Participation in the International Turkic World Symposium from Western Thrace
Western Thrace Turkish Minority representatives attended the International Turkic World Symposium held in Türkiye.
The International Turkic World Symposium in Türkiye was attended by the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority and the Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, the General Manager of the Western Thrace Minority Culture and Education Company Pervin Hayrullah, and the President of the Komotini Turkish Youth Union Sedat Hasan.
Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University 2022-2023 Academic Year Opening and International Turkic World Symposium was fully supported by Aksakallılar Council of the Organization of Turkic States.
Organized under the auspices of Binali Yıldırım, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Chairman of the TDT Aksakallılar Delegation, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the program was held in Erdogan Büyükkasap Congress and Culture Center Turkistan Hall.
After a moment of silence and the National Anthem, a promotional video for the Turkish world was watched. A music concert was held by the Izmir State Turkish World Dance and Music Ensemble.
Binali Yıldırım, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Chairman of the Turkish States Organization (TDT) Aksakal People's Delegation, said, “Everybody should make up their minds. The 21st century will be the year of Türkiye, it will be the century of Turkishness. I hear its footsteps.” said.
“When it comes to Turkish states and Turks, it is wrong to limit the work to the members. When we include our cognates in many countries in the Balkans, Central Asia, the Far East and the Middle East, we are talking about a population of 300 million. We are talking about geography of 20 million square kilometers.” Yıldırım said, "The population is 170 million, the gross product is 1.5 trillion dollars, and the total trade volume is 700 billion dollars in a geography of 5 million square meters, which is limited to members.
Yıldırım continued:
“The Turkish states have not yet been able to get the share they deserve from the world welfare. Although it is in a different position from all the countries of the world in terms of energy, natural resources and strategic lands, it cannot be said that it receives the share it deserves from the welfare of the world. What is more worrying is that although Turkish states have a foreign trade of 700 billion dollars, only 18 billion dollars of this trade is done among themselves. This is less than 3% of their total trade. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed.
What the aim is? Why do communities, people and institutions come together?
They come together for solidarity, to become stronger, to increase their welfare. Then we have the energy, we have the natural gas, we have the oil, we have the world's precious mines, we have the Eurasian geography, the historical Silk Road, which has been the migration route of people, goods and wealth for centuries, connecting the west and the east. We, however, are not in our rightful place in world welfare and in strengthening the welfare among ourselves.”
Stating that the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century are similar to each other, Yıldırım said, “The 20th century. At the beginning of the century, after the First World War, unfortunately, the Turks and the Turkish states remained separate from each other. An iron curtain intervened and this longing thirty years ago, just before the 21st century, the Turkish states achieved their independence in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
This 76-year interruption means 2.5 generations. There is a gap of two and a half generations. So, the past 30 years is an important time, but it has not yet been enough for the integration of Turkish states with each other.” said.
"We must be one, we must be one"
Former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hasan Hasanov said that he is very proud to attend the important meeting of the organization.
Talking about Türkiye's support for Azerbaijan, Hasanov said, "I would not want other Turkish states to go through a war test like us. It is not necessary, but we must be together so that such incidents do not happen again. That's why we need unity. They say that Türkiye is strong and Azerbaijan is strong. That's why we want Türkiye to get stronger. When we see Türkiye, our hearts open and we rejoice." said.
Emphasizing the importance of the Organization of Turkish States, Hasanov concluded his speech by saying "We must be one, we must be one."
