TİKA Established the Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage in Algiers

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established the Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage in Algiers, the capital of Algeria.

The Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage, which was established by TİKA at the University of Algiers II in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, in 2021 and which could not be put into service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been inaugurated.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mahinur Özdemir, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Algiers; Dr. Gökçen Kalkan, TİKA’s Coordinator in Algiers; Said Bumaiza, Rector of the University of Algiers II; Chakib Benafri, Director of the Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage; and many faculty members.

In her speech at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Özdemir stated that she believed significant studies would be conducted at this center to shed light on the common history of the people of Türkiye and Algeria. Özdemir thanked TİKA for implementing the project and added that the Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage would contribute greatly to the training of academics and researchers who will work on the Ottoman archives in Algeria and Türkiye.

Said Bumaiza, Rector of the University of Algiers II, noted that they would continue to cooperate with TİKA to implement similar projects.

Chakib Benafri, Director of the Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage, said that the studies on Algeria under Ottoman rule moved on to the next phase with the establishment of the center. Benafri stressed that educational activities, symposia, conferences, and scientific publishing activities on several fields, such as Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, and archival research techniques, will be carried out at the center. He stated that TİKA filled an important gap in the country with this project.

The University of Algiers II Celebrates the Day of Turkish Culture

Students of the Turkology Department at the University of Algiers II held an event to celebrate the Day of Turkish Culture. After the opening ceremony held for the Algerian Center for Studies on the Ottoman Heritage, Ambassador Özdemir attended the event held on the occasion of the Day of Turkish Culture as well. Erasmus students from Celal Bayar University also attended the event, in which Turkish dishes were promoted and a promotional video about Türkiye was shown. The event also included a Turkish folk music concert, which was followed by a traditional shadow play.