ORSAM-JIME (The Institute of EnergyEconomics) Workshop

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As part of its study visit to Japan on 18-21 October 2015, ORSAM held a workshop with The Institute of Energy Economics (JIME) on 20 October 2015. ORSAM delegation held a round table meeting with JIME researchers and Japanese specialists. This meeting allowed for the continuation of ORSAM-JIME academic cooperation. JIME Director Koichiro Tanaka and other researchers indicated that Japanese academic circles were deeply interested in Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Within this scope, the participants comparatively discussed the regional developments, focusing particularly on energy related issues. They also addressed Russia’s growing interest in the Middle East in the meeting in addition to exchange of opinions notably concerning the US global policies. They also laid emphasis on the place that the Middle East holds in Japanese foreign policy from the perspective of Japan’s energy needs and they again discussed Japan’s perceptions of security in Asia related to China’s rise. Moreover, participants also discussed the developments in Turkish domestic policy in response to the questions of Japanese participants about the upcoming general elections in Turkey.