The Role and Importance of TÜRKSOY in the Turkic World
The Role and Importance of TÜRKSOY in the Turkic World
Összefoglaló: A TÜRKSOY a törökségi népek nemzetközi kulturális központjaként arra tesz kísérletet 1993 óta, hogy a török világ kulturális összetartozás-tudatát erősítse. A szervezet nemcsak a tagországok, vagy megfigyelő státuszban lévő közösségek számára kíván közös platformot képezni, de arra is törekszik, hogy a török kulturális hagyatékot minél érthetőbb és fogyaszthatóbb formában mutassa be a világ számára.
The International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY), the first intergovernmental cooperation body in the Turkic World, was established in 1993, after an agreement signed by the culture ministers of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Türkiye. Since its founding, TÜRKSOY has worked to preserve the shared cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples, promote their common cultural values, and present them to the world. The headquarter of TÜRKSOY in Ankara is responsible for the management of the whole structure. Taking into consideration that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) was founded in 1992, TÜRKSOY can be seen as a next step in strengthening the social, economic and cultural cooperation between the Turkic countries.
However TIKA was basically a Turkish initiative, and showed very well that after the collapse of the USSR (1991), Ankara realised the new possible cooperation fields that can support the increase the importance of Türkiye in the post Cold War decades. Not to mention, that from Turkish point of view, the cooperation with the Turkic states that managed to restore their independency offered political, economic achievments as well. Turgut Özal, the Turkish Prime Minister of that time knew very well that however the USSR collapsed, the Russians are going to regain their powers in Central Asia, so therefore it is Turkish and Western goal to influence the Turkic states and societies as soon as possible.
His wife, Semra Özel stated in an interview in 2001 the followings:
“We had just returned from the Turkic Republics. He had everything prepared there. That was his ideal. He always said so. Russia was in a bad shape at the time. He (Turgut Özal) told me, ‘Russia will reorganize itself soon and reclaim these territories one by one. They have all the resources to do so. But if we gather these resources and establish a great Turkic state before Russia recovers, it will be very beneficial. It will also benefit the world. We will stand up to America as a great Turkic state.” (please see https://medyagunlugu.com/ozalin-orta-asya-politikasi/)
TÜRKSOY was created in such a political climate. The decision according to which the headquarter is in Ankara, and the official langauge of the organization is the Turkish spoken in Türkiye also reflects the aim of the Turkish foreign policy of that time and again, the attitude of Özal, according to who the the Turkic states needed a kind of brother – Türkiye – in order to be able to follow a succesful path in creating independent, democratic countries.
Also worth to mention that not just independent countries, but, that the so called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as the Republics of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Altai, Sakha, Tuva, and Khakassia within the Russian Federation, and Gagauzia in Moldova, have joined TÜRKSOY as observer members.
Maybe Özal’s expectations were beyond the realism, but it is still true, that for 33 years, TÜRKSOY has served as a strong bridge bringing peoples together through events it has organized in various fields of art, literature, music, theater, and intangible cultural heritage. Therefore it became a vital organization and tool for the Turkic soft power all over the world. With the clear mission of strengthening the ties of unity and cooperation among the Turkic peoples, transmit their common cultural legacy to future generations, and raise awareness of their traditions globally TÜRKSOY became a brand.
From Hungarian point of view – although Hungary is not a member, or an observer state in the organization – we have to underline the work called Macar Türkologlar Küçük Biyografik Ansiklopedi published in 2022 by TÜRKSOY (and supported by the Embassy of Hungary in Ankara), which can be described as a collection of Hungarian turkologists and Ottoman historians of those who contributed to the international scientific community through their works.
Author: Péter Kövecsi-Oláh, advisor - LCTS, LUPS
Image source: https://www.benguturk.com/d/news/141743.jpg