International Balkan Studies Workshop

"International Balkan Studies Workshop" was organized by Istanbul Rumeli University Rumeli Studies Application and Research Center.

Nearly 20 representatives of institutions and organizations from five Balkan countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania) attended the workshop held at the Haliç Application and Research Campus of Istanbul Rumeli University.

The following topics were discussed during the three-day workshop:

• Balkan research activities of institutions,

• Current status of Balkan studies in countries,

• Findings and suggestions about Balkan studies.

It was stated that the aim of the workshop was to meet the Balkan / Southeast European research centers and related institutions and develop their cooperation.

As a result of the "International Balkan Studies Workshop", it was agreed that it is important to establish the "International Union of Balkan Studies (IUBS)" in order to increase coordination and cooperation between institutions carrying out research activities in the Balkans, Rumelia and Southeastern Europe.

It was unanimously decided that the permanent secretariat of the union should be located in Istanbul and the distribution of duties.

The assignment was as follows:

Chairman: Prof. Dr. Halit Eren (Istanbul Rumeli University Rumelian Studies Application and Research Center Chairman / Director),

Secretary General: Erdem Eren (Istanbul Rumeli University Rumeli Studies Application and Research Center Deputy Director).

FOUNDERS BOARD

It was unanimously decided that the members of the Association's "Board of Founders" be formed from the following members:

Prof. Dr. Halit Eren (Istanbul Rumeli University Rumelian Studies Application and Research Center Chairman / Director), Prof. Dr. Tahsin Cemil (Director of Turcology Institute of Cluj Babeş Bolyai University in Romania), Prof. Dr. Fadıl Hoca (Rector of North Macedonia International Vision University), Prof. Dr. Turan Gökçe (İzmir Katip Çelebi University Aegean and Balkan Studies Application and Research Center Director), Erdem Eren (Istanbul Rumeli University Rumelian Studies Application and Research Center Deputy Director).

Academicians originally from Western Thrace working for Trakya University – Balkan Research Institute Assoc. Dr. İbrahim Kelağa Ahmet and Assoc. Dr. Ali Hüseyinoğlu as panelists also participated to the workshop.