Our Future Southeastern Turkish Frontiers. CEPS Policy Brief No. 6, October 2001

[From the Introduction]. Today’s southeast Turkey has historically been the homeland of a large number of diverse ethnic groups. Nowadays, in many town and villages of the region the largest ethnic group is Kurdish. Turkish officials under Turgut Özal in the 1990s for the first time admitted there may be around 10 million Kurds living in Turkey. Other estimates indicate a Kurdish population of around 15 million. Adding to this figure the additional 10 million or so Kurds living in Iran, Iraq, Syria and the former Soviet Union, the Kurdish people represent the largest ethnic group in the world without a state of their own

The European Union, Civil Society and Conflict Transformation

The European Union considers conflict resolution as a cardinal objective of its foreign policy. It makes use of a number of policy instruments to promote conflict transformation through ‘constructive engagement’, which cover a range of sectors affecting conditions and incentives at the micro level. The EU has recognised the importance of engaging with civil society in situations of violent conflict, but needs to engage more with local civil society to make its policies more effective. This briefing aims to aid the understanding of the role of civil society organisations in situations of violent conflict, and the potential role of EU policies in enhancing CSOs’ conflict transformation efforts.Civil society, European Union, European Neighbourhood Policy, violent conflict

The European Union, Conflict Transformation and Civil Society: A Conceptual Framework

The European Union considers conflict resolution as a cardinal objective of its foreign policy. It makes use of a number of policy instruments to promote conflict transformation through ‘constructive engagement’, which cover a range of sectors affecting conditions and incentives at the micro level. The EU has recognised the importance of engaging with civil society in situations of violent conflict, but needs to engage more with local civil society to make its policies more effective. This paper provides a conceptual framework and discussion to analyse which local civil society actors play a role in conflict and conflict transformation, through which activities they impact on conflicts and how, what determines their effectiveness, and finally how EU neighbourhood policies can enhance their constructive impact in peacefully transforming conflicts in its near abroad by engaging with civil society.Civil society, European Union, European Neighbourhood Policy, violent conflict, conflict transformation

Conflict Resolution in the European Neighbourhood: The Role of the EU as a Framework and as an Actor

The European Union's neighbourhood is rife with secessionist conflicts. The Union's proximity and its magnetic power of attraction has created the potential for a constructive European involvement in these regions. An EU role can be two-fold. First, the EU framework of governance, law and policy can offer a conducive context for the settlement of ethno-political conflicts. Second, the Union can act in its neighbouring regions to generate incentives for the settlement and ultimate resolution of conflict. But to what extent can the Union export its forms of governance in a manner that can contribute to the amelioration and resolution of conflict? What instead are the mechanisms and their limits through which EU actions or inactions could alter the incentive structure underpinning conflict? This article attempts to shed light on the above questions.Europeanization

Cyprus as the Lighthouse of the East Mediterranean: Shaping EU Accession and Reunification Together. CEPS Paperback. April 2002

For over a quarter of a century, Cyprus has been a divided island, with Europe’s last remaining ‘Berlin Wall’ separating its Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. This stalemate between the regions, however, is finally beginning to dissolve. Negotiations are currently underway to resolve the Cyprus conflict, re-unify the island and secure the accession of the whole of Cyprus to the EU in the near future. This CEPS report explores the ways in which these developments might come about. The authors argue that simultaneous action could transform the political structures and interests that have up until now made it impossible to resolve the division of the island

Solvent Induced Proton Hopping at a Water-Oxide Interface

Despite widespread interest, a detailed understanding of the dynamics of proton transfer at interfaces is lacking. Here we use ab initio molecular dynamics to unravel the connection between interfacial water structure and proton transfer for the widely studied and experimentally well-characterized water-ZnO$(10\bar{1}0)$ interface. We find that upon going from a single layer of adsorbed water to a liquid multilayer changes in the structure are accompanied by a dramatic increase in the proton transfer rate at the surface. We show how hydrogen bonding and rather specific hydrogen bond fluctuations at the interface are responsible for the change in the structure and proton transfer dynamics. The implications of this for the chemical reactivity and for the modelling of complex wet oxide interfaces in general are also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Achievement of multiple therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease prevention. Retrospective analysis of real practice in Italy

Background: Pharmacological therapy in patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk should be tailored to achieve recommended therapeutic targets. Hypothesis: To evaluate individual global CV risk profile and to estimate the control rates of multiple therapeutic targets for in adult outpatients followed in real practice in Italy. Methods: Data extracted from a cross-sectional, national medical database of adult outpatients in real practice in Italy were analyzed for global CV risk assessment and rates of control of major CV risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and obesity. CV risk characterization was based on the European SCORE equation and the study population stratified into 3 groups: low risk ( 40 (males)/>50 (females) mg/dL (OR: 0.926, 95% CI: 0.895–0.958), triglycerides <160 mg/dL (OR: 0.925, 95% CI: 0.895–0.957), and BMI <25 kg/m2(OR: 0.888, 95% CI: 0.851–0.926), even after correction for diabetes, renal function, pharmacological therapy, and referring physicians (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite low prevalence and optimal medical therapy, individuals with high to very high SCORE risk did not achieve recommended therapeutic targets in a real-world practice

A Stability Pact for the Caucasus in Theory and Practice - A Supplementary Note. CEPS Working Document No. 152, September 2000

In response to appeals of the leaders of the South Caucasus for a Stability Pact for the region, CEPS published in May 2000 a consultative document with a comprehensive proposal (available on www.ceps.be). Subsequently the authors have held extensive consultations with the leaders in all three states of the South Caucasus, and in four of the key autonomies (Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia, Adjaria, Ossetia). The present paper draws together the information and ideas collected during these consultations, although the conclusions are only attributable to the authors. The main argument of the original document is maintained, and strengthened with more precise views on how the conflicts might be solved within the framework of a Stability Pact. However the proposed Stability Pact process could be more than just an approach to conflict resolution. It has systemic or even constitutional aspects, with elements to overcome the transitional problems of the weak state and ease the confrontations of traditional notions such as independence versus territorial integrity, or the choice between federation and confederation, which are part of the present impasse. Particular consideration is also given to how a Caucasus Stability Pact could serve the interests of Russia as the region’s key player, together with enhanced cooperation with the EU over a Southern Dimension concept

Is early and fast blood pressure control important in hypertension management?

Control of blood pressure (BP) in hypertension is recognized as a key measure in the management of cardiovascular (CV) risk and is a cornerstone of preventive strategies. It is not defined, however, whether an initiation of the antihypertensive treatment in the early stages of hypertension (such as prehypertension or high-normal BP), may bring benefits for the long-term prevention of CV events. In addition, it has not been thoroughly addressed the issue whether achievement of a prompt BP reduction in hypertensive patients may contribute to reduce CV damage and events. The aim of this article is to critically examine data from studies exploring these important questions. Our conclusion is that the available evidence, though not very extensive, supports the prevailing benefits associated with early BP control. We also discuss the therapeutic strategies to achieve early control of BP. Finally, we believe that this aspect deserves to be more thoroughly addressed in upcoming international guidelines

Hypertension in the elderly. Which are the blood pressure threshold values?

Managing blood pressure is often difficult in the elderly, not only because of comorbidities, but also due to vascular remodelling and the changes in the renal and endocrine physiology. The structural and functional arterial modifications lead to impaired vessel’s compliance and increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), often with reduction of diastolic blood pressure (DBP)