I want you to know that receiving this medal has moved me deeply and has been a source of pride for me and my colleagues.

As a debt of gratitude, I would like to add that the Vienna Economic Forum, one of Austria's important think tanks, honored me with the Success Award in 2014, 2017, and 2018 for these peace and dialogue efforts at the Eurasia Economic Summits. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them here as well.

The Eurasia Economic Summits, which constitute our efforts to transfer civilizations and cultures in harmony from people to people, carry no other purpose or belief than serving lasting prosperity and peace. With this belief, when dialogue among people guides the exchange of ideas, we can reach peace, or rather, humane living. I do not see this medal as a mere distinction. It also brings responsibility to work more in the service of humanity and to sign more productive projects. Three hundred years ago, on July 21, 1718, after a two-year war, the Peace of Passarowitz was signed between Austrian Emperor Charles VI and Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III. Austrian statesmen inscribed in Latin at the beginning of this treaty: "Two years ago, due to unfortunate new disputes between the Austrian Emperor and the most exalted and powerful ruler and Sultan Ahmed, which caused great harm, distress, and commercial loss to the subjects, a bloody and destructive war ensued, which was interrupted by peace and truce through God's wisdom. The two empires reconciled their relentless hearts, avoided so much bloodshed, promoted welfare for the children of the two nations, and took good care of their subjects with beneficial decisions."

We can approach Turkey-Austria relations in the light of these wise words spoken that day. Austria is a land that has produced Schubert, Freud, Mozart, Beethoven, the Strausses, Kafka, Zweig, Romy Schneider, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Herbert von Karajan, Gustav Mahler, Nicky Lauda, and Bruno Kreisky. Another important figure of this land is Baron Joseph von Hammer, who gave the most realistic historical judgment about the Ottoman Empire and is the backbone of our historical culture. Therefore, the spirit that brings us together here today is the heritage of culture and civilization passed down from yesterday to today. This heritage is taking Turkey and Austria to a new stage today. I believe that this medal given to my humble self here today will enable new partnerships and new collaborations between Turkey and Austria. Please do not consider these words as a flowery language (blumige sprache).

And I want to express my gratitude and thanks to my wife Müjgan Suver, who has supported me not only as a spouse but as a true life partner in all my civil society work and problems I have faced.

Once again, I extend my thanks to the Austrian State and our hostess Her Excellency Ulrike Tilly."

We Lost Dr. Erhard Busek

We lost Dr. Erhard Busek, one of Austria's leading statesmen and politicians and former Chancellor of Austria.

Dr. Erhard Busek, who also served as Chairman of the Austrian Christian Democratic Party for a period, was a pioneer of peace and pro-democracy politics in Europe. He founded the Vienna Economic Forum to facilitate the inclusion of the Balkan region into the European Union. Dr. Erhard Busek was a participant and supporter of the Marmara Group Foundation and the Eurasia Economic Summits.

The Marmara Group Foundation will always remain faithful to the cherished memory of Dr. Erhard Busek and will never forget him.