The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has begun operations
The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has begun operations.
The Yunus Emre Institute, one of Turkey's leading soft power institutions, launched its activities in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, with a concert.
The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, commenced its activities with an introductory concert.
The introductory program, organized by the Yunus Emre Institute at the Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater building, was attended by Edil Baysalov, Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, First Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan Soyuzbek Nadırbekov, former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nuran Niyazaliyev, Turkish Ambassador to Bishkek Mekin Mustafa Kemal Ökem, Hungarian Ambassador to Bishkek Şandora Dorogi, and employees of the Yunus Emre Institute's Kyrgyzstan Representative Office.
In his speech, Baysalov, Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyzstan Cabinet of Ministers, expressed his satisfaction with the opening of the Yunus Emre Institute in Bishkek.
Stating that he had met and collaborated with the Yunus Emre Institute during his time as ambassador to the United Kingdom, Baysalov said:
"The Turkish language is one of the most important languages that unites the Turkish peoples and states. Undoubtedly, in my opinion, every civil servant and intellectual should know Turkish. The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Bishkek is not only a cultural bridge but also a step that will strengthen and bring our hearts closer together. That is why we have Turkish language education centers in our higher education institutions. We also want the Yunus Emre Institute to teach Turkish to our students."
Referring to the recent visit to Kyrgyzstan by Deputy President Cevdet Yılmaz, Baysalov added that thanks to the visionary leadership of the presidents of both countries, Kyrgyz-Turkish relations are moving towards new horizons.
Yunus Emre Institute's contribution to Kyrgyz Language Day
Turkey's Ambassador to Bishkek, Ökem, began his speech by congratulating the Kyrgyz people on Kyrgyz Language Day on September 23 in the Kyrgyz language.
Ökem stated that Yunus Emre Cultural Centers contribute to building bridges of friendship between nations by promoting Turkish culture, art, and history, adding that this center is part of a network of 90 Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers in 68 countries around the world.
Ökem stated that the message of peace and brotherhood of the Turkish poet Yunus Emre continues to guide not only the Turkish world but all of humanity, recalling the words of the famous Kyrgyz writer Cengiz Aytmatov: “The greatest loss for mankind is the loss of memory.” Ökem stated that Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers have taken on the responsibility of keeping this memory alive and passing on the common heritage to future generations.
The songs “Çırpınırdı Karadeniz” and “Bir Başkadır Benim Memleketim” were performed.
As part of the promotional program, the “Anadolunun Sesi” group, consisting of artists from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, gave a concert accompanied by the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University Turkic World Orchestra and Artists.
The concert began with the soundtrack of the movie “Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım,” adapted for Turkish cinema and inspired by the famous novel by Kyrgyz writer Cengiz Aytmatov. Tenor Ömer Türkmenoğlu, soprano Tuğba Mankal, and soloist Elvira Tadjiyeva took the stage.
Solmaz Haberal, Cultural and Promotion Advisor at the Turkish Embassy in Bishkek, also attended the event.