Türkiye Conferences at the Mexican National Congress
Yunus Emre Institute in Mexico continues its efforts to promote Turkish culture and history through various activities across the country.
Hosted by the Mexican National Congress, the Institute organized a program featuring three conferences titled “Turkish Capitals of Anatolia: Monumental Buildings, History, and Culture”.
The first conference, titled “Konya: The Center of the Seljuks and Mevlana,” focused on highlighting Konya’s significance in Turkish history, the city’s monumental structures, and the profound influence of Mevlana, one of the foremost spiritual figures.
In the second conference titled “Bursa and Edirne: Two Ottoman Capitals Preserving Their Magnificence,” the session detailed the developmental stages of the Ottoman Empire and the historical process through which these two cities became capitals. Information was also provided about magnificent structures such as Ulucami and Selimiye Mosque.
The final program of the conference series was titled “İstanbul: Capital of Three Empires, Crossroads of Continents and History”. The conference, hosted in one of the most prestigious halls of the Mexican National Congress, garnered significant interest from enthusiasts of Türkiye and İstanbul. During the nearly two-hour conference, İstanbul was comprehensively explored, focusing particularly on its history, culture, and monumental structures.
The lectures were delivered by Prof. M. Necati Kutlu, a faculty member at Ankara University and the founder of the only Latin American Studies Center in Türkiye. The programs, which captured the interest of participants, were accessible to viewers in other cities across Mexico through live broadcasts on the Congress channel.
“Yunus Emre Institute is your home”
In his opening speech, Salih Gültekin, Coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute in Mexico, said, “I extend my thanks to the Mexican National Congress for welcoming Türkiye, Prof. Necati Kutlu for sharing his extensive expertise, and to all of you, esteemed participants, for engaging with our conferences with such interest. Our Institute will persist in its endeavors in history and culture. Yunus Emre Institute is your home.”
Participating in the program, Oaxaca MP Alfredo Aurelio Gonzalez Cruz, Chairman of the Türkiye-Mexico Interparliamentary Friendship Group, highlighted the strong friendship between the two countries based on their similarities, which continues to strengthen their relations. Through these conferences, he emphasized, participants can gain deeper insights into what unites cultures.
At the conclusion of the program, Salih Gültekin, Coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute in Mexico, presented a traditional Turkish coffee set to MP Alfredo Aurelio Gonzalez Cruz, President of the Türkiye-Mexico Friendship Group, and a porcelain plate adorned with traditional patterns to Ismael Carvallo Robledo, Director of the Cultural Department of the Mexican National Congress.
