“Turkology Studies in Hungary, Hungarology Studies in Türkiye” Symposium Was Successfully Completed

The inaugural event of the series which will be implemented by TİKA in 2024, designated as the “Turkish-Hungarian Culture Year” due to the 100^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Hungary, was held in Budapest.

TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik; the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest, Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu; the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of ELTE, Prof. Dr. Dávid Bartus and many other guests attended the “Turkology Studies in Hungary, Hungarology Studies in Türkiye” symposium held at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE).

The symposium started with the opening ceremony of the “TİKA’s Contributions to Turkish-Hungarian Common Culture” photograph exhibition. In this exhibition, inaugurated by TİKA’s Vice President Dr. Mahmut Çevik, pictures of various projects contributing to cultural relations between the two countries, such as the restoration of the Tomb of Gül Baba, the renovation and landscaping of the Szigetvár Hungarian-Turkish Friendship Park, the renovation and equippingt of Turkology departments at the Universities of ELTE and Szeged, excavation works at the Tomb of Suleyman the Magnificent, were exhibited.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the symposium, Çevik stated that TİKA, which has been carrying out relief works and cooperation programs worldwide, today has been operating in more than 170 countries through its 63 Program Coordination Offices situated in 61 countries. He also expressed that since its establishment in 2014, TİKA’s Budapest Program Coordination Office has carried out a total of 115 projects and activities. Çevik declared that he is greatly pleased to bring together esteemed linguists and folklorists who conduct prominent studies on language, history and our shared cultural values both in Türkiye and Hungary.

The Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest, Ekşioğlu stated that he believes the topics discussed in today’s sessions will also reflect our cultural bonds dating back hundreds of years.

The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of ELTE, which hosted the symposium, Bartus emphasized that the Turkish and Hungarian people, who share a deep-rooted common history, are two friendly nations, and extended thanks to everyone who contributed to the symposium.

The symposium, which facilitated to the mutual promotion of Turkish and Hungarian cultures and further enhancement of cultural relations between the two countries, ended with the presentation of plaques to scholars participating from Türkiye and Hungary.