To criticize, criticize and criticize again. To be opportunistic instead of constructive in criticizing: to mortgage a society's future for the sake of personal trivial interests, and to plan the future without keeping in touch with the generations which need to be expectant of their own tomorrows.

Let us brush aside all these bad habits…. Let us come together to concoct a vision for a highly populated nation of 65 million people, the majority of whom are so young…. Let's leave the role of the criticizing body and become constructive…. And fulfill this task with your participation…. Let's reveal our wishes at the correct platforms…. Let's get together to think, talk, discuss and plan the future.

Let us work "together" for the welfare of the Turkish economy, the development and happiness of the Turkish citizens, and the construction of an agreeable future for this country, and demonstrate the courage of claiming the ownership for tomorrows.

We must emphasize that transparency accountability, institutionalization and in sum management quality, which ensures personal development, the sine qua nons of this vision, which Forum Istanbul is endeavoring to construct.

We believe that the objective of turning Turkey into a strong and leading country not only in her region but also in the world by 2023, the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic, will be the most meaningful, the most persistent and the most invigorating anchor.

In fact, the choice of free market economy and the dedication to the fundamental principles of the secular and democratic state are most obvious indications that neither this country nor its people with a will to produce, to learn and to compete will admit any obstacles on the path of globalization.

We would like to express our gratitude on behalf of the Conference Board to the President of the Turkish Republic Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer and to the Prime Minister Mr. Bülent Ecevit, who have never refrained from supporting the Forum Istanbul project right from the beginning.

We are also grateful to all our distinguished guests who have consented to an active participation as chair persons, speakers, panelists and coordinators and thus given us their support; to all the members of the Initiating Committee, to the Members of the National and International Advisory Committee; to the staff of the Creative Yayýncýlýk which has actualized this organization and, of course, to our valuable sponsors without whose support, this whole affair certainly could not have been realized.