Despite the difficulties, these trips have advantages. The traveler discovers there are Turkish people in other countries other than Turkey and can look at events from Turkey abroad.
I am writing from Russia. We are here to attend the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) meeting. In our spare time, we visit beautiful places in Moscow. We have come across many Turks. Some are here to work, some to study. Almost all companies have their won success stories. Some people are also like bridges between the two countries acting from their cultural diversity like the Dialogue Eurasia (abbreviated as DA in Turkish). “Da” means yes in Russian. These Turks are also participating in the WAN meeting. They have established such refined and nice dialogues with the Russian media that one cannot help appreciating. Goodwill and honesty lie at the core of every relationship.
Turkey’s richness abroad is not limited to Russia. I still remember what Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary, told the Zaman representative in this country. Aliyev talked about Turkish colleges abroad with appreciation. I found out in the Azerbaijani capital that the achievements of Turkish colleges do not depend only on the efforts of the students. Another important factor is that there are many Turkish traders and companies in this brotherly country and contribute enormously to the country’s economy. Thanks to these efforts, the expression “brotherhood among peoples” now bears meaning in sincere relations.
Turkish people of every age I met in Vienna also had their own poignant stories. The stories of youths who had come to study in Vienna because of the headscarf ban in Turkey -- these are heartbreaking stories, yet promising. There is now a young generation in the heart of Europe which understands the world better and goes beyond international relations… I also met Turkish businessmen in Vienna who speak foreign languages and understand their business… It was the same in Belgium, Germany and France. Some are involved in business, some politics. The number of Turkish MPs and prospective MPs in Europe is increasing rapidly. Our office in the Netherlands was inaugurated by Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkanende. I also saw there that Turks are really respected politically.
I grew up with songs like “I am not in exile, but exile lives with me”; we have had to redefine the concepts of exile and motherland in the last 20 years. Those who regarded living in a neighboring village as exile have now learned to settle in a country thousands of kilometers away; to go on living without losing their identities and remaining at peace with the country they are living in. They are both speaking that country’s language and making Turkish a world language. Today, there are foreign friends worldwide who speak Turkish, know Turkish meals and love Turkish music. Turkey is now more well-known and more people feel sympathy for Turkey.
There are also ill-natured souls among Turks. Some speak ill of each other. Maybe, because of this reason Turks living abroad turn a deaf ear to the complaining minorities, and succeed in their endeavors. They set good examples for domestic Turkey lovers. For the youths of a country fed up with foreign lobbies, expatriate Turks, inspired by inborn and humane motives, are accomplishing great tasks although there aren’t any organizations and state bodies to direct them. This contributes enormously to the country they are living in, to Turkey and to global peace. Those who cannot foresee where they are heading cannot understand this silhouette forming on the horizon… It is clear that good days await Turkey, because Turkish people deserve more than their present situation. If it is not afraid of its shadow, and excels itself, this country will have much to tell its region and the world.
June 8, 2006
