Devlet Bahçeli's statement is as follows: We are going through one of the most meaningful time periods in Turkish history.
We are all witnessing one of the turning points of history and fortune. Happy 103rd anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye and the 35th anniversary of the Turkish Republics gaining their independence. The happiness of celebrating these two historical achievements together is a great source of pride for our nation. Because the Turkish nation is a nation that has broken the chains that were tried to be placed on its independence and freedom in every period of history, and has destroyed the barriers that were tried to be put in front of it for this purpose.
Because; In this meaningful period when we celebrate the 103rd anniversary of our Republic and the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Turkish Republics, our capital Ankara will host the leaders of the Turkish states; It establishes a strong and meaningful bond between our national history and the future of the Turkish world. This summit is of exceptional importance in terms of reinforcing our bonds of brotherhood with the strength we derive from our deep-rooted history, advancing our common goals on the basis of mutual respect for the sovereignty of our independent states, and revealing a determined will that will direct the future of the Turkish world.
I would like to address the Turkish World on this holy day: This stage that the Turkish world has reached today is not a spontaneous achievement. It has passed the test of centuries, overcome many difficulties, and reached its present historical ground with great struggles and an unshakable will.
If we can meet around the same ideal today, this is why; There is a great accumulation of civilization that carries its language, culture, wisdom and future ideals from generation to generation. This accumulation; A tremendous amount of ideas, wisdom and wisdom stretching from Manas to Alpamysh, from Dede Korkut to Yusuf Has Hacib, from Kaşgarlı Mahmud to Ali Şîr Nevâî, from Hoca Ahmet Yesevî to Yunus Emre, from Abay to Mahtumkulu, from Nesimi to Süleyman Çelebi, from İsmail Gaspiralı to Ziya Gökalp. It is an ideal legacy.
These great personalities, each of whom struggled to keep the language, culture, thought and common future of the Turkish nation alive in their own era, are the cornerstones of the bridges of hearts and ideas that rise between us today. There are deep traces of the same civilization in the courage of Manas, the bravery of Alpamysh, the wisdom of Dede Korkut, the wisdom of Ahmet Yesevî, the wisdom of Abay and the ideal of freedom of Mahtumkulu. These traces are the sign of our historical continuity and identity from past to present. The ideal of "Unity in language, thought and work" of İsmail Gaspiralı, who pioneered a great awakening in the Turkestan geography by lighting the torch of Jadidism, has been a strong guide to carry this legacy to the future.
For centuries, our geographies have been separated, borders have entered between us, and distances have been placed on our roads. But the ties between our hearts have not been broken, our historical memory has not been erased, our sense of brotherhood has not disappeared. Because what connects us and unites us; It is our common history, language, culture, ideals and vision of the future. This bond is a deep-rooted civilization bond that time cannot erode, distances cannot weaken, and circumstances cannot eliminate.
Today's meeting of Turkish states under the same organizational roof is a stage of this great march spanning centuries. The Organization of Turkish States is a platform that strengthens our historical closeness with institutional relations, brings our political will together with concrete goals and directs our common future. The task before us is clear: to bring together the legacy of our history with the opportunities of the future, to strengthen the law of brotherhood, to improve our economic and cultural relations, to increase the effectiveness of the Turkish world in the international arena and to leave a stronger Turkish world to future generations.
The way to do this is; It is based on mutual trust, respecting their independence and sovereignty, observing the national will of each state, and resolutely pursuing our common goals. Here, I would especially like to express that the unity of the Turkish world does not mean any state dominating another. What we desire; It is a union that protects the national existence and will of each of our members, based on the sovereign equality of independent states, strengthened by the law of mutual respect and brotherhood. No calculation that stands against this understanding is stronger than the centuries-old historical ties of the Turkish nation. We must rely on common sense, determination and the law of brotherhood against any attempt to weaken the unity of the Turkish world, sow distrust between sister states and cast a shadow over our future.
I would like to emphasize this: The damage to the bonds of brotherhood between us and our sister states that make up the Turkish world cannot be seen as an issue that only concerns the relations between the two states. These ties are an integral part of our history, our mutual trust and our ideals for the future. The brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Türkiye is too deep-rooted to be confined to the limits of daily developments; It is deep enough to have a historical nature beyond political and diplomatic issues. Our brotherhood has been strengthened by the will of two nations, reinforced by common struggles and kept alive for generations. The same sensitivity applies to all sister states of the Turkish world. No opportunity should be given to escalate any conflict, no conflict to turn into a permanent separation, no seed of discord to be sown between us.
The law of brotherhood is protected by mutual respect and faith in the common future. For this reason, the duty of every member of the Turkish world is to elevate our historical closeness above daily discussions, not to turn our differences into a reason for separation, and to stay away from steps that will weaken our future.
It should not be forgotten that the strength of the Turkish world lies in the trust we have in each other, the respect we show for our independence, our cultural depth and the will we display around our common goals. The 2040 Vision of the Organization of Turkish States also reveals the future framework of this historical responsibility.
In line with the goals of this vision, it is our common responsibility to improve our political coordination, strengthen our economic ties, make our transportation and energy lines more effective, and achieve permanent gains in areas ranging from education to culture. To bring together Turkey's knowledge, opportunities and experience with the rise of the Turkish world; It means thinking about the goal of the Turkish and Turkish Century together with the common future of a wide geography of hearts.
Our goal is a strong Turkish world that draws strength from its historical roots, utilizes the opportunities of the age, protects its independence and has a say in the international arena. The process of unity and integration of the Turkish world has gone beyond a process of rapprochement that finds a response in hearts and feelings; It has become flesh and blood with corporate structures, gained strength with common will and has gained a permanent basis moving towards the future with firm steps.
The future of the Turkish world is our common responsibility. It is our duty to protect our brotherhood, to respect the sovereignty of our independent states and to continue our historical march to future generations. With this understanding, I hope that the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Turkish States to be held in Ankara will be beneficial for our country, our sister states and the entire Turkish world. I hope that the summit will further strengthen our bonds of brotherhood, open new horizons for our common goals, and make permanent contributions to the bright future of the Turkish world.
With these feelings and thoughts, I send my most sincere greetings and affection to all our brothers and sisters all over our geography of heart and culture. May God Almighty preserve the unity of the Turkish world and our brotherhood. May He make our states strong, our nation peaceful, our brotherhood unshakable, and the future of the Turkish world bright. How happy is the one who says he is a Turk!
