With the participation of nearly 500 students from 60 countries, “The Voice of 1000 Years: Turkish Language Festival” was celebrated solemnly. Foreign students sent “Turkish” peace, friendship and love messages to the world in plays they performed.

“The Voice of 1000 Years: Turkish Language Festival”, organized by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü under the auspices of esteemed President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was celebrated with joy with activities held in Ülker Sports Arena. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Culture and Tourism Ömer Çelik, Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Nabi Avcı, Minister of Environment and Urban Planning İdris Güllüce, numerous congressmen, foreign and local guests and foreign students who learn Turkish language participated to celebrations. 

Diplomacy has expanded

In his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated that diplomacy has expanded with incorporation of all Turkish values into peace diplomacy. Çavuşoğlu expressed that they bring activities all around the world with the aim of introducing Turkish culture and customs and added, “We proudly follow the achievements of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, teaching our beautiful Turkish language and culture in more than 40 countries. Today we will deliver peace messages to the world in Turkish, the language of love and peace.”

We will carry the image of Turkey to the top

Minister of Culture and Tourism Ömer Çelik said that they carry out important activities to bring the cultural diplomacy understanding of Turkey to all corners of the world. In his speech Çelik said, “The way to carry the global image of our country to the top is through narrating the story of our language and culture. The humanistic and cultural bonds we are to establish are the underlying motives of teaching Turkish language. Building cultural bridges is a major responsibility of the state. The atmosphere here today will greatly contribute to the peace environment world has been longing for.”

Director of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Prof. Dr. Hayati Develi remarked that activities organized in Sarajevo for the first time have reached to 42 countries and said, “We would like to make it worldwide in 100^th year of our Republic.”

Foreign Turkish language students presented 1000-years long adventure of Turkish language with plays such as Dede Korkut, Kuzguni Yağız, Kutadgu Bilig Zencerek, Türkçem Benim Bayrağım (My Turkish is my flag), Cenk Sanatı: Saf Bağlayarak Matrak (Art of War: Truncheon in Line), Muhibbi, Donanma (Navy), Ekmek Tuz Hakkı (Right to Bread and Salt) Türkçe Diler-Yunus Gibi (Like Yunus). Plays with ten acts accompanied with light and sound shows received great feedback from the audience.