Located at Selimiye Square of Nicosia, opening ceremony of Nicosia Yunus Emre Enstitüsü was honored by Turkish Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu.

In his opening speech Ahmet Davutoğlu marked Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, established to promote Turkish language and culture all over the world, opened 42nd center in Nicosia. Davutoğlu described the Institute as “a beautiful gift entrusted to Cyprus by 78 million people” and continued as follows: “We opened this center in Nicosia not to introduce our language to Cypriot Turks, but to learn the Cypriot dialect of our beautiful language from them. One of the finest dialects, varieties of Turkish is spoken in Cyprus. This must be preserved.”

“You might have the Strongest Army in the World but…”

Davutoğlu underlined that they gathered in this historical venue for a special cause and stated, “Nations do not only rely on the military forces they have. Great nations survive through preserving their cultures and handing down their language to future generations.”

Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic Davutoğlu spoke as follows: “You might have the strongest army in the world but if you have lost your culture, language, tradition and most importantly your identity, you will collapse.”

“If you speak your beautiful language Turkish with the love for Anatolia in your hearts…”

Referring to Cyprus of 1960s, Davutoğlu continued as follows:

“You might not have an army, may be deprived of the simplest tools for protection, cornered in ghettos with each village occupied, each city you called homeland for centuries under oppression… But if you speak your beautiful language Turkish with the love for Anatolia in your hearts, if an ancient voice tells you ‘This is your country, Turkish is spoken and written on these lands’, you will survive here and hand it down to future generations…”

“If it was not for the Heroism of our Martyred Warriors, I would not be addressing you in Turkish today”

Davutoğlu dedicating the Nicosia Yunus Emre Enstitüsü to those martyred while defending their villages, cities, language, religion and faith, said, “If it wasn’t for the fervour, wisdom and heroism of our martyred warriors who preserved their culture bravely, intrepidly in besieged villages among ruins, who did not relinquish the culture in face of great suffering, I would not be addressing you in Turkish today.”

“We pay tribute to the Mothers who taught Turkish to their children”

Reminding that Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş is of Cyprus origin, Davutoğlu cited what Türkeş told him earlier that day: In colonial period, Turkish girls were not sent to school so they learnt Turkish at home.

Davutoğlu spoke as follows:

“Girls who would be mothers in the future took lessons from Turkish teachers, and preserved their language by reading books in Turkish.

“We pay tribute to mothers who taught Turkish to children after that difficult period. If it was not for them, if they were not protective of the family, if they did not continue the fine tradition of teaching Turkish to children singing lullabies, Turkish would not be spoken here.”

“Institute will organize Activities for Children from Various Nations”

Davutoğlu pointed out that TRNC is a university country, and said Nicosia Yunus Emre Enstitüsü will organize activities for students from various nations.

Davutoğlu mentioned that as he was entering Selimiye Square, a Palestinian student in traditional costumes gave him a Palestine map and a symbol as a present and added the following: “Students who came here from Hebron, city of Prophet Abraham are now Cypriots, our own children.”

My Directive to the Director and Staff of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü

Davutoğlu addressed Nicosia Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Director and staff as follows: “Plant such a seed in this country and glorify it so that no one can cut down that sycamore. Teach our children Turkish so well that this beautiful language will live from generation to generation… If water that springs from the Toros mountains I was born in, flows through the rivers and reaches Cyprus crossing the sea, our beautiful Turkish will reach many lands from Cyprus by way of these centers.”

Opening ceremony was attended by political party representatives, mayors, media representatives, guests from non-governmental organizations and some ministers.