Workshop Bringing the Turkic World Together "from Maveraünnehir to Anatolia" Starts

Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Ali Değirmenci, Pamukkale University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Necip Atar, Prof. Dr. Durmuş Akalın, PAU Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Yasemin Beyazıt, President of the Turkish Historical Society Prof. Dr. Yüksel Özgen, President of the History Institute of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences Prof. Dr. Azamat Ziyo, Deputy Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Hayrullah Akgün, Deans, academicians and students participated in the opening ceremony of the workshop to be held between 19-20 September 2023. After the moment of silence, the Turkish National Anthem and the National Anthem of Uzbekistan, the program continued with music recital and opening speeches.

The first of the speeches was delivered by Prof. Dr. Yasemin Beyazıt, Dean of PAU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Stating that this workshop, which will be hosted by Pamukkale University, will provide an important platform for researchers, academics and students in the field of history, Prof. Dr. Beyazıt stated that the workshop will contribute to further strengthening the cultural and academic ties between Turkey and Uzbekistan and will bring together a number of internationally renowned academics who have contributed to the science of history. Prof. Dr. Beyazıt said that the participants of the workshop, including Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taşağıl, will share the great achievements and experiences they have gained in their fields, and emphasized that the workshop will focus on the historical ties extending from Maveraünnehir to Anatolia and the historiography of this region, and will provide an opportunity to discuss new approaches and methods in the field of historiography.

"The fact that there are many countries that equate Turkey's existence with their own existence makes us feel so proud, but it also shows how hard we will work."

In his speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan said: "This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. In our university, congresses, symposiums and workshops are organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary. In history, many states that did not last 100 years were established and destroyed. The Republic of Turkey, as a nucleus of the Ottoman Empire, was reborn in Anatolian lands and gained its freedom 100 years ago by fighting a great war under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal against all the imperialist powers of the West. We now know very well what freedom is. Our Turkish brothers and sisters who were in captivity until yesterday are free today and we can freely act together with them and organize meetings. This freedom will continue for many centuries. The state is eternal, Turkishness is eternal. The biggest purpose of this meeting is to increase our cooperation with our brothers and sisters in Uzbekistan as Pamukkale University, with public institutions and universities, to show the world the justice of the Turkish nation by looking at the events through the eyes of brothers and sisters, and to show the world how goodness is, how sharing is, to live and keep it alive. The fact that our brothers and sisters from Uzbekistan celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey with as much pride and honor as we do, and even organize congresses, symposiums and meetings on the 100th anniversary itself, makes us very happy and pleased. And I can say that Turkey no longer represents only itself or is not a country that stands alone in the world. The fact that there are many countries that follow it and equate its existence with their own existence makes us feel so proud and at the same time shows how hard we will work. I wish that our workshop on the deep roots of history and historiography from Maveraünnehir to Anatolia will bring good to all Turkic Republics and the world, especially the Republic of Turkey and Uzbekistan, and I greet you all with respect. While commemorating with mercy all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our homeland, I celebrate Veterans Day on September 19 and wish health and well-being to our glorious veterans."

Head of the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan Prof. Dr. Azamat Ziyo started his speech by congratulating the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. Prof. Dr. Ziyo emphasized that we are one nation as a nation, as there are many examples in history, when the Turkic world is in unity today, it will increase its strength even more and that it can be carried to even better places by doing science together, and pointed out that cooperation in science should increase as in every field in strengthening this unity. Prof. Dr. Ziyo reminded that Pamukkale University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan has taken concrete steps towards close cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pamukkale University and also mentioned the Uzbekistan-Turkey Health Forum held recently.