More than 100 ICC Members from 20 Countries came together before the Istanbul Peace Conference from 19 to 22 of February 2025
They attended the ceremony at Bahçeşehir University on March 19, 2025, 1 day before the organization, on a bus, and participated to the ceremony there with other participants, and had the opportunity to visit the University and the newly opened Peace Center.
Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick, Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees President Mark Maloney, and Rotary International Secretary and CEO John Hewko also attended the Summit on February 20, 2025.
The summit, which was simultaneously translated from English to French and from French to English using AI technology, presented the projects carried out by the International Committees, especially in disaster situations, following the opening.
Germany-Turkey International Committees Committee Chair PDG Thomas König and District 2430 PDG Emre Öztürk explained the projects carried out regarding the February 6 Earthquake, PDG Paco Chapa explained the projects carried out by Rotary after the flood disaster in Valencia, Spain last year. Similarly, the work carried out in District 2452 after the disasters in Lebanon was reported by PDG Jamil Mouawad. PDG Vladimir Matic gave brief info n Rotary in the Balkans.
Afterwards, RI President Stephanie Urchick, The Rotary Foundation Chair Mark Maloney and Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko answered questions in the panel moderated by Inter-Country Committees Executive Board Chair Nathalie Huyghebaert.
Later, Turkey-Albania-Kosovo Charter Ceremony took place with presence of Senior Leaders District 2430, 2440 and 2485 District Governors, ICC Executice Council Chair. ICC Protocol and MOU is signed by parties.
After; Ulrike and Thomas Vogt from Germany made a presentation regarding the Peace Camp for Music held in Izmir, and Selin Nielsen, Founding President of the HMI – Human Migration Institute, regarding Refugees were watched with interest.
Rotary Peace Ambassador Linda Low, IEP-Economy and Peace Institute Representative PDG Jamil Mouawad, Rotary Positive Peace Activator Maria-Vittoria Gargiulo introduced the institutions they represented in the panel they attended and provided information about their activities.
PDG Vladimir Matic from Region 2483 gave examples of successful ICC Projects, Turkey-Belgium-Luxembourg Section Chair from District 2440 PDG Reha Akın provided information about the End Plastic Soup Project, of which he is the European Director.
In the last part of the summit, PDG Annemarie Mostert provided information about the 2nd Africa Peace Forum to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, ICC Activities on the African continent, and the Calgary Convention.
The members of the Lebanese Pax Potentia Rotaract Club held a panel moderated by Rotaractor and Rotarian Emil Moawad.
The last part of the summit was open to the participants. The participants took the floor in this general session and shared their thoughts.
The ICC Summit ended with a dinner at the Historical Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi on Saturday evening. Our guests from abroad left Istanbul with beautiful memories.
In the kitchen of this successful organization were; District 2440 PDG Murat Çelik, ICC Country Coordinator from District 2440 PDG Güneş Ertaş, for Technical matters from Şişli Rotary Club Murat Sevinç, ICC Turkey General Secretary Muzaffer Başaran, Turkey-America Section Chair Dilek Can, Şişli RK Members Burak Güner and Hulusi Gençay were in charge of the registrations and financial part of the organisation.
During the Peace Conference, Pakistani and Bulgarian Rotary Clubs also signed Twin Club Agreements with Rotary Clubs of Türkiye. In addition, a special ICC Session was held with high participation within the scope of the Peace Conference.
All Pictures, Presentations and Video Recordings can be reached from this link
