Fischer exchanges greeting with Syria, Lebanon reps
Peace through Economics? Bank of Israel governor briefly meets Syrian, Lebanese counterparts during regional central bank chiefs' convention in Turkey
A rare and brief meeting between Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer and his Syrian and Lebanese counterparts took place Sunday during the regional convention of central bank chiefs held in Turkey, as reported back by Fischer to his fellow bank officials.
Fischer met with his officials and told them he had exchanged formal regards with his Syrian and Lebanese counterparts, but did not go into detail. He did mention the meetings took place in the hallways, but failed to note whether a connection was made other than polite greetings.
Fischer's arrival at Turkey was met with a warm welcome from the Turkish press, contradictory to the tense environment surrounding security issues between the two countries.
Tensions reached a new boiling point during the national security council in Ankara, not too far from Fischer's convention. The council published a document calling Israel a 'strategic threat' to Turkey.
Jerusalem was not impressed by Fischer's report, seeing as how this document affected the entire convention and the Turkish hosts conduct.
The regional convention was initiated by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and the Center for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM), in order to discuss necessary changes regarding the central banks' role in the economic arena following the international financial crisis. Fischer shared with his counterparts the lessons he feels should be learnt from the crisis and also spoke out about the issue during a formal panel.
Fischer is already a known figure to his Turkish hosts, the central bank governors, from his previous visits to the country when he was the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund.
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