November 2006
Bogazicililer Magazine
USA’s X-President Eisenhower would like to have an organization which will enhance dialogue and peace among the countries. Since 1953, the organization selects Eisenhower Fellows who have potential for leadership from the countries in worldwide. We talked with Turkey’s 2006 Eisenhower Fellow Rengin YI˙GI˙TBAS AKILLIOGLU’87 who is working for Turkish Airlines at senior levels since years.
Pınar: We know that Turkey’s first Eisenhower Fellow was Mr. Süleyman Demirel. Would you please tell us the importance of this fellowships program and how have you been selected?
Rengin: My story begins with “Forum Istanbul” Conference. I had given a speech on behalf of our CEO at the panel called “The Less Geopolitics The More Economic Diplomacy”. There were Eisenhower Fellows among the attendances. They introduced themselves afterwards. We came together from time to time. I had no idea about Eisenhower Fellowships in those days. One day, during a dinner, a fellow whispered; “We would like to see you as a candidate this year from Turkey for Eisenhower Fellowships, if you don’t mind” and then he said; “It is not possible to tell you what a great network it is. You can not understand without having experienced. You are asked to fill up the application forms. “It is possible to nominate someone who is at 30-40 years old and achieved success or one can nominate him self. Candidates have an interview. You will be selected if you become successful and eligible. The only request from you is to fill out the necessary application forms. It is not only required a curriculum vitae on the application forms but also your values of life, vision, way of life and past experience. Three candidates had been selected, at first hand, out of the interview held by Turkish selection committee in Ankara. Then after the files belonging to those three candidates had been sent to Eisenhower Fellowships in Philadelphia. The committee in Philadelphia had selected me out of three.
Pınar: How many fellows have been selected around the world?
Rengin: We are 23, this year. 25 potential leaders are used to be selected every year among the selected 25 countries. On the other hand, 25 American candidates are sent to the selected 25 countries around the world to be graduated from their own fellowships program.
Pınar: Are you a potential leader for aviation business or transportation in general? Rengin: My fellowships program was scheduled to analyze “The Impact of Aviation Industry and Space Studies on Countries’ Economies”. I had been the “first” fellow in aviation and space industry in all over the world since 1953, the establishment of Eisenhower Fellowships organization. Being Turkey’s fellow the first in this area is of proud.
Pınar: Do you think that the sector you are working in has any impact on your selection?
Rengin: It is better to ask this question to those who made the selection. However, in order to talk about the positive impact of the sector on my selection I think it is necessary to have more fellows selected beforehand in aviation business. There is no sector definition required for candidates. The main criterion is based on the personal qualifications rather then the business area you are representing for. You can benefit from this fellowships program not only as a person but also as a whole company and country. Eisenhower Fellowships is a network around the world. Eisenhower Fellowships was founded in 1953 as a tribute to Dwight D. Eisenhower on his birthday from his friends as he assumed the U.S. presidency. Its purpose and design reflect his conviction that greater understanding among individuals fosters greater understanding among nations, contributing to the peace and progress of all countries and all people. Eisenhower Fellowships had been founded by that means. Eisenhower Fellowships engages emerging leaders from around the world to enhance their professional capabilities, broaden their contacts, deepen their perspectives, and unite them in a diverse, global community. Organizes and funds networking between potential leaders in the United States and those in other countries. The organization designs the programs to give fellows insights and contacts and a broadened international perspective. Americans who meet with Eisenhower fellows gain a valuable international perspective on their field and operations. As a result, there occurs inter-relation between USA and the rest of the world. The leaders coming to USA are having the opportunity to compare the applications in US with their own country and understand in which areas they can make a change. The same is true also for those who are going out of US. There is mutual understanding and dialogue among the fellows, they accept and understand the cultural differences among the countries. At the end, the best of everything in every aspect is being adapted and protected. In order to make a country’s vision to be approved by the rest of the world it is necessary for that country to understand others and it is also necessary to make others to understand her. This Fellowships Program is a smart idea from this point of view.
Pınar: What is the main objective of the fellows going to USA?
