BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. A forum titled "Turkman Heritage: Solidarity of Civil Societies" is being held at the Heydar Aliyev Center with the support of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
The forum is attended by more than 30 representatives of civil society from Iraq, Syria, and Türkiye.
The guests include Ershad Saleh, head of the Turkman group in the Iraqi parliament and a public figure; Najat Shukr, representative of the Iraqi Historians Association and editor-in-chief of the "Turkmaneli" newspaper; Turkes Saleh, head of the "Tert TV" channel for Iraqi Turkman; Tarık Sulo Cevizci, president of the Syrian Turkman Associations Federation; Asad Arber, founder of the Syrian Turkman Platform, and other figures.
During the forum, Turkman civil society representatives will hold discussions with local NGOs in panels titled "Common Values: Traces of History and Culture" and "Looking to the Future: New Opportunities and Initiatives."
Before the forum, on March 15-17, the Turkman guests visited Fuzuli city, named after the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli, who lived and worked in Iraq, as well as other liberated areas such as Shusha, Khankendi, Khojaly, and Sugovushan. They joined festive celebrations and also visited prominent places in Baku, including the Victory Park, the Military Trophy Park, and other landmarks.
The forum continued with an artistic segment.
Following the forum, together with Turkmen guests in Baku, the Ilakhir celebration of Nowruz was observed.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the State Agency for Non-Governmental Organization Support of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aygün Aliyeva, emphasized that the Turkmen people have successfully preserved their national identity, language, and culture:
“We must, without exaggeration, state that despite the harsh trials of history and the challenges of various eras, the Turkmen have managed to proudly maintain their national identity, language, and culture. They have made a significant contribution to the development of the countries in which they live and have actively participated in promoting well-being and peace.”
She further noted that, in particular, our shared values, strong national spirit, and solidarity among people who take an active civil position have brought these traditions into the present day.
"The goal of this conference is to once again emphasize the importance of the solidarity of civil societies. The shared values that belong to us—our literature, epic traditions, and oral folklore, which have developed over the centuries—represent our great wealth."
The epics of Oghuz Khan, Dede Gorgud, and the poetry of Fuzuli reflect the spiritual world of the Turkmen and lay the foundation for our unity today. "This literature is not only a reflection of our common past but also a beacon that lights our shared future," he stated.
Iraqi parliamentarian Arshad Rashad Salehi, for his part, noted that we share a common culture, language, and history.
"Although we live in different places, we have preserved all of these values. The Turkmen have suffered greatly. The Armenians also killed Turkmen in Kirkuk. Despite this, the Turkmen recovered. Moreover, the Turkmen endured numerous persecutions."
"I am bringing this matter to the attention of the political government regarding the Khojaly massacre in Iraq. Everyone must be aware of the actions of the Armenians, whose hands are stained with blood," he added.
Additionally, Fazil Mustafa, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, stated that the Turkmen in Iraq have faced severe oppression.
He emphasized that if the Turkmen stand strong today, it is a testament to their resilience.
"Remaining on their feet amid the ongoing processes there is an act of heroism. Now, we need to engage in discussions aimed at achieving our goals, rather than focusing on politics."
"Let us discuss together and define our roadmap," the deputy concluded.
Will be updated
