“Yunus' three words meet our basic philosophy as the Institute. 'Come, let's get to know each other'. We can express all cultural diplomacy in three words,” Yunus Emre Institute President Professor Şeref Ateş said.

In the interview he gave at the "Ruler of the Uzun Hasan Akkoyunlu State Exhibition" held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Institute President Professor Şeref Ateş talked about the Institute's projects aimed at reviving the common past between Türkiye and Azerbaijan and the activities carried out by the Institute specifically for its 100th anniversary.

Regarding the exhibition organized with the contributions of Baku Yunus Emre Institute, Institute President Professor Şeref Ateş made the following evaluations: “As Azerbaijan's National Leader Haydar Aliyev stated, we need to reveal the common aspects of this nation in order for the understanding of 'two states, one nation' to be concretely fleshed out. Baku Yunus Emre Institute continues to implement projects and activities for this purpose since its establishment. The Uzun Hasan Akkoyunlu State's Ruler Exhibition, whose preparations took about a year, is the best example of these valuable activities. The subject of the exhibition was a period and a personality that formed our common past and common consciousness. After extraordinarily meticulous work, this special exhibition was created.” 

“Uzun Hasan Exhibition has great meaning in terms of revitalizing our common geography and common past”

“In addition to promoting Turkish culture in different geographies of the world, it is also among our most important duties to introduce the cultural values of the countries we are in to the world. Uzun Hasan Exhibition has great meaning in terms of revitalizing our common geography and common past. Our exhibition is an activity in line with the Shusha Declaration signed by our President and the President of Azerbaijan and its spirit. We hope that, as Yunus Emre Institute, we will carry out similar studies in Türkiye. Through the exhibition, just as works from Türkiye are brought to Azerbaijan, works that are important to Turkish history in Azerbaijan are also brought to Turkey, allowing them to meet art lovers in Turkey," President Professor Ateş said.

Worldwide Yunus Emre Institutes to Be Promoted Azerbaijan's Cultural Cities

“Turkish tribes can and should show different cultural characteristics in different geographies. That's the nature of culture anyway. The commonuty of states does not mean that everyone is similar to each other, but that they work towards common goals and within the framework of common values. Both the Republic of Türkiye and the Republic of Azerbaijan showed this courage to reflect this through art. Yunus Emre Institutes around the world will continue to mediate the promotion of Azerbaijan's cultural cities, especially Shusha, in the world. Currently, our embassies in America, France and the Netherlands, with whom we have a common diaspora, are currently working on joint projects with Azerbaijani embassies. An agreement was signed in Bursa by the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Within the scope of this agreement, we have prepared projects for artists and cultural people in Azerbaijan to come together with artists, cultural people and media members in Türkiye and produce joint works,” Professor Ateş said.

In agreement was signed in Bursa by the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Within the scope of this agreement, we have prepared projects for artists and cultural people in Azerbaijan to come together with artists, cultural people and media members in Türkiye and produce joint works,” Professor Ateş said.

Prof. Dr. Ateş made the following statements regarding the activities determined by the Institute specifically for the 100th anniversary:

"100th anniversary  is very precious for us. As Yunus Emre Institute, we have determined two slogans for the 100th anniversary. In the 10th year of the Republic, the motto was that every part of the country was covered with iron nets. We said 'Türkiye Growing with the Republic' on the 100th anniversary and organized an exhibition called 'Türkiye Growing with the Republic', enriching the content of the exhibition and sending it to all our representatives. This exhibition took place all over the world as part of the 29 October Republic Day. Our second slogan is specifically for the 100th anniversary: ‘We have woven the whole world with cultural networks every year'. Yunus Emre Institute currently has 85 representative offices around the world. We are working to open five representative offices by the end of the year. In order for a nation to open up to the world, it must have an important claim. The Turkish nation established the Republic with great difficulties. We carry our unique understanding of compassion and unity to different geographies of the world through culture and art, that we have a story to tell to the world again in the 100th year. Yunus's three words meet our basic philosophy as the Institute. 'Come, let's get to know each other'. We can express all cultural diplomacy in three words.”