― 23 февраля 2026 г.

TURKSOY gathered the Turkic World in the bounty of Ramadan

Representatives of the Turkic World came together in the atmosphere of mercy and bounty of the month of Ramadan at an iftar programme organised by the International Organisation of Turkic Culture TURKSOY in Ankara.

The Iftar Dinner hosted by TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev and attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye A. Berris Ekinci, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Ankara H.E. Mr. Yerkebulan Sapiyev, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Ankara H.E. Mr. Mekân Ishanguliyev, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Ankara H.E. Mr. Ilkhom Khaydarov, the Ambassador of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus H.E. Mr. Ismet Korukoğlu, and representatives of diplomatic missions of Turkic states in Ankara.

Other high-level guests were the Deputy Chairman of the MHP and MP of Samsun Ilyas Topsakal, the Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Head of Relations with Turkic States Kürşad Zorlu, the President of the Atatürk Culture, Language and History Higher Institution H. E. Prof. Dr. Derya Örs, the Rector of Ankara University of Social Sciences Musa Kazım Arıcan, the Rector of the Ankara University of Music and Fine Arts Prof. Dr. Erhan Özden, the President of the Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aliy, the Director General of the Organisation of Central Asian and Turkic States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye H. E. Mr. Togan Oral, the Chief Advisor to the Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party and President of the Ahmed Cevad Institute Ruhi Ersoy, the President of the Turkish Language Association Mr. Osman Mert, the President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Mr. Öcal Oğuz, the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of the Ankara University of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Bilal Çakıcı and the Deputy Coordinator of TRT Avaz Mr. Zafer Tekin were also present.

Iftar Dinner Beginning with a Recitation from the Quran

The Iftar Dinner began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Gürkan Çiğdem, Muezzin-Kayyım of the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque. Following the recitation of verses, the fast was broken with the evening call to prayer. In keeping with the spirit of Ramadan, modesty was emphasised at the iftar table, where Turkistan pilaf, symbolising the bounty of Turkistan, was served. 

Prepared with special rice brought from Andijan, declared as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2026, the pilaf became a symbol of gathering around the same table and sharing a common culture.

Sultan Raev: ‘This is the Eternal Hearth of the Turkic World’

Welcoming the guests as its host, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev emphasised that the building of TURKSOY is not just a workplace, but the ever-burning hearth of the Turkic World in Ankara. In  his speech, Secretary General Raev said: "For us, Ramadan is not just a month of fasting; it is a school of wisdom where our shared memory is preserved. Today, this pilaf, prepared with the efforts of our colleagues from different countries gathered around this cauldron, carries the bounty of Fergana, the spirit of Turkistan, and the memory of our centuries-long journey. The fire of civilisation lives on by being kept alive, and brotherhood deepens as we share the same dish."

Emphasis on Brotherhood and Shared Values

Speaking on behalf of the heads of mission of the Turkic Republics in Ankara, Kazakh Ambassador Yerkebulan Sapiyev drew attention to TURKSOY's nature as a ‘shared home,’ and said that: "Today, we are experiencing not just an iftar, but a true atmosphere of brotherhood. Pilaf rice of Turkistan is our common dish, and I express my gratitude to our Wiseman Sultan Raev for setting this beautiful table that unites us.'

In his speech, Ambassador A. Berris Ekinci, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, referred to TURKSOY's unique role in strengthening cultural unity. Ekinci noted that Ankara had been designated as the  Capital of Tourism for the Turkic World 2026, emphasising that the structure of Turkic cooperation is growing stronger every day.

From Academia to Politics: The Vision for the Turkic World

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Chairman of the MHP and President of the Chingis Aitmatov Institute Prof. Dr. Ilyas Topsakal made an emotional reminder about the Turkic World's journey towards a common alphabet: "In 1928, our Kyrgyz brothers immediately transcribed the great Manas Epic into the Latin alphabet because the Anatolian Turks had switched to the it. This is the essence of a mission. Today, it is our duty to shoulder this legacy and carry it forward."

Prof. Dr. Kürşad Zorlu, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party who celebrated the first anniversary of the Presidency for Relations with Turkic States, emphasised the importance of the Vision Document on the Turkic World, and announced that the upcoming Nowruz Festival will be on the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

The gathering, held in the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan ended with mutual good wishes and Ramadan greetings along with messages of unity, solidarity and brotherhood under the auspices of TURKSOY, the sacred home of the Turkic World in Ankara.