― 28 февраля 2019 г.

13th Conference on Pioneers of the Turkic World: Necati Zekeriya

The 13th Conference on Pioneers of the Turkic World dedicated to Necati Zekeriya on the 90th anniversary of his birthday was held in TURKSOY Headquarters.

The conference hosted by TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen Kasseinov gathered  the Ambassador of the Republic of Northern Macedonia  to Ankara Zvonko Mucunski, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zeki Ibrahimgil from the Hacı Bayram University, Dr. Zeki Gürel from the Gazi University, the author and researcher  Dr. Nazlı Rana Gürel and the journalist Saadet Nebi.

In the speech he delivered at the opening of the conference, TURKSOY Secretary General  Dusen Kasseinov said that the conference is dedicated to Necati Zekeriya, a famous poet and author of the Turkic World who lived in Northern Macedonia in the years after the second worldwar.

Mr. Kasseinov who stressed that this conference is dedicated to a “great author, poet and journalist who strongly contributed to Macedonian Turkic literature as well as to the literature of the Balkans” further said that “Zekeriya left a unique literature heritage behind him  and that he is a great source of pride not only for the Turkic people of Macedonia and the Balkans but also for all peoples of the Balkans. Many of his books for children as well as many of his poems have been translated into several languages. Hence, Necati Zekeriya played a key role in introducing the peoples of the Balkans to the world.”

Ambassador Zvonko Mucunski who said that Necati Zekeriya wrote more than 50 works throughout his life which lasted 60 years added that these works have all been translated into  Russian, English, Serbian, Italian and French  amongst many other world languages.

Ambassador  Mucunski further added: “With his translations, Necati Zekeriya introduced Turkic literature to Macedonia and Macedonian literature to the Turkic World. His short stories and poems have been published many times in Turkey, just as his articles and poems. Necati Zekeriya is an important figure of Macedonian culture which he enriched with his works of litrature.”

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zeki İbrahimgil, who stressed that schools offering education in Turkish language are even more important than one's family ties in the formation of Turkish national identity in Macedonia further added that thanks to Necati Zekeriya who made it possible to open these schools, Turkish identity is being preserved and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Dr. Nazlı Rana Gürel who also took the floor at the conference said that the greatness of Necati Zekeriya’ can be clearly understood when reading comparative studies by authors of contemporary literature of the Turkic World such as Samed Behrengi and added that  Zekeriya’s works are a positive contribution to the formation and consolidation of children's identity as citizens.

Saadet Nebi who said that Necati Zekeriya was her Turkish teacher in graduate school added that thanks to him, young people got acquainted with Turkish language which they learned to appreciate. Saadet Nebi further added that, Necati Zekeriya was a unique personality with a strong spirit of pioneership who attached particular importance to  youngsters. Nebi concluded saying that  Zekeriya also attached great value to the use of correct Turkish language and corrected mistakes in the use thereof and added that later on  Zekeriya also strongly contributed to the publication of the  “Birlik” newspaper.

Dr. Zeki Gürel who extended his gratitude to TURKSOY for the organization of this meaningful conference on Necati Zekeriya made a presentation on Zekeriya’s life, work, issues he dealt with as well as his contribution to the literature of Northern Macedonia and the Turkic World. Dr. Zeki Gürel who further quoted a few lines from the author’s book entitled “Sevgi” (Love)  said: “If I had to chose a word from the dictionary, it would undoubdtedly have been love. If love did not exist in the world, I think I would have invented it.” Dr. Zeki Gürel concluded saying that this literary style of Zekeriya focused on tolerance and love plays a key role in multicultural, multilingual and multiconfessional societies nowadays and that  this approach he adopted in his works is precisely what keeps people united today.   

The presentations were followed by a ceremony in which Secretary General handed over plaquettes and certificates to the participants.