Turhan Dilmaç: ''Brotherly relations between the Turks and Tatars have rich history and solid foundation''
Consul General of Turkey in Kazan tells about the current and historical ties between the Tatars and Turks
President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov has recently visited Turkey. The visit schedule was very busy. Consul General of Turkey in Kazan Turhan Dilmaç in today's newspaper column written for Realnoe Vremya tells about the Tatar-Turkish relations. The columnist also recalls the prominent Tatar figures who stood at the origins of his native country.
The results of Minnikhanov's visit to Turkey
You probably often read the news about the economic cooperation between Turkey and Tatarstan: Tatarstan has 10 factories with Turkish capital; the total investment amount is $2 billion; the projects in the field of construction implemented by the Turkish contracting organizations; joint projects and so on. Similar news were published in the press of Kazan last week. It happened on the background of the visit of President Minnikhanov, accompanied by a large delegation, to one of the important cities of Turkey — İzmir.
Russia took part in the 86th İzmir International Fair as a partner country. The active participation of Tatarstan as one of Russian regions with the most developed relations with Turkey at this event is quite natural.
Besides, during the opening ceremony of the fair, Mr. Minnikhanov announced that in October Tatarstan hosts the meeting of the Turkish-Russian intergovernmental commission on trade-economic cooperation. This fact confirms the significant position of Tatarstan in the multifaceted cooperation with our neighbour — Russia.
Art exhibition and concert
Undoubtedly, the engine of our current relations is economic cooperation. However, the brotherly relations between the Turks and Tatars have rich history and solid foundation.
On order to expand the knowledge on the subject, one can visit the exhibition ''Everything is transitory, and it will remain forever...'', dedicated to the history of interrelations of the Golden Horde, Russia and the Ottoman state. The exhibition is open in the Museum of statehood history of Tatarstan in the Kazan Kremlin until November.
Consulate General tries to maintain cultural ties in an active state by holing various events. For example, in the Museum of Islamic culture of the Kazan Kremlin, an exhibition of traditional Turkish art of Ebru or water marbling has been opened. Besides, this week, on 25 and 26 August, it will be held the festival of military brass bands The Fanfare of Kazan, where there will come the military orchestra Mehter of the Ministry of culture and tourism of Turkey and will give concerts in Kazan Kremlin and Bauman Street. Even people who are not interested in history now know the orchestra Mehter and the Janissaries thanks to the TV series The Magnificent Century. Welcome to these events.
Personalities that unite us
Another symbol of brotherhood between the Turks and Tatars — common for our peoples great personalities. During my term we have made every effort to ensure that these distinguished intellectuals were remembered and known at the appropriate level both in Turkey and in Tatarstan.
The monument to Sadri Maksudi, which was opened by the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr Minnikhanov and Mr Shaimiev in the park Istanbul in the bitter cold December day last year, was devoted to the above mentioned intellectuals.
There are many of those among these intellectuals. It is a deputy, advisor to Atatürk for cultural and political issues, one of the ideologists of Turkism Yusuf Akçura. Another advisor to Atatürk, one of the founders of the Turkish academic law school Sadri Maksudi Arsal. It is a great scholar, who studied the work of Yusuf Khass Hajib Kutadgu Bilig, Rashid Rahmati Arat. A political activist and writer Gayaz Ishaki. The most important specialist in the history of Russia in Turkey Akdes Nimet Kurat. A traveler and writer Abdurresid Ibrahim.
One of the first individuals, whose activity is connected with my profession — diplomacy, also is common to the Turks and Tatars. The first woman diplomat of Turkey Adile Ayda has Tatar roots.
We are eternally grateful to those people who played an important role in creating the Turkish Republic and contributed to the development of politics, science, history, culture and art of Turkey. I think that the Tatars should also know better and be proud of these outstanding figures of their people.