5. Sakıp Sabancı Konferansı'nı Oxford Üniversitesi Rektörü ve Sabancı Üniversitesi Uluslararası Danışma Kurulu Üyesi Christopher Patten verdi. "Atlantik Bölgesi Ortakları: Çok Taraflı İlişkilerin Türkiye ve Avrupa'ya Getirdikleri" başlıklı konuşmasında Patten, Türkiye-ABD-Avrupa ilişkilerinin geleceğini değerlendirdi.
On May 5,2009, Sabancı University and Brookings Institution hosted Lord Christopher Patten for the fifth annual Sakip Sabanci Lecture. In his speech which was titled ?Transatlantic Partners: The Challenges of Multilateralism for Europe, Turkey and the United States?, Lord Patten drew on his decades of experience in elected government and international diplomacy to discuss how Turkey, Europe and the United States can realize opportunities for multilateral cooperation in confronting the global challenges of the 21st century.
Lord Patten is one of Europe's most distinguished statesmen and the current chancellor of Oxford and Newcastle Universities in Britain. Representing Bath, Patten was first elected to Parliament in 1979, a seat he held until 1992. From 1999 until 2004, he served as the European commissioner for external relations. He was previously the secretary of state for the environment, chairman of Britain?s Conservative Party, and the final British governor of Hong Kong.
Brookings President Strobe Talbott was joined by Ms. Guler Sabanci, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, and provided introductory remarks. CUSE Visiting Fellow Steven Pifer moderated a question and answer session at the conclusion of Lord Patten?s remarks. A live video link to Sabanci University in Istanbul provided students and a wider overseas audience an opportunity to participate in the event.