Retired Ambassador talks Turkey at VGCC
Ambassador Michael W. Cotter, a 32-year veteran of the U.S. State Department, discussed the Republic of Turkey at Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center on Oct. 15. His audience included VGCC students, faculty, staff members and trustees, in addition to members of the community. Cotter’s presentation, entitled “Turkey: Facing Great Change in an Uncertain World,” was the third installment of an International Speakers Series sponsored by the college’s Global Awareness Committee in partnership with the University of North Carolina’s World View program.
According to VGCC Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Bobby Van Brunt , who chairs the Global Awareness Committee, “Turkey is extremely important because of its juxtaposition with the Mideast and being at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. For that reason, a faculty member from VGCC will be visiting Turkey next summer as part of a World View study group designed to bring new perspectives to the classroom about this volatile part of the world.”
“Americans hear Turkey mentioned in the news very often, but in general, we don’t know much about it,” Cotter said. He proceeded to offer an overview of Turkish history, starting with the multi-national Ottoman Empire. In his remarks, Cotter also touched on Turkey’s relationship with the United States, Europe and its historical rival, Russia. Because of its proximity to the Soviet Union, Turkey became a key member of NATO after World War II, and today it is near international hot spots such as Syria, Iraq and Iran. Cotter also discussed the country’s human rights record and how it allows democracy to coexist with secular Islam.
Cotter was a career Foreign Service officer who served in seven countries, including Turkey, South Vietnam and Bolivia. His final posting was as U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan (1995-1998). Now retired and living in North Carolina, Cotter is the publisher of American Diplomacy , an online journal of commentary and analysis on international issues.
Above: After speaking on issues related to the Republic of Turkey, retired Ambassador Michael Cotter (left) talks with VGCC College Transfer student Mehmet Ozpehlivan of Oxford, who is originally from Turkey. (VGCC photo)
