Bridge of Brotherhood from North Macedonia to Western Thrace

In order to build bridges of brotherhood from North Macedonia to the cities of Western Thrace, it is necessary to cooperate in the social and cultural field. These voluntary activities will be beneficial for the Turkish community in both neighbouring countries, for the benefit of the Turkish community in both neighbouring countries, for the integration with the society, for the development of social awareness, and for the acquisition of certain characteristics such as social responsibility.

Various social and cultural events should be organised in order to increase the relations between the Turkish communities of Northern Macedonia and Western Thrace, to highlight their common historical values and to build bridges in the cultural context. There is a historical bond of brotherhood between the Turks of Northern Macedonia and Western Thrace, this brotherhood did not start with the migrations to Türkiye, we are talking about a brotherhood that goes back to the pre-Ottoman Anatolian lands. We see that they are a community that settled in these lands from various regions of Anatolia with tasks such as the Islamisation of the region.

In this context, the coming together of this community living separately in both countries and acting with a longing under the name of "brotherhood from history" will enable them to become stronger towards the end of the century. Productive work can be done for future generations by organising panels, exhibitions and workshops where memories, pains and joys experienced throughout the historical process will be shared. At the same time, cultural trips can be organised in order to increase historical awareness and to ensure that our historical traces in both countries are not forgotten and better understood.

Civil Society Cooperation?

All of the above-mentioned things can be done under the leadership of civil society organisations and many projects can be implemented to bring together the societies of these two countries that have experienced the same sufferings. It should be recognised that people living in two different countries and speaking the same language have the same history, share the same culture and have the same values.

Civil society organisations have a place and importance in both countries, in this sense, steps should be taken and supported to strengthen cooperation between Turkish civil society organisations in both countries. The studies to be carried out on the social and cultural values of these communities, which have had barriers between them for various reasons in the past, will determine their presence in the region.