Eurasia’s Big Family
Amid unproductive and endless presidential debates, NGOs are trying to make a difference. Within these NGOs there are individuals dedicated to the future, to making this world a better place, yet the seem to experience difficult in having their voice heard.
Take for example, the issue of Alewism. Just last week for the first time ever Alewism was discussed during the Abant Platform. But the issue would not have attracted attention if it weren't for one individual, yes just one single individual, who managed to stir a commotion during the meeting.
Issues like Turkey's peace and accord initiatives are not worthy of press attention, but debates, clashes and fighting most certainly are . In line with Abant Platform, I'd also like to write about Dialogue Eurasia Platform Board of Directors' meeting last week in Anatalya, considering that DAP is another organization with successful initiatives.
Dialogue Eurasia was founded 10 years ago. Since 2002, it is headed by a two-year term presidency. After Chairman of the Writers Foundation in Azerbaijan Professor Dr. Ilber Ortayli, today DAP is headed by Russian Sciences Academy Oriental Studies Institute Director Professor Dr. Rostislav Ribakov.
The National Committee President of member countries represented their country at the board of directors' meeting. NCP's from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldavia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, DAP country representatives, and Uzbek Sports and Culture Deputy minister Azamat Kaydarov. The meeting was hosted by Turkey's national committee president, Professor Dr. Naci Bostanci.
The main item on the platform's agenda was Dialogue Eurasia, a publication of DAP that was founded in a Eurasia Journalist and Writers Association Dialogue Meeting held in Istanbul on Sept. 15-17, 1998.
With its scientific meetings and dialogue works, Dialogue Eurasia Platform represents a new beginning.
During the opening ceremony of the platform, term President Ribakov said "I don't know who is the host or who is the guest here. We are one big family. We understand this more as times goes by. At first we were a small seed and now we are a giant tree. This geography is vast, and as Dialogue Eurasia Platform we are one big family. If China and India were to join us, it would be the second United Nations.
Apparently, this organization, which focuses on cultural issues, was founded at a very appropriate time. We try to meet different people and encourage people to meet each other. A new climate is being born. It is a climate much awaited by the world, a world that has changed. Our world should have left old hostilities behind in the new millennium. But, instead hostilities were intensified. We must rise as the shield against evil. We must do this without politics. We must listen to one another and understand. This is dialogue. Besides, we have an advantage. We know each other personally. Culture is very important to this organization. It opposes violence. At a time when UNESCO can not completely fulfill its duties, we need to be an organization that will communicate positive messages to the community and that will take a stance against immorality. There are people that exaggerate the fight against terror. Our fight needs to be against evil and deceit. We need to fight against the term "Islamic terrorism."
These words were spoken by the representative a country we had for centuries fought against. They were the words of a Russian academician. The president of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, the esteemed Fetullah Gülen had once said " Dialogue will remove barriers. Without removing the barriers nothing can be accomplished."
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