Turkic World History Workshop Held
The Turkic World History Workshop was held on February 24, 2025, at the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language, and History Campus. The workshop was attended by the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, Binali Yıldırım; the President of the Supreme Council, H.E Ambassador Prof. Dr. Derya Örs; the President of the Turkic Academy, Prof. Dr. Şahin Mustafayev; and the President of the Turkish Historical Society, Prof. Dr. Yüksel Özgen. Additionally, academics representing the Turkic world from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Uzbekistan, Hungary, and Turkmenistan participated in the event.
During the opening session of the workshop, the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, Binali Yıldırım, stated:
“We are initiating a comprehensive meeting that will examine the history of the Turks, the processes they have undergone from ancient times to the present, the states they have founded, and the contributions they have made to world civilization. This meeting is a significant step toward shedding light on our shared Turkic history.”
Emphasizing a shared future among Turkic states, Yıldırım continued:
“Our ancestors and our past are common. The generations that follow us will carry this unity even further. This unity will be achieved through language unity. Language is sovereignty. If our language is not independent and common, then our sovereignty cannot be fully established. That is why I particularly want to emphasize the issue of language. As İsmail Bey Gaspıralı said, ‘Unity in language, thought, and work.'”
The President of the Supreme Council, H.E Ambassador Prof. Dr. Derya Örs, in his speech, highlighted that the Turkic World holds a significant place in world history with its thousands of years of deep-rooted history, rich cultural heritage, and strong social structure. He noted that in a globalizing world, strength comes through unity and solidarity. Continuing his speech, Örs stated:
“Undoubtedly, our language, history, and culture will make this unity and solidarity possible. Just as joint alphabet studies bring us closer together, joint historical research will do the same.”
At the conclusion of his speech, Örs said:
“Beyond the activities of the Supreme Council and its affiliated institutions, advancing the current state further with contributions from the Organization of Turkic States, the Turkic Academy, TÜRKSOY, and other partner institutions in different countries, and leaving a strong future for younger generations, is our greatest responsibility.”
The President of the Turkish Historical Society, Prof. Dr. Yüksel Özgen, underlined that when discussing the Turkic World, one should think not only of its 300 million population, its vast 4.5 million square kilometers of territory, and its 4 trillion-dollar economic volume, but also of its profound history, deep-rooted culture, and strong civilization, which cannot be measured by material means.
Özgen stated:
“As institutions and scholars working in history and social sciences within the Turkic World, we have been conducting research for years to study and pass on the history and culture of this great family to future generations. However, until now, these studies have been mostly individual efforts. Now, it is time to conduct studies that encompass the entire family.”
The Turkic World History Workshop stands out as an important scientific event aimed at addressing the shared history of Turkic states on a scholarly basis and passing it on to future generations. Supported by the Organization of Turkic States and carried out in cooperation with historical institutions across the Turkic world, the workshop is set to lead the way in a joint historical writing process.
