Abdullah Eren, President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), attended the opening ceremony of a project, namely, “Ottoman, Our Common Heritage,” which was implemented by Fettah Efendi Education and Thought Association with our Presidency’s support at the International Balkan University (IBU) Conference Hall in Macedonian capital of Skopje.

Speaking about the Balkans at the event, President Eren said, “We want our brothers both here and in Turkey to gain common historical consciousness. We also urge them to examine the past, deduct a common future from that and interpret the history in that way, as they will build the future together.” Eren stated that seminars, panels and workshops would be carried out within the scope of one-year project.

Sevba Abdula, President of Fettah Efendi Education and Thought Association, said that they organised the “Ottoman, Our Common Heritage” project so that a more accurate relationship could be established with the Ottoman past. Stating that the Ottoman era couldn’t be ignored by the Balkan people, Abdula added, “I think that they will fail to establish their history and identity by ignoring the Ottoman era.”

Besides President Eren, the representatives from Turkish institutions and organizations, academics and students attended the event as well.