Culture and Diplomacy

FOREWORD

Yunus Emre Institute has been engaging the cultural, language and science diplomacy by opening Turkish Cultural Centers in major cities around the world. The prestigious culture Turkey has acquired through centuries certainly serves as a guide for the activities of Yunus Emre Institute. Yunus Emre Institute is trying to create a positive image of Turkey abroad using the tools of science and cultural diplomacy at 54 cultural centers in the United States, Germany, Austria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Georgia, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Iran, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, Lebanon, Hungary, Egypt, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Jordan and Ukraine.

Yunus Emre Institute assumes a great responsibility in enhancing Turkey's recognition, credibility and prestige in the international arena and conducts activities to increase the number of people who forge bonds with, and are friendly to, Turkey all around the world. It is our one of primary tasks to cooperate with distinguished people of science, art, culture and education in the respective countries and tell them about possibilities and opportunities in modern Turkey. We know that scientific and cultural activities are essential in maintaining intercommunal coexistence, keeping channels of dialogue among societies, and creating joint and interactive working groups of intellectuals.

It is a great diplomacy movement to transfer Turkey's scientific and cultural opportunities to eminent people of science and culture. We are aware that this is important not only for Turkey, but also for the countries with which we interact.

Today, Turkey has a total of 228 representation offices abroad including 134 embassies, 81 consulates general, 12 permanent representations and one trading office. Of course, the developments since Yusuf Agah Efendi, Turkey's first ambassador to London, are very important. The proactive policy pursued by our country is implemented thanks to our precious ambassadors. This book contains the memories and impressions of our ambassadors working at the countries where Yunus Emre Institute branches are opened.

The memoirs of the ambassadors working at the countries where Yunus Emre Institute branches are opened offer a good opportunity for finding out what has happened during the establishment phase, which challenges have been overcome, and what activities have been performed and what the current state is.

I would like to express my thanks to all our ambassadors who have lent extensive support to us since the establishment of Yunus Emre Institute as well as to our Undersecretary Ümit Yardım, Adnan Keçeci, Ahmet Yıldız, İnan Özyıldız, Kaan Esener, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Oğuz Demiralp, Ömür Şölendil, Songül Ozan, Süphan Erkula and the personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for their assistance in the writing of this book.

Prof. Dr. Şeref ATEŞ

President

Thinking Beyond Borders in Cultural Diplomacy

Yunus Emre Institute Cultural Diplomacy Academy Publications

Editors: Prof. Dr. Şeref ATEŞ, Melih BARUT

General Coordinator: Şenol Selçuk TURAN

Proofreading: Fatmanur Samastı, Hümeyra Görmez Temren, Halil İbrahim Elsıkma

ISBN: 978-605-2097-06-9