― 19 апреля 2026 г.

Panel on “A Century of Language and Identity: From the Baku Turkology Congress to Turkic Integration” held as part of ADF 2026

The panel on “A Century of Language and Identity: From the Baku Turkology Congress to Turkic Integration” held at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 shed light upon the shared heritage in the fields of language, culture and identity within the Turkic World, as well as upon current opportunities for cooperation, to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1926 Baku Turkology Congress.

Participants who took the floor at the panel were Mr. Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Turkic States; Mr. Ramil Hasan, the Secretary General of TURKPA; Mr. Sultan Raev, the Secretary General of TURKSOY; Prof. Dr. Osman Mert, the President of the Turkish Language Institution; Prof. Dr. Şahin Mustafayev, the President of the Turkic Academy; and Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation. The session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Fırat Purtaş, a lecturer at the Hacı Bayram Veli University, whilst Prof. Dr. Ruhi Ersoy from the same university took the floor as a commentator on the panel.

At the panel, it was noted that the decision to comprehensively commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1926 Baku Congress of Turkology in Azerbaijan had been welcomed with satisfaction across the Turkic World, and it was emphasised that this process reflected the shared will demonstrated by the heads of state.

Language is the timeless expression of cultural memory

In his speech, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stated that the declaration of December 15th as “World Turkic Languages Day” by UNESCO was a concrete result of institutional cooperation of many years.

Highlighting the cultural cooperation initiatives led by TÜRKSOY, Raev emphasised that language is the fundamental element carrying the shared memory of the Turkic World, stating that: “The issue is not about establishing a new closeness, but about making the existing shared memory more visible and effective.” Secretary Genera Raev noted that the 1926 Baku Congress of Turkology laid the scientific foundations for the study of Turkic languages, brought the idea of a common alphabet to the fore, and established an institutional framework for cultural cooperation, adding that this legacy continues to serve as a guiding principle today.

Furthermore, emphasising that the decision to hold the Second Turkology Congress in Uzbekistan is significant in terms of historical continuity, Mr. Raev stated that holding it in Andijan, the 2026 Capital of Culture of the Turkic World, will be meaningful.

The Baku Congress: A Historic Gathering of Collective Wisdom

In his speech, Professor Dr. Şahin Mustafayev, the President of the Turkic Academy, stated that the 1926 congress was not merely an academic gathering, but a historic platform where Turkic peoples discussed common issues across a vast geography for the first time.

Prof. Dr. Mustafayev emphasised that the congress cannot be reduced to ideological approaches, highlighting that Turkic intellectuals of the era participated in this process with great enthusiasm and hope. Noting that the congress addressed comprehensive topics such as language, alphabet, education and history, Mustafayev stated that this process was a natural continuation of the modernisation movements that had been developing since the 19th century.

A common alphabet strengthens a shared consciousness

Prof. Dr. Osman Mert, President of the Turkish Language Institution, stated in his speech that unity in writing is a fundamental condition for cultural integration.

Recalling that the 34-letter Common Turkic Alphabet had been announced following work carried out with the Turkic Academy, Prof. Dr. Mert noted that this is an achievement which will make invisible bonds between Turkic languages visible. Drawing attention to the prominence of the Latin alphabet in the global academic world, Prof. Dr. Mert noted that a common alphabet will also provide significant advantages in terms of access to knowledge and academic production.

New approaches are needed in Turkology

Prof. Dr. Ruhi Ersoy who also took the floor at the panel stated that Turkology studies must be re-examined in line with contemporary needs and stressed that Turkology should not be confined solely to language and literature, calling for the updating of university curricula and the enhancement of academic cooperation within the Turkic World.

The panel which ended with assessments highlighting the necessity to transform decisions made a century ago at the Baku Congress of Turkology into concrete policies through political will today also emphasised that the preservation, development and promotion of language—as the bearer of shared cultural memory—constitutes one of the fundamental elements of cooperation among Turkic states.