Rumelia citizens living in Ankara gathered with the cooperation of the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities and the Rumelia Culture and Solidarity Association at Ankara. Folk dances were performed with the accompany of Rumelia folk songs under the program.

“Ankara Rumelia Meeting” was held with the cooperation of the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities and the Rumelia Culture and Solidarity Association at Ankara. The program was attended by Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism; YTB President Abdullah Eren, as well as many guests.

Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism stated in his speech that people from all of the countries in a region which witnessed many significant events throughout the history of the world could come together in Turkey and that he was happy to have such an opportunity.

Noting that the Balkans was where the state was recovered and reinstated during the “Ottoman Interregnum” when the Ottoman Empire fought for its life, Ersoy said “The Balkan Wars which shaped the future of this land is one of the greatest tragedies witnessed by our nation. People from the Balkans intellectually and bodily contributed to a tremendous extent to the foundation of the Republic of Turkey just as in the Ottoman Empire. As our Rumelia citizens is the continuation of a generation that knew conflicts between communities could lead to events of great pain, I reckon that they are the most enthusiastic supporters of Turkey’s policies toward peace in the Balkans.” Minister Ersoy also emphasized that Turkey amicably maintains its mutual relationship with all the Balkan countries in line with the principles of independency, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that the multi-platform cooperation with those countries is markedly cared for.   

“CRISIS TO EMERGE IN THE BALKANS WOULD IMPACT THE WHOLE WORLD”

Underlining that it is one of their main goals to ensure that the faith of the Balkans is at the own hands  of the Balkan countries, Ersoy continued “Believing that the sole guarantee for the peace and stability in the region is again the countries of the region, Turkey  provides all the support to the region that it can for being aware of that any crisis to emerge in the Balkans could affect itself and the entire world. The positive atmosphere created by the operation of the mechanisms established and supported by our country has enabled many attempts and activities to contribute to the improvement of the relationships among the Balkan countries by now.”

Minister Ersoy pointed out that public diplomacy-based actions including Türkiye scholarships and civil community project carried out by the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities and other relevant organizations have recently brought the communities closer.

Stating that the Balkan countries where Turks live are among the countries considered important for the Turkish foreign policy during 2000’s, Ersoy said that the presence of Turks in those countries is considered a significant opportunity to ensure maintaining an amicable relationship between the relevant countries and Turkey.

"WE DEFINE THE CONCEPT OF DIASPORA IN A DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK"

Ersoy emphasized that it was not a coincidence that the best relationships in the Balkans are those with the countries where Turks live, and continued:

“The Republic of Turkey has had a certain vision on its sisters and brothers living outside its political borders at all times since its foundation. This is even evident in the Government Programs in 1920’s. Today, our country defines the concept of “diaspora” in a different and broader frame than many other countries. In line with the vision of the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities, we include in this concept not only our citizens living abroad but also, for example, the Balkan countries and our kindreds living there, and one main reason we do that is the still-existing bonds between that land and us. As stated by Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who himself was a Rumelian, ‘Immigrants are the sacred mementos from our lost land.’”

"RUMELIA PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THEIR LAND AND STATE"

Abdullah Eren, President of Turks Abroad and Related Communities stated that they have been operating in 3 fields since 2010 and that the institution offers scholarships to students from 169 countries around the world.

Eren noted that he was from Western Thrace himself and had Rumelia and Balkan roots. Expressing that the story of Rumelia people is a story of success, migration and pain, Eren said:

“There is a rather large population that has been migrating to Turkey for various reasons since the 19^th century. Turkey is a receiving country. There is migration from the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Balkans to Turkey. Rumelia people has a distinguished story. They know what it is like to love one’s nation. They know well what homeland is, what state is, and what statelessness would cost.”

Underlining that the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities maintains its activities related to the Balkans, Eren stated they have realized more than 250 projects by now in cooperation with the non-governmental organization in the Balkans.

“In Turkey, we currently have 11 thousand students from the Balkans.  Part of them is scholars of our state, our organization. This year nearly 3 thousand Balkan students applied for the new period of Türkiye scholarships while 20 thousand young people from Balkans returned to their own country after receiving education in our homeland Turkey,” said Eren.

Pointing out that Turkey has carried out a very important mission by means of its human-oriented foreign policy in the Balkans, Eren stated:

"The Balkan and Rumelia regions were established on a very delicate balance. Turkish people have significantly contributed in the development and stability of the Balkans. This meeting is very important in terms of our unity and solidarity. Rumelia people have always loved and been loyal to their homeland as well as their state. They have always strictly refused anything that is against the interests of their homeland, people, and Turkey. And I am sure that this will be the case hereafter as well. Rumelia people will keep on taking their homeland's side. They will help Turkey's growth and stability.''

A folk-dance show took place after the speeches.