Scholars Gather in Bosnia for Turkology Workshop Backed by Karatay

The “2nd Turkology Workshop in the Balkans,” organized in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the collaboration of Karatay Municipality and the Sarajevo Yunus Emre Institute, has concluded.

Supported by Ketebe Publishing, the event brought together prominent scholars in the field of Turkology. The workshop offered a comprehensive discussion on the place of the Turkish language and culture in the Balkans.

The workshop, which welcomed numerous scholars and students from North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, featured sessions on Turkish language, literature, folklore, and contemporary teaching policies of Turkish.

In his opening speech, Mehmet Akif Yaman, the Coordinator of the Yunus Emre Institute in Sarajevo, said, “As the Yunus Emre Institute, we are working to promote the Turkish language and culture. Events like this provide an opportunity for young researchers to exchange ideas and build lasting friendships. Our collaboration with Karatay Municipality is not limited to this workshop. Over the years, they have provided us with valuable support in realizing many cultural events. On this occasion, I would like to thank Mayor Hasan Kılca and all the municipal staff.”

Karatay Deputy Mayor Adil Tosun also emphasized the importance of such events in promoting the Turkish language and culture on an international level.

Tosun stated, “This workshop will not only contribute to the field of Turkology but also serve as an opportunity for the rebirth of a tree of brotherhood, whose roots lie deep in history and whose branches flourish in our hearts. The voice of Turkish has echoed for centuries through the streets, squares, and poems of the Balkans. That voice has continued to live on—sometimes in a lullaby, sometimes in an epic, and sometimes in a prayer. Today, we once again hear that voice here and carry this deep-rooted heritage into the future.”

Highlighting the significance of brotherhood and cultural ties, Tosun continued, “For years, we have looked at the same sky, shared the same bread at the same table, and met in the same prayers. Time has passed, borders have changed, but our bond of hearts has never been broken. Our brotherhood was not drawn on maps, but in hearts. Turkology is the strongest key to understanding the memory, spirit, and roots of our nation.”

At the end of the program, participation certificates were presented to the students who took part in the Yunus Emre Institute’s 2025 Turkish Summer School Program.