BAGIS further said: Thanks to the vision of our Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN, TURKSOY is assuming a very important function in the promotion of values of the Turkic World such as tolerance, mutual love and respect. Today we have experienced a situation in the European Parliament which once again showed how important the promotion of these values ar efor the entire world. Indeed, I think it is paramount to transmit our message of tolerance to the world as Europe is still struggling against racism, because tolerance is deeply rooted in our culture, history and mentality. This is also what our philosopher Yunus Emre said centuries ago as he was maybe foreseeing the future: "Come let us get to know eachother, let us make it easier to live, let us love and be loved because none of us is eternal”. Most of the problems faced in the world today are due to prejudices which are due to not knowing eachother as well as to certain fears and hesitations; But, if we get to know eachother as Yunus Emre says, we will make it easier to be tolerant towards one another. Before coming here, I had a Ramadan diner with our Alevi friends in ANTWERP, and I felt the same there. We must be in a much closer dialogue with eachother to consolidate the ties between different cultures of different nations in the world. Thus, we must keep promoting our culture no matter what happens in this constantly changing world. Because if we do not do it, some others will present us as a people and culture we are not. As we have seen these paintings displayed on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Turkic Republics, we also have seen once again that we are one nation living in different countries. Now this exhibition is the materialization of Ataturk’s vision. It is the result of cultural cooperation. And it is the result of yet another vision to hold this exhibition here in Brussels, the capital city of the European Union. Dear brothers and sisters, as a country, a nation and one nation living in different states, we are facing a very bright future; the only thing we need is to be tolerant towards eachother, the only thing we need is mutual love and respect as Yunus Emre said. The only thing we need is to leave a world to our children which they will be proud of. A world of honesty. By participating in this exhibition you have already proven that you believe in this vision. Therefore I would like to thank you once again for being here with us.”

THE EXHIBITION ATTRACTED A LOT OF VISITORS

After the exhibition a reception was held, gathering the First Counsellor of the Republic of Turkey to BrusselsMehmet POROY, the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey to Brussels Korkut TUFAN, the Secretary in charge of Promotion and Cultural Affairs Kenzi Guzel Culhaoglu, the Advisor of Trade Affairs Tulug GURAKAN, deputees of the Flemish region Veli YUKSEL, Guler TURAN, the Regional Deputy of Brussels Mahinur OZDEMIR, the City Council member of the Municipality of Schaerbeek Sadık KOKSAL and representatives of many NGOs. A short concert was given by artists from the State Opera and Ballet of Ankara with Naile AHMEDOVA(Piano) and Unusan KULUOGLU (Tenor). The exhibition organized by TURKSOY in cooperation with the Yunus Emre Cultural Centre is dedicated to the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and displays various works by artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Altai Republic (Russian Federation), the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russian Federation), the Khakas Republic (Russian Federation), the Republic of Sakha Yakutia (Russian Federation), the Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation), the Tyva Republic (Russian Federation) and the Gagauz’ Place (Moldova). The Painting Exhibition of TURKSOYdisplayed at the Yunus Emre Cultural Centre will be open to visitors until December 12^th, 2011.