Rengin: To get the key to open the doors which will make their dreams come true for the benefit of all human beings not for their sole benefit. This key is really given to the fellows during the graduation ceremony. This key opens the door of Eisenhower Fellowships House in reality and when it comes to move the house the lock is also moved and replaced to the door of the new house so that the key always works. This means that the Eisenhower Fellowships House is open for all fellows for 24 hours a day. The key has also a spiritual meaning. Eisenhower Fellowships is a prestigious organization and is well known mainly on governmental level with a powerful network. Mr. George W.Bush who is the father of President Bush is heading the Trustee Committee whose members are leaders of the worldwide business life. The Former Chairman of Eisenhower Fellowships is the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs of USA Dr. Henry Kissinger. He, personally, presented our graduation certificates. Mr. Colin Powell becomes Chairman in November 2006. Mr. John Wolf is the President of Eisenhower Fellowships. There are many presidents and ministers among 1300 live fellows out of 1700 fellows selected up to now around the world. When you become a fellow, you are entering into such a distinguished network. You can also establish your own network out of the high level contacts you had in your business area during the fellowships program. High level contacts had been arranged for me in NASA Space Center, American, United, Delta, Southwest Airlines, FAA and Ministry of Transportation, Boeing, GE, Embry Riddle University and the Congressman in Washington dealing with space law. We had trained also for leadership by Harvard University and attended a conference in MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technologies).
Pınar: What about your dream?
Rengin: My dream was to carry Turkey’s flag beyond earth or out of space. I asked myself a question when I saw the American flag waiving on the moon in 1969-1970s: “Why isn’t it the Turkey’s flag?” and I then dreamed of. However while I was attending the first grade I realized that my left ear was deaf and I could neither be a pilot nor an astronaut. That is why I put my dream a side and graduated from I˙stanbul Technical University as Management Engineer then I received my master degree from Economics in Bosporus University. But I couldn’t forget my dream. The only company close to the skies was Turkish Airlines in those days. I joined to Turkish Airlines and I am still proud of working for this company today.
Pınar: Is there any serious step taken or a project for the future regarding the space studies in Turkey as of today?
Rengin: There is nothing else announced to public. There should be some studies most probably held by the Military side. We are short in defining our vision. When President Kennedy set the goal to step on the Moon within the decade, that mission comes true within ten years whether or not he is still President. For instance, when President Bush says, “We will send a man to Mars”, even the man in the lowest position in NASA says “As our President has told so, we are studying on this”. So, the man at the lowest position adopts and studies to realize the mission announced by the man at the top. I think, we are in lack of a leader who can declare such a vision statement and transfer this to next generations. Every progress in space has great effects on Earth. For instance, a satellite was sent to space and there have been progresses in the fields of telecommunication, internet, mobile phones which has led to a high life standard. Practices in space influence even our clothes and food, because there have been too many studies on space clothes and space food. And we use these researches in our daily lives to the extent they are shared with us. Confidentiality is the main handicap to enhance the space studies because space rockets are not a commercial vehicles yet, they more serve for military purposes therefore non of the countries having space studies or having manufacturing business for rockets would like to share their know how with any other country since they will be in need of those information or in other words those information is very valuable for them in a possible war cases. And it is hard to develop the business or to invent new technologies without sharing. In order to get rid of the confidentiality it is necessary to minimize its importance. It becomes important when it has something to do with the military purposes or defense policy. In order to get rid of the military purposes out of this business there shouldn't be any need of military actions. In order not to be in need of military actions it is essential to establish the peace. Actually, much of the information on space studies is kept top secret due to the lack of peace and reliance among the countries. There are borders, lack of reliance that every country works to develop her own defense mechanism and keeps information to herself. For this reason, it will be better if space studies are made civil, thus information will be shared and explorations will follow one and other. However now when there is an exploration in a country, the other country starts from zero, since the exploring country does not share information, considering that it might be contrary to its national defense policy. If it was shared, the level of prosperity in the entire world would increase. NASA has both military side and civil side. What we lack is this civil side. Since all progresses in Turkey are of defensive purpose and executed within the frame of war policies, nothing much is done for the sake of humanity. It is not for we do not have scientists, but for we do not give necessary appreciation to this. This may be achieved through civil studies; therefore I believe that civil authorities should be established for space studies in Turkey.
Pınar: What has changed most with you at the end of the 2 months you have spent in the USA?
Rengin: First of all, my self-confidence has increased and I saw that people would be able to do much if they wanted to. I saw in the USA that when you suggested an idea, they supported you much and they even motivated and made you realize this idea. However, it’s just the opposite in Turkey. When somebody suggests an idea, others work to disproof it. The person who suggests the idea has to give up this, if he/she is not resistant enough.
Another important development for me is that my career story will also be covered in the book “The Increasing Role of the Middle East Women” to be written by Mr. Theodore Friend who is one of the ex-presidents of Eisenhower Fellowships.
Pınar: How do you see the future of civil aviation in Turkey? The number of competitors of Turkish Airlines has increased in the domestic market. How will this affect the service quality of Turkish Airlines and of Turkish aviation business?
