In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş addressed the "100^th anniversary goals" set by the Institute for the 100^th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey and the "worldwide perception of Yunus Emre Institute".

Institute President Prof. Ateş noted the following regarding the demands for the opening of Yunus Emre Institute representative offices as a result of the intense interest in Turkey and Turkish in different regions of the world:

"As Yunus Emre Institute, we have carried out much more intensive activities in digital media. Therefore, we faced high demand from all over the world, especially in the second half of 2022. These demands are very valuable for us. From Latin America to the Far East, we received requests from all regions to open Yunus Emre Institute representative offices. Yunus Emre Institute has a very positive perception in the world.

Requests from all over the world to open Yunus Emre Institute representative offices are very valuable for the Republic of Turkey and Turkish culture. Because cultures live together in the world and the attractive cultures among them are invited. In addition to opening representative offices in different countries, we want to meet people all over the world."

"WE BRING TOGETHER THE WISDOM AND THE ‘LIFE’ PHILOSOPHY OF ANATOLIA WITH HUMANITY"

Institute President Prof. Ateş made the following statements regarding the philosophy underlying the activities carried out by the Institute around the world:

“Yunus Emre and our culture place humans at the top. Humans, life and living beings are the most important things in the world. Our Institute, which takes its name from Yunus Emre, prioritizes these values in its working method. As Yunus Emre Institute, we always prioritize people in the regions we are in. This philosophy underpins our culture and arts activities, digital activities and Turkish language teaching. As the Institute, we bring the wisdom and the ‘life’ philosophy of Anatolia together with humanity."

"WE WILL WEAVE CULTURAL NETWORKS AROUND THE WORLD WITH 100 REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES"

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş stated: "With the decision we took last year, we aim to reach 100 foreign representative offices in the 100^th year of the Republic and to weave the world with cultural networks. Because 'getting acquainted' is very important for all Yunus Emre Institute representative offices."

NEW REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE TO BE OPENED IN IRAQ

Commenting on the foreign representative offices planned to open in 2023, Prof. Ateş stated: "In February, we will start our activities in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, which is located near us. We also carry out activities in the Syria Safe Zone through our 4 centers. As Yunus Emre Institute, we wish to spread Yunus' philosophy and the culture of peace, especially in our nearby regions."

"WE WILL CARRY OUT ACTIVITIES FOR THE EXPANSION OF TURKISH AS A LANGUAGE OF COMMUNICATION, SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY IN THE WORLD"

Emphasizing that 2023 will be a year when being Turkish will be expressed and felt more all over the world, Institute President Prof. Ateş commented: "In 2023, we aim to reach 1 million people through face-to-face and online Turkish lessons, the My Choice Is Turkish Project, the Turkish Teaching Portal and teaching Turkish through videos. We will carry out activities to expand Turkish as a language of communication, science and philosophy in the world."

"CULTURE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL FOR GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER"

Prof. Şeref Ateş said: "Yunus said, 'Let's get acquainted'. Culture is the most important tool for getting to know each other. Because culture shows how you deal with a task. By organizing activities that carry our way of thinking and intellectual accumulation, we show the world how we do things. As people get to know Turkey and Turkish culture closely, they come to Turkey as tourists. The number of people who want to study in Turkey increases, as does the number of people who want to do business with Turkey."

“OUR WAY OF LIFE IS BASED ON COMPANIONSHIP, NOT COMPETITION”

In the last part of the interview, Prof. Ateş said: "We have activities that will reach a wide audience in the US this month and in the UK next month. The basic idea behind all these activities is the Anatolian wisdom that we have developed in Anatolia for centuries with the likes of Yunus, Hacı Bektaş Veli, His Holiness Ahmet Yesevi; we have a way of life that emphasizes humans, life and living beings. It is based on companionship, not competition."

OVER 80 REPRESENTATIVES IN 5 CONTINENTS

Having started its activities abroad in 2009, the Institute continues to fulfill its mission of increasing Turkey's international recognition, credibility and reputation in the international arena through its various activities in the fields of diplomacy through over 80 foreign representative offices in 5 continents.