― 4 июля 2024 г.

Cultural Days of the Turkic people of Irak in TURKSOY Headquarters

The Cultural Days of the Turkic people of Irak featured TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General  Sayit Yusuf, the Rector of the  University of Social Sciences of Ankara  Prof. Dr. Musa Kazım Arıcan, the President of the Turkmeneli Foundation of Cooperation and Culture Dr. Turhan Ketene and the Representative of the Iraqi Turkic people in Türkiye Kutluhan Yayçılı as keynote speakers of the event organised within the framework of Cultural Days of the Turkic people of Irak held in the conference hall of TURKSOY Headquarters in Ankara. 
The event which started with the opening of the exhibition on the history and artworks of the Turkic people of Irak went on  with a panel discussion.  

“We are not Iraqi Turkmens, we are the Turkic people of Iraq”

After a short cinevision show introducing the region, Dr. Turhan Ketene, who delivered the opening speech, expressed his discomfort with the term Iraqi Turkmens and said, "We are not Iraqi Turkmens, we are the Turkic people of Iraq." If a nomenclature designating us is to be used, the most correct one is the one refering to us as the Iraqi Turkic people. Any terms other than these are inaccurate and used without exact knowledge." In the continuation of his speech, Dr. Ketene underlined that the term “Turkic people of   Iraq” should be adopted by the public opinion in the Turkic World on a permanent basis and expressed his gratitude to  TURKSOY and its Secretary General Sultan Raev for his devoted work for the Turkic World. 

“We have been waging an epic and arduous struggle for a century”

Speaking at the event, Mr. Kutluhan Yalçın, the Representative of the Turkic people of Iraq in Türkiye stressed that the the Turkic people of Iraq  are going through a difficult path due to the present circumstances in the region and said: "TURKSOY is a very important organisation that coordinates the mutual communication and interaction of all Turkic peoples in the world. It is our duty to work together with TURKSOY and participate in joint activities. there are not  four million but  three hundred million Turkic people in Irak ." 

Curtains drawn 
Lamps out 
Years of burden on your back 
His memories are broken 
There'll be a place there 
It is called Kirkuk.

Speaking at the event, the Rector of the University of Social Sciences  of  Ankara Prof. Dr. Musa Kazım Arıcan started his speech with  verses by Arif Nihat Asya which raised emotional moments among the audience.  Stating that, in academic terms, the University of Social Sciences  of  Ankara is investing strong efforts in cultural development in the Turkic World  Prof. Dr.  Arıcan said: "As the first and only university of Türkiye with a focus on Social Sciences, our duties include researching and spreading the richness of the Turkic World. Our University comes up for the  academic aspect thereof. Hence,  our university  and TURKSOY both take part in many events as stakeholders and will further do so in the future."

TURKSOY is the unique incarnation of cultural coordination among Turkic peoples 
 

Starting his speech by conveying the greetings of  Secretary General Sultan Raev, who is abroad on a business trip, TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General Sayit Yusuf underlined that TURKSOY attaches special importance to  activities and events concerning the Turkic people of Irak and added that on the occasion of the centenary of the birthday of Ata Terzibasi, a well-known researcher of language, literature and folk culture of Iraqi Turks, the book "The Cornerstone of Kirkuk, Ata Terzibasi" on the life and works of Ata Terzibasi was issued as part of  publications of  TURKSOY, and that on the occasion of the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the  birthday of the poet Felekoglu from Talafar a book on his life and works  was also published by TURKSOY. Deputy Secretary General Yusuf further said: "It is the duty of TURKSOY to bring together Turkic peoples of  the entire Turkic World to make sure that they all get acquainted with eachother in cultural, social  and historical terms.

  
TURKSOY is the centre of the Turkic World

In his speech, Sayit Yusuf emphasised that he was well aware of the sufferings and hardships experienced by the Turkic people of Irak and said: "TURKSOY will do its duty in terms of civilisation and cultural work. This is an issue that I am personally interested in and attach particular  importance to. The roof of TURKSOY is the grassland of Turks."

The event went on with a  panel discussion  featuring presentations by Mr. Ibrahim Ağa Bayraktar,  researcher and author who  presented a paper on "The History of the Turkic People of Irak" and Ibrahim Kassap, the Cultural Officer of the Representative Office of the Turkic People of Irak in Türkiye who presented a paper on "The Culture and Literature of the Turkic People of Irak".

 
Do not condemn me if I love my homeland
It is in our religion to love the homeland    
Your undying love is in our lives
 

The panel discussion was followed by a reading of poems in which the poets Rıza Çolak, Mehmet Merii and Mikdat Havdi recited  poems they wrote on the Turkic people of Irak  and Kirkuk. 
 

At the end of the event, Ahmet Tuzlu, a famous singer from Kirkuk, performed the Turkmen folk song "Golden Ring". 
 

The event ended with the handover of souvenirs and certificates of appreciation.