Yunus Emre Institute's Moscow branch has commemorated the poet Nazım Hikmet on the 117th anniversary of his birth.

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Moscow Mehmet Samsar, Yunus Emre Institute's Moscow branch director Ömer Özkan and Russian and Turkish guests attended the commemoration program held at the Nazım Hikmet Library in Moscow on Friday, January 25 as part of the 2019 Turkey-Russia Mutual Culture and Tourism Year.

During the program, Russian students read Nazım Hikmet's poems and sang songs composed from his poems, and a concert consisting of Turkish traditional songs was also given.

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Moscow Mehmet Samsar delivered a keynote speech, reminding that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared 2019 as the Mutual Culture and Tourism Year. He noted that various events would be held in various cities in Russia, particularly including Moscow and Saint Petersburg to promote Turkey.

"This great poet not only blazed a trail in Turkey with his works, but also contributed to the Russian literature. The universal message in his works has turned Nazım Hikmet into a poet for the entire humankind," he said.

Institute Director Özkan drew attention to the fact that Nazım Hikmet is bridging Turkey and Russia. "Nazım Hizmet, the great poet of the Turkish language, is a common asset of Turkey and Russia, and he contributed to the Russian literature," he said.

Various cultural, artistic and touristic events will be held in Turkey and Russia within the context of the 2019 Turkey-Russia Mutual Culture and Tourism Year Declaration of Intent, signed by and between the culture ministers of both countries during the Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council Meeting held in Moscow in 2017 under the chairmanship of President Erdoğan and Russian President Putin.