Kyrghyz Grants Gülen 'Contribution to Peace' Award
The Kyrgyzstan Spirituality Foundation gave its "intersociety Adaptation and Contribution to Peace" award to Fethullah Gülen for his contribution to international peace through his thoughts and activities in education.
At a ceremony organized in the capital Bishkek, the President of the Journalists and Writers Foundation Harun Tokak received the award on behalf of Gülen. Struggling to improve peace and dialogue since 1992 Akun Toktasartov, President of Kyrgyzstan Spirituality Foundation, said that they gave the award to Gülen because of his contributions to world peace. Describing Gülen as a man of science, service and great thought Toktasartov said, "The main principal of Gülen's thought is to follow a road parallel to world's civilization by protecting national values and to contribute to peace without causing damage to values of other nationalities."
Pointing out that the award ceremony was a very important step in Turkish and Kyrghyz history Toktosartov spoke of Gülen's mission. "Turkish people, following the lead of [Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk, have looked after us since we gained our independence. In this frame, Gülen has put forward important ideas and recommendations for our young to have a good education and for establishment of peace between Eastern and Western countries. Today, the schools opened with his recommendations are the most effective education institutions in this country."
Besides Kyrghyz writers and men of thought, there was interest in the night from Turkish people living in the country and a film showing Gülen's life and works were showed.
"We should study hard to fulfill Gülen's goals"
Meanwhile, the Kyrghyz Constitutional Court President Mrs. Colpon Bayekova defined Gülen as a person of science, peace and tolerance. Remarking on the international importance of Gülen's works Bayekova said: "We saw in Gülen an example that, if a person wants, he can achieve as much on his own as a government does. We can establish peace and dialogue if we want. We, as Kyrghyz, work hard to fulfill Gülen's goals." In his acceptance speech Tokak said that Gülen valued people as human beings regardless of their religion, race or language. Tokak added, "He believes an international peace can be achieved in the world and stresses that it can be achieved via education. The schools opened with his encouragement are the education institutions where projects of peace and love are produced." This award was given previously to leaders such as the 9th Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Kirghiz President Askar Akayev. (Zafer Ozcan, Atif Ala)
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