Organised by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, the publicity meeting for Turkish Summer School and Turkish Festival was held in Istanbul Çırağan Palace. 

Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avcı stated the following on the heinous attack on July 15^th : “As a country and nation, we survived a major crisis and I would like to express my gratitude to our students who travelled to Turkey without fear and hesitation, and claimed democracy and Turkey with us at the squares during this period.”

Organised for the seventh time by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü with participation 540 students from 46 countries “Turkish Summer School” will be crowned with Second Turkish Festival to be held on August 27^th in Istanbul under the auspices of Turkish Presidency.

Publicity Meeting for Turkish Summer School and Turkish Festival held in Çırağan Palace

Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avcı who made a speech in the meeting, expressed that students from different countries have participated in various event and trainings throughout the month.

Avcı underlined that Turkish is the language of a nation that has established great civilizations and said, “Each of us love our respective mother language and believe it to be embracing. Turkish is a truly powerful language with the richness of its vocabulary, its harmony and metaphors.”

Avcı addressed the participants saying “I believe that learning our language and culture will provide you with major advantages,” and marked that the Turkish Summer School program organised for seven years by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, named after a poet of love language Turkish, carries out an important task in promoting Turkish and Turkish culture.

Minister Avcı, marking that they experience the joy of hosting 540 students of 46 countries in Turkey also this year, spoke as follows: “As a country and a nation, we survived a major crisis and I would like to express my gratitude to our students who travelled to Turkey without fear and hesitation, and claimed democracy and Turkey with us at the squares in this period.”

"Our Door is Always Open"

Avcı relayed that the students got the chance to visit historical and tourist destinations and learn Turkish and Turkish culture on site hosted by 20 universities in 16 different cities, and continued as follows:

“I believe you have accumulated great memories and established good friendships. I hope that you will share all about our country, culture and your memories with your families, friends and circles when you return home, and you know that as a friend and sister country, our door is always open to you and your kinsmen.

“We will hold the Turkish Festival to be organised under the auspices of Turkish Presidency in Istanbul on August 27^th with your participation. Guest students will send messages of peace, friendship and love to the world in Turkish in the closing performance with the theme 'Human and Turkish'. Such a meaningful message will be a major call in a time when many countries of the world are at war. Turkish Festival will take place in Ülker Sports Arena on August 27^th.”

“Language functions as a bridge between cultures”

İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbaş said that they believe all cultures are transitive and their fates are common.

Topbaş reminding the expression that “Person is the enemy of what he does not know,” added the following: “I would like to express that we can get better acquainted and contribute into world peace more effectively.”

Topbaş marked that Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said that his father, a watch repairer in the Ottoman Palace who lived in Istanbul, influenced his personality, and spoke as follows:

“Our ancient civilization and numerous values must be introduced to the world. Learning a language is not only speaking it, but beyond that that means to get acquainted with values. Cultures are regarded as collective legacies of people and they greatly contribute in development of communities when they are survived. Language functions as a bridge between the cultures and it is a means of mutual interaction. I would like to thank Yunus Emre Enstitüsü for teaching our beautiful language Turkish to the world. We will organise and celebrate 2^nd Turkish Festival together.”

Peace Messages will be delivered in Closing Event

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü President Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş explained that they work towards introducing Turkish culture, history, language and art, sharing the rich cultural background, and furthering Turkey's cultural exchange with other countries as well as its friendships.

Ateş marked that they have opened 45 institutes in 7 years, they set foot on America continent for the first time this year and they plan on opening a centre also in South America.

Ateş expressing that cultural diplomacy that has gained significant momentum in the recent years which is an essential diplomatic channel for nations, continued as follows: “The impacts of the progress Turkey has made in the recent years are apparent. As Turkey conception is stronger, the interest taken in Turkish and Turkish culture increases as well. We have difficulty in meeting the demands concerning Turkish in some countries; there are demands beyond our capacity however we continue to open new centres while making efforts to improve our current capacity.”

Ateş marked that countries with growing economies successfully employ cultural diplomacy and it is not a coincidence, Turkey endures more attacks and receive more threats at this point as it continues to develop. He relayed that they will bring Turkey conception to the top globally. 

Prof. Dr. Ateş continued as follows. “As we all witness, this development brings along various hardships and threats to our country. Ironically at this point, as Turkey develops, Turkey conception is attacked more in some cases and our reputation and prestige receive more threats. What we experienced after July 15^th is an example to it. We, aware of this truth, are determined to bring Turkey conception to the top in the most correct way using the most competent instruments. We know that the prejudices we aim to break down are sometimes an outcome of ulterior motives however mainly due to ignorance. We will not dread or give up no matter how prejudiced the others are and continue to battle against these prejudices that can be defined as ghosts of the past. Because that is the essence of cultural diplomacy. This fine and humane communication method theorised in Western sources, was written and explained by our predecessors centuries ago who 'aimed to coax'.

“Setting off from this motto, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü hosts 540 trainees from 46 countries in the seventh summer school program organised.

“Event held between July 25^th and August 27^th is carried out in 20 universities in 16 different cities. Our cultural envoys both visit the city centres and historical and tourist monuments nearby throughout their time in Turkey and they get the chance to get acquainted with Turkish culture as well as improving their Turkish.

“'Friendship Truck' that set off on August 4^th to meet with 2016 Turkish Summer School students with its first stop as Samsun, continues to come together with cultural envoys.”

Stating that guest students will send messages of peace, friendship and amity in “Turkish” in the closing performance with “Human and Turkish” theme in Turkish Festival, Şeref Ateş spoke as follows: “As Turkish President said, someone will carry out these tasks if we do not. We try our best to carry out these tasks. I would like to thank to all those who have supported us.”