Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer stated that they wanted to activate the historical mission of Edirne, known as the capital of the Balkans, and organize programs befitting this mission.
Sezer examined the ongoing works of 25 painters from the Balkan countries who depicted Edirne within the scope of the 1st International Balkan Symposium to be held tomorrow at the Devecihan Cultural Center. He received information from the Symposium President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler.
In his statement to the press, Governor Sezer reminded that they established the Edirne Governorship Balkan Cities Cooperation Edirne Platform in order to increase the cooperation of the cities in the Balkans and to carry the friendships from the past into the future.
Sezer, who stated that the 1st International Balkan Symposium to be held tomorrow will also be the introduction of its platform, said, “Our Edirne is a city of symbolic importance for both our country and the Balkans. It was like this in the past and it is like this today. Therefore, in order to reflect our Edirne artistically, we hosted our painters from the Balkan countries here before tomorrow’s program and they reflected different points of our Edirne from different perspectives on their canvases. We will exhibit these works tomorrow.”
– İlber Ortaylı is also attending the symposium
Sezer stated that important names, including İlber Ortaylı, will attend the symposium, where the past and present of the Balkans will be discussed and how the platform will work will be explained.
Stating that nearly 30 papers will be presented at the symposium, Sezer said, “Our Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay will also be here tomorrow. Our aim here is to increase cooperation. Because the Balkan geography is a very porous geography. Many people are in a state of exchange. We aim to take this cooperation, brotherhood and friendship even further.”
Sezer stated that their activities in the Balkans will continue with iftar programs in 10 locations during Ramadan.
The platform will organize events throughout the year
Governor Sezer stated that they will organize many events throughout the year and noted the following:
“We will organize iftar programs in 10 locations in the Balkans during Ramadan. One of these will be in the garden of Selimiye. We will organize an iftar in Selimiye with approximately 5 thousand participants from all over the Balkans. We will hold the meeting of the chambers of industry and commerce and businessmen in Edirne. We hope to hold the meeting of the Balkan countries’ foreign ministers here in the coming days with the approval of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will host nearly 1,500 young people from the Balkans here as of this summer. They will get to know both our Edirne and the region. Since they will come from different countries and be guests here, we aim to transfer a permanent friendship and cooperation to the future in this way.”
Sezer, who stated that they will also cooperate with universities regarding disasters, said, “These programs will continue to diversify and increase. We are thinking of establishing an amateur league for Balkan cities. Our Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports continues its work on this. Our women’s football club recently went to the Balkan countries and a tournament will be held here on March 8th and this will continue in other branches. If Edirne is the capital of the Balkans and is seen as such, we aim to activate its historical mission and bring programs befitting its historical mission to Edirne.”
