Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has addressed the participants of the Turkic World Week, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Turcological Congress.
“Elchi” reports that the message was read by Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gökhan Yazgı.
“I wish for the successful conduct of this landmark congress, organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the First Baku Turcological Congress within the framework of the Turkic World Week, and that it leads to beneficial results for the Turkic world. Some time ago, our intellectuals who came from various regions of the Turkic world set the goal of strengthening the consciousness of a common history and culture in Baku based on positive sciences. The discussions they held and the decisions they made were not only scientific activities that shed light on our present day, but also demonstrated a determined will and a visionary perspective. It is our common responsibility to keep alive, strengthen, and pass on to future generations this idea bequeathed to us by the Baku Congress in every corner of our heartland. Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, one of the foundations of our institutional cooperation in the Turkic world, we are deepening and expanding our activities every day, inspired by the motto of the great thinker Ismail Gaspirali: ‘Unity in language, thought, and action.’ In all these processes, we continue to accept the initiative put forward by the Baku Congress as a guide that illuminates our path. One of Turkey’s most important goals is for the Turkic world to embrace our common history, language, and culture, and to build the vision of the Turkic Century with the strength we draw from our ancient past. In this context, we are working with all our might to turn the Ankara Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which will be held this autumn and where important decisions will be made, into a turning point that will guide our goal of integration of the Turkic world. Undoubtedly, the discussions to be held at this landmark event will expand our common cooperation opportunities and make important contributions to the Ankara Summit and the future of the Turkic world as a whole. Just like the holding of the First Turcological Congress in 1926, it is no coincidence that this important event is also organized in Baku. Azerbaijan, one of the strongest symbols of the unity and solidarity of the Turkic world, will continue to contribute to the common goals of the Turkic states today. With these thoughts, I congratulate all the individuals, institutions, and organizations who contributed to the organization of the event. On the occasion of the congress, I commemorate our ancestors who participated in the First Turcological Congress with mercy, and I wish for our Turkic unity, solidarity, and brotherhood to be eternal,” the message says.