Balkan Youth Summit held in Bursa
The 'Balkan Youth Summit', attended by the students studying at the Balkan Youth Schools run by the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was held in Bursa on 17-18 September.
President of the Presidency of Turks Abroad Relative Communities Abdullah Eren, AK Party Bursa Deputy Hakan Çavuşoğlu, AK Party Bursa Deputy Atilla Ödünç, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş, Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dündar the students from the Balkans and students studied in Bursa participated to the Balkan Youth Summit held in Bursa Almira Hotel.
In his speech, Abdullah Eren, Chairman of the Presidency of Relative Communities for Turks Abroad, said:
“OUR CULTURAL PROXIMITY, WE ARE BRINGING OUR WORLD OF MEANING TOGETHER”
“Actually, if we are going to build a world together at the Balkan youth school, we are the grandchildren of the same grandfathers with the same background. This is an advantage for us.
We said that we need to get to know each other and understand our problems.
As a son of Fatihan, when we looked with our other relatives in the Balkans, we realized that we were far from each other. There are many Balkan associations in our country. But we must have associations in the Balkans.
Our cultural affinity brings our worlds of meaning closer. We have achieved this with 13 associations. We thought of organizing this youth summit in Bursa, the Cultural Capital of the Turkish World and the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Thank you to Bursa for hosting.
We brought more than 4,000 students from the Balkans to Bursa to study. Currently, 800 students are studying. We will bring the successful ones among these brothers here for master's and doctorate studies.
There is a Turkish Alumni Association in 5 countries of the Balkans. Our brothers and sisters who study here establish associations in their countries. Here we see the benefits of the Balkan Youth School.
We provide on-site scholarship activities. We have trained more than 2,000 students in this way. In order to carry our culture, we need to be able to carry it with language.
We will present to you a magazine published by our brothers in the Balkans who write in Turkish.
We will have finished the Mümin Gençoğlu memorial book soon. We made a commemoration program for Sadik Ahmet. We brought our young people to our country for cultural and sports activities. We have one goal for all of this.
Our President has a vision not only for the Balkans but for the whole world. TIKA is doing great things in this region. All we have to do is to understand each other better and think together. Our friends here will meet at the round table and hold a workshop. I'm sure that; These efforts will bring the Balkans and Türkiye closer mentally.
We will turn the unity of the heart into physical unity. I hope these programs will spread the goodness even more. I would like to thank our stakeholders who contributed and you young people who participated in our program. Thank you and have a good stay.”
Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dundar gave the following views in his speech:
"TO BE TOGETHER IS A GREAT BLESSING"
“Here we see the future and dynamic structure of the Balkans. Gathering together from different countries gives us hope. I hope our thoughts come true and you will be successful.
International Murat Hüdavendigar High School has students from 80 countries. The graduates became students for 3 semesters and all of them settled in the university. When we look at these students, there is a different communication and development. Most importantly, it shows that differences are not a discriminating situation. These differences are presented as hostility by the dominant powers in the backward Muslim regions.
Young people who see each other differently here understand this as wealth. If we create this beauty and are on the side of goodness, no one can pit us against each other.
Being together is a great blessing. Being able to sit and talk in this togetherness develops unconsciously. Thank you for participating. You will spend a few days in Bursa. If you see a negative situation, let us know if you experience it. Don't leave here with a negative thought. Each of us has relatives here. These friendships will continue to be stronger going forward. No one will come between us, we will not allow this."
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş stated the following in his speech:
“AS TURKEY, WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND HELP TO THE BALKAN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING POLITICS”
“You will see different values and different elders in Bursa on your trip tomorrow. Bursa is one of the important cities of the Ottoman and Seljuk Empires. It is also a city of industry, history, agriculture and commerce. Bursa is a Balkan city. As Turkey, we provide assistance to the Balkan countries covering many fields as well as political. We do this within the framework of brotherhood by making bilateral agreements.
Osmangazi, the metropolitan city and Yıldırım municipality also do great job there. Such as mosque, school, circumcision feast, ashura days. I can say that we did not leave any areas we have not touch. I sincerely thank our President Mr. Erdoğan. This is a vision. I am sure we will see the feedback of this soon. I am not a Balkan immigrant child, but I have been there many times. I say that every Turk and Muslim should see that geography.”
AK Party Bursa Deputy Hakan Çavuşoğlu said:
“WE ALSO FEEL THE PAIN OF THE BALKANS ”
“When we say the Balkans, various photos appear in our memory. In the last 20 years, there has always been conflict, blood and tears. Today, it is very important for young people from 7 different countries to share their dreams.
If peace is established here, peace will be achieved in the global world. World War II also started in the Balkans. The Balkanization policy, that is, the separation of the same geographies, still takes its place in the literature. We see this in Asia, Africa, the Middle East.
After our President was released from prison, his new formation sowed the political seed in the Balkans. TIKA, YTB, Yunus Emre University made very important breakthroughs.
Today, this formation has become an action center in the hands of Abdullah Eren and touches young people everywhere he goes. Like you, I studied as a guest student and I serve my country on another occasion. If you are us, we are you. We say we will feel the pain of the Balkans if garbage lands on their feet.
Our connection in the Balkans is not geographical proximity or cultural background. We have an organic bond. While the heart and internal organs of Suleiman the Magnificent were in Hungary, his body is here. We should look at the Balkans from this perspective.
Our nation has the characteristic of benevolence and foundation civilization. He has an understanding of trying to support, rebuild and revive the place, and try to help. On the other hand, we see a civilization understanding that leads to blood, tears, brutality and destruction. In the last 4 years, we continue to be in the first place in the world in terms of aid. We must have an understanding of civilization that believes in finding life in our hearts. Peace and tolerance are needed in the Balkans and you will do it.
Under the administration of our President, there is a system that tries to keep that country alive and uplift in every country he goes to in civil life, economy and politics. Wherever the West goes, it goes for brutality and profit. It showcases it. Be in good faith wherever you go. Bring many greetings from us to the places you go.”
