An international panel titled “The Language of the Turkic World: The Voice of a Millennia-Old Heritage” was held in Ankara to mark World Turkic Languages Day, celebrated annually on 15 December as designated by UNESCO. The event was organized by TURKSOY, Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the July 15 Democracy Museum, bringing together government officials, scholars, and cultural figures.
Key topics discussed at the panel:
-
Status of Turkic languages: TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev emphasized the global recognition of Turkic languages and their significance in preserving national identity.
-
Scientific importance: Professor M.K. Arıjan highlighted that the date is linked to the 1893 decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions by Danish scholar Vilhelm Thomsen.
-
Cooperation: Participants discussed the need to strengthen linguistic, cultural, and strategic ties among Turkic states and communities.
Experts from Gagauzia, Crimea, Iraq delivered presentations on the current condition of Turkic languages. The event concluded with a performance by Ankara’s Turkic World music and dance ensemble.
