Turkish and Georgian politicians greatly participated in the “Turkish Cuisine with Centennial Recipes’’ events held in consequence of the “Turkish Cuisine Week’’ in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.

The event, which was held in Tbilisi within the scope of the “Turkish Cuisine Week’’ led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s wife, Emine Erdoğan, continued on the second day with the participation of Turkish and Georgian senior officials.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Ahmet Demircan, Head of Turkey-Georgia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Halil Etyemez and Turkish deputies who are members of the group, Turkey’s Ambassador to Tbilisi Fatma Ceren Yazgan, Head of Georgia-Turkey Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Beka Odisharia and other guests attended the program at the Writers’ House.

EMİNE ERDOĞAN: TURKISH CUISINE HAS BEEN A STEAMING STOVE OF WISDOM FOR CENTURIES

In her special message published for the event, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan made the following statements:

“Our cuisine is our national identity. Each bite carries marks of our historical experience. It is a reflection of different religions, ethnic origins, and different cultures. Turkish cuisine has been a steaming stove of wisdom for centuries. In this sense, it has a very special place among other country cuisines. In a time when the fast-eating culture has been spreading all over the world, the whole world needs our healing recipes.’’

Stating that the book Turkish Cuisine with Centennial Recipes was a step towards opening this richness to the world, Erdoğan continued her words as follows:

“It is the joint effort of our country’s leading chefs, academics, and gastronomy researchers. Healthful aspects of healthy, waste-free, traditional Turkish cuisine will be opened to the world with this book. I would like to express my gratitude to the valuable names involved in the project for their unique contributions to gastronomy diplomacy. I hope that this culinary culture, which looks upon food as a blessing and does not waste any of its parts, will be a guide for humanity’s search for a return to its essence. I hope that this initiative will inspire many new projects to introduce Turkish cuisine to the world. Enjoy your meal and healing to all.

At the opening of the program attended by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia Kakha Sikharulidze, the book Turkish Cuisine with Centennial Recipes was introduced with a video presentation.

Speaking here, Yazgan remarked that the food culture is given great importance in the geography where Turkey and Georgia are located and that this culture plays a crucial role in the development of relations between the peoples living in the region.

30TH  YEAR OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY-GEORGIA

Expressing that it was also a source of pride for Turkish and Georgian friends to come together at this kind of event on the week of the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Georgia, Yazgan said, “Because the meeting of two cultures that love each other very much at the table in the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, I think, will tell us very well.’’

Odisharia, on the other hand, noted that he was very pleased to participate in such an event, that Georgia’s independence day would be celebrated tomorrow, and that they were proud to host the delegation from Turkey in such an important process.

Stating that his country is a young state, Odisharia said that Turkey always has given support to Georgia and used the following expressions:

“Turkey has always stood by our young independence and, as a strategic partner with a strong economy, continued to foster our territorial integrity and independence in a world full of tensions.’’

Halil Etyemez announced that they were in Tbilisi on the occasion of the Georgian Independence Day, which would be celebrated tomorrow, and that they would hold high level meetings here for three days.

Noting that the Turkish Cuisine Week, celebrated under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, made a significant contribution to the strengthening of its relations with other countries, Etyemez continued his words as follows:

“Our peoples have friendly and good neighborly relations. Georgia is our strategic partner. Our relations in terms of trade also continue, and we would like to take this further. Today, I saw here that there is an environment where the two peoples share common values in terms of culture.

Demircan also thanked Ambassador Yazgan for the opportunities she provided for the successful continuation of Turkish-Georgian relations.

Indicating that it was very meaningful both to re-establish Turkish-Georgian relations 30 years ago and to promote Turkish cuisine in Tbilisi with the participation of many valuable guests in a very meaningful week on the occasion of the Georgian Independence Day celebrated on May 26, Demircan said, “Mrs. Ambassador set a table here, but her table also became Halil İbrahim’s Table.’’