Hosted by Marmara University and in cooperation with the International Turkic Academy, the program titled "The Vision of the 1926 Baku Turkology Congress and the International Turkic Academy" was organized by the Marmara University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences on June 2, 2026, at the Göztepe Campus, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Conference Hall. The program was attended by Marmara University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Okur, President of the International Turkic Academy Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Sebahat Deniz, as well as academicians, students, and guests.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Okur: “The Vision of Ideas Has Lasted for Thousands of Years”
Delivering the opening speech of the panel, Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Okur drew attention to the shifts in global power dynamics and the historical responsibilities facing the Turkic world. Stating that the concept of vision holds importance across different scales—from individuals to states—Okur expressed that while people's life and career plans are limited to a certain time, states operate with longer-term perspectives, and ideas and intellectual heritage endure across generations. Emphasizing that the Baku Turkology Congress was not merely a historical meeting, Okur stated that the ideas put forward at the congress remain important today and contribute to a shared vision for the future of the Turkic world.
Pointing to the ongoing transformation in the international system and the shift in global power balances, Okur remarked, "At the point the world has reached today, we see that the borders of the world change every 100 years. We have coincided with a period where borders are being redrawn." Stating that political and geopolitical balances are being reshaped in the current era, Okur emphasized that the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic world possesses the potential to shape the future. Okur noted that the activities carried out under the program would contribute to Marmara University's future goals and thanked those who contributed to the organization.
Emphasis on a Common Alphabet and Academic Cooperation from Academy President Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev
In his speech, the President of the International Turkic Academy, Prof. Dr. Shahin Mustafayev, stated that the 1st Turkology Congress held in Baku in 1926 was a major turning point in the development of scientific and cultural cooperation in the Turkic world. Expressing that the vision of a common language, history, and culture put forward at the congress continues to exert its influence today, Mustafayev emphasized that the work carried out by the International Turkic Academy carries this heritage into the future. Noting that the adoption of the Common Turkic Alphabet is one of the important outcomes of this process, Mustafayev said, "This development is of great importance as it demonstrates that the vision put forward at the Baku Congress has come back to life today."
Following the opening speeches, the panel titled "The Vision of the 1926 Baku Turkology Congress and the International Turkic Academy" was held, moderated by Prof. Dr. Emine Gürsoy Naskali.
At the panel, Prof. Dr. Gülden Sağol Yüksekkaya presented “From Roots to Today: Transformations of Turkic Writing Systems, the 1926 Baku Congress and Ankara,” Prof. Dr. Gülşen Seyhan Alışık presented “Language and Alphabet Issues in a Century-Long Democratization Process: The Case of Azerbaijan,” and Dr. Aynur Mayemerova delivered a presentation titled “Vision of the 1926 Baku Turkology Congress and the International Turkic Academy.”