Rengin: With the visional statement of the Ministry of Transportation as “Each and every Turkish citizen will experience a flight at least once in their entire life” Turkish Civil Aviation has gained a motion. Domestic market has expanded by 58% within a year. Within two years domestic market almost doubled. As THY, we were not in a position to meet this high growth alone. We ordered 59 aircraft, however it was not possible to take the deliveries all in a year. Thus, Turkey was in need of those private airlines. And they have come to the scene not as our competitors, but as our partners. There are people with rather low level of welfare especially in the eastern part of Turkey. For this reason we should make our services cheaper. At this point, Turkish Airlines had to come to a decision regarding the quality and low prices and Turkish Airlines had chosen to reduce the ticket prices without making any concession with the quality.
Pınar: Recently, Istanbul has welcomed a meeting attended by Eisenhower Fellows and matters that set the agenda of the world were mentioned at this meeting. What kind of a power does Eisenhower Fellowships hold in the world? For instance, are there people in this organization who can bring permanent solutions to the problems at Middle East? If there are ideas suggested for peace in the world, can they make these ideas heard?
Rengin: Eisenhower Fellowships is well known among the governmental platform. There are good amount of fellows who became president or minister. However if you asked to ordinary people in the USA, you would not meet many to know what Eisenhower Fellowships is.
Pınar: Is this meeting held in Istanbul due to the Middle East crisis?
Rengin: No, it is held in Istanbul as a result of the personal efforts of Mr. Nezir Kırdar, who is the fellow with the highest seniority in our country after Mr. Demirel. It was once held in Izmir in 1991.
Pınar: The Conference has found place in press as well and continued for 3 days. What kind of energy was derived from the meeting at this time when especially the Middle East problem is on the agenda?
Rengin: The meeting was opened with the opening speech of Mr. Demirel and our Minister of Treasury Mr. Ali Babacan, Minister of Energy Mr. Hilmi Güler, Secretary General of Islam Conference Organization Mr. Ekmeleddin I˙hsanog˘lu, British Minister in Charge of European Relationships Mr. Geoff Hoon, Afghanistan Ex-Civil NATO Representative Mr. Hikmet Çetin, Minister of Planning of Jordan Mr. Shuair Al-Ali, Minister of Justice of Romania, Ms. Monica Macovei took place as speakers at panels. All fellows are people who keep peace in the foreground. Thus, in the meeting, the problem of Middle East was put into focus as well. Kellogg and Eisenhower fellows announced a common enterprise declaration and committed that they would work together in order to achieve justice and peace in the world. Although the common diplomacy language in the world is English, attentions were drawn to the messages that might be perceived in a different way based on the cultural differences of the countries and everyone was called to be more sensitive on this subject. These meetings also bring the people, who have not seen each other for years, together and renew the established network and support the steps to be taken on the matter of peace or other matters.
Pınar: What kind of differences can you emphasize when you compare Turkish civil aviation with Turkey?
Rengin: There is a great difference between two countries regarding space studies. Putting this aside, there is a lack of vision with respect to the civil aviation business in Turkey. Each and every Minister of Transportation sets their own goal only for their respective period, nothing longer then that. However in USA, there is program announced for future 20 years. For instance, they are talking about adapting air taxi business into daily life in the USA now, like which we used to see in “The Jetsons” cartoon once. They are studying on the regulations for this. But Turkey remains as a follower and purchases technological developments from abroad.
Pınar: Do you think that you will be able to realize your dream which made you be a part of Eisenhower Fellowships in Turkey in the forthcoming years?
Rengin: Time will prove this. I may not be the person who carries that flag to the space, but I might be the one who assists carrying or who motivates someone to carry it.
Pınar: Why don’t we have entrepreneurs for such projects in Turkey?
Rengin: In Turkey, there is a general understanding that those kinds of projects necessitate too much money. According to my study; the USA creates an economic activity of 98 billion dollars out of a budget of 16 billion dollars per year for space studies. And for civil aviation, they have 1.4 trillion dollars of it economic activity out of 7 billion dollars of budget per year. The purchasing power is lower in Turkey compared to USA but aviation business has many indirect effects on economy. First of all, you activate people and provide motion. For instance, people, having low purchasing power, are carried from here and there with the support of low cost airlines. New job opportunities come up. And economic activity increases with such indirect effects. Therefore, there isn’t strong relation with the progress in aviation business and the purchasing power. Above all, the government does not have to finance the investments on this area. It is always possible to find financial support for these projects from outside the country.