A photo exhibition called ’600 Jahre polnisch – Türkische Freundschaft in Historischen Fotographien – 600 Year-Long Turkish-Polish Friendship With Historical Photos” has been opened by the Yunus Emre Institute in Cologne in cooperation with the Polish Institute in Dusseldorf and the Turkish and Polish Consulates General in Cologne. The exhibition is dedicated to the 600 year-long Turkish-Polish friendship.    

The opening of the event, where 50 photos from the collection of the Yıldız Palace are exhibited, was attended by distinguished guests including consuls general of Italy, Albania and Greece, Director of Cultural Institutions in Cologne, instructors of the University of Cologne, Directors of French and Japanese Institutes and representatives of Turkish and Polish civil society organizations.

In his opening speech at the event, Turkish Consul General in Cologne Barış Ceyhun Erciyes underlined the efforts of renowned Polish poet Adam  Mickiewicz to enhance and strengthen the friendship between the two countries as well as the Polish roots of such important personalities  as Nazım Hikmet and Leyla Gencer. He said the current satisfactory level of Turkish-Polish friendship will continue in the future as well.  

Polish Consul General in Cologne Jan Sobczak reminded that the Ottoman Empire was the only state which did not recognize the division of Poland for 123 years and always kept a seat for the Polish Ambassador at the palace. He added that Poland also recognized the Republic of Turkey one day before the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne.     

Yunus Emre Institute Director in Cologne Dr. Yılmaz Bulut, for his part, said “they were proud to  commemorate the 600 years-long Turkish-Polish Friendship and the 100^th anniversary of the Establishment of the Polish State in Cologne.” Director of the Polish Institute in Dusseldorf Wojciech J. Poczachowski, for his part, talked about the personalities and events, like Ali Ufki Bey and Polonezköy,  which contributed to the development of friendship between the two countries.

Tens of historical photos are being displayed in the exhibition varying from the Polish village Polenezköy to the daily lives of the Poles in Turkey, important pashas and personalities of the period to  views from Polish cities. The exhibition will stay open until September.