4. Sakıp Sabancı Konferansı'nın konuğu ABD'nin Siyasi İşlerden Sorumlu Dışişleri Bakanı Eski Yardımcısı Büyükelçi R. Nicholas Burns: "Yeni Bir Rota: Türk-Amerikan İlişkileri Üzerine Düşünceler" başlıklı konuşmasında Türk-Amerikan ilişkilerinde yeni rotayı anlattı.
On May 8,2008, Sabancı University and Brookings Institution hosted R. Nicholas Burns, former under secretary of state for political affairs, for the fourth annual Sakıp Sabancı Lecture. Ambassador Burns gave a speech on ?The Future of the U.S.-Turkish Relationship? which was focused on the future of U.S.-Turkish relations. In March, Ambassador Burns retired as the under secretary of state for political affairs after a distinguished career in the U.S. foreign service. At the State Department, Burns played a critical role in the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Ambassador Burns previously served in numerous influential positions at the State Department, including as the Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
Brookings President Strobe Talbott and Ms. Güler Sabancı, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, provided introductory remarks. Daniel Benjamin, senior fellow and CUSE director, moderated a question and answer session at the conclusion of Ambassador Burns?s remarks. A live video link to Sabancı University in Istanbul provided students and a wider overseas audience an opportunity to participate in the event including the question and answer session.