Turkic World Urbanism Summit began at OMU

The Turkic World Urbanism Summit began as an international gathering that will shape the architectural and urbanism vision of the Turkic world, hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU).

The summit, which brought together statesmen, academics, and local administrators in Samsun, aims to develop sustainable urbanization policies among Turkic world countries and to strengthen opportunities for academic cooperation.

The summit, attended as guest of honor by Binali Yıldırım, the 27th Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, the Speaker of the 28th Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, and the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, is being carried out with the support of Prof. Dr. İlyas Topsakal, Deputy Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Samsun Member of Parliament. In the program, which is hosted by OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın and will last for two days, rectors from the Turkic world will present the future vision of universities.

The program held at OMU Atatürk Congress and Culture Center was attended by Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı, Samsun Members of Parliament Çiğdem Karaaslan, Av. Ersan Aksu, Av. Orhan Kırcalı, Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz, Samsun Garrison Commander Major General Davut Ala, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Av. Halit Doğan, Samsun Chief Public Prosecutor Mehmet Sabri Kılıç, Samsun Justice Commission President Nahit Köseoğlu, Samsun University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Aydın, OMU senior management, district governors, mayors, representatives of public institutions, political party representatives, academics, and many students.

Rector Aydın: “Turks, who have had an urban culture since the Orkhon Inscriptions, have built important centers of civilization throughout history”

Speaking first at the opening of the program, Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın drew attention to the deep-rooted urban tradition of the Turks and stated that this accumulation has guided today’s understanding of cities. Aydın said, “Turks, whom we know to have had an urban culture since the Orkhon inscriptions, are a nation that has succeeded in building important centers of civilization throughout the course of history. The cities of Turkestan, shaped as the places where Turkic civilization was formed, also inspired the settlement culture that came to life in Anatolia. In the historical Turkish understanding of cities, the fact that the most magnificent structures of cities were madrasas is the clearest reflection of the value given to knowledge in the spirit of that period.”

“Universities are strategic centers that shape urban identity and the future of cities beyond producing knowledge”

Referring to the role undertaken by universities today, Aydın said, “In our age where the madrasa tradition has transformed into the university, universities have become strategic centers that guide urban identity and give direction to the future of cities, beyond being institutions that produce knowledge. With the changing world, the diversification of individual and social needs makes it inevitable to introduce new academic approaches in the context of the urban phenomenon. In this process, the solution proposals produced by universities for the problems of cities can create models for the development of different cities”

“The summit will develop a common vision in architecture and urbanism among Turkic world countries”

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation among the Turkic world, Aydın said, “The experience accumulated over time in the fields of urbanism and architecture in different geographies of the Turkic world will be a source of inspiration for the future vision of our civilization. In this context, sharing the scientific knowledge possessed by our universities with brotherly countries will carry our sense of unity to further points. The Turkic World Urbanism Summit, organized under the hosting of OMU, has been realized in order to develop a common vision in the fields of architecture and urbanism among Turkic world countries, to address sustainable urbanization policies, and to expand opportunities for academic cooperation. The sessions to be held within the program have been designed in a way that will not only produce ideas but also produce outputs oriented toward implementation. In this direction, the ‘Turkic World Universities Samsun Declaration’, which will be signed by the participating rectors at the end of the summit, will be recorded in history as a concrete indicator of our common intention and determination.”

“The historical and cultural brotherhood of the Turkic world is our greatest source of inspiration in building the Turkish century”

Referring also to the transformation process in the world, Aydın said, “In the world whose transformation we are witnessing, it is seen that the balances established in the past are losing their former meanings one by one. In our age, where international relations are often shaped on the axis of interests, countries that can achieve unity will be able to walk into the future with stronger steps. The brotherhood law of the Turkic world, woven with historical and cultural ties, is our greatest source of inspiration on the path of building the Turkish century. The will of cooperation among Turkic States gives us hope and excitement; the determination demonstrated under the leadership of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan further strengthens this resolve,” she said. At the end of her speech, Aydın concluded her words by saying, “With my belief that our common commitment to cooperation in the Turkic world will be further strengthened on the occasion of this event, I would like to especially express my satisfaction in hosting Mr. Binali Yıldırım, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, at our university. On this occasion, I thank all protocol members, rectors, and academics who supported the summit, and I wish that our summit will lead to beneficial outcomes for the Turkic world.”

MP Yılmaz: “Citizens now express their opinions more effectively in processes related to the city”

Samsun Member of Parliament Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz also stated in his speech that cities and time are reshaped according to changing needs. He expressed that in the past industrial and financial centers were at the forefront, whereas today environment, green areas, and living spaces for children have gained more importance.

“Civilizational visions have built their own cities”

Emphasizing that the age of communication and information enables greater participation in urban planning, Yılmaz said that citizens now express their opinions more effectively in processes related to the city. Stating that this is a positive development, Yılmaz said, “A more participatory understanding of urbanism is emerging. The common concern of humanity has been settlement. Because after nutrition, the first need of human beings is shelter. Civilizational visions have built their own cities. There are reflections of civilizational imagination in the city.” 

Yılmaz also thanked Binali Yıldırım, who was serving as the Minister of Transport at the time, and stated that Yıldırım made significant contributions to some urbanism and infrastructure projects carried out in Samsun. Yılmaz concluded his speech by also thanking Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, who organized the event.

Governor Tavlı: “Our Turkic world has a unique urbanism experience with a deep-rooted history of thousands of years”

Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı, in his speech at the Turkic World Urbanism Summit, stated that Samsun is a meeting point of the Turkic world and said, “On the occasion of the Turkic World Urbanism Summit held under the hosting of OMU, we all experience together the honor, pride, and happiness of holding this program in our Samsun, the city of 19 May and Independence, the meeting point of the Turkic world. Our Turkic world has a unique urbanism experience with a deep-rooted history of thousands of years. Our ancestors approached every place they brought justice to first from the perspective of urban architecture, developed it, and made it prosperous. In this respect, our movement from east to west can be considered not only as a conquest but also as a movement of construction and development.”

“Combining the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic world with sustainable urbanization is the foundation of a shared future”

Drawing attention to the fact that cities are not only physical structures but also elements of civilization, Tavlı said, “While cities give identity to people, people also give culture and identity to cities. I would like to especially state that urbanism is not only building structures; it is putting forward a vision of civilization and constructing cities with a spirit. Combining the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic world with today’s understanding of sustainable urbanization is one of the most important building blocks of our shared future.”

Prof. Dr. İlyas Topsakal: “A Muslim does not live alone, but lives by sharing life”

After the protocol speeches, the Opening Session began. Speaking first in the session, Prof. Dr. İlyas Topsakal emphasized the Turkish urban tradition and said, “Our ancestors planned cities with mosques, madrasas, soup kitchens, and hospitals at the center. A Muslim does not live alone, but lives by sharing life.”

Binali Yıldırım: “If we remove Turkish history, it is not possible to write world history”

Stating that academics from friendly and brotherly countries of the Turkic world participating in the summit will exchange information on Turkish urbanization, Binali Yıldırım said, “When we say Turkic world, we are talking about a geography extending from the Adriatic, that is from the Balkans, to Lake Baikal, an 8,000-kilometer geography. This geography actually forms the backbone of human history. If we remove the geography of Turks and Turkish history, it is not possible to write world history. Turks established cities along trade routes such as the Silk Road, the Spice Road, and the Royal Road for years. They did not only establish cities. Along with cities, they also established civilizations. A city alone does not mean anything. A city also expresses the distinguished people raised by that city.”

“Turkish cities have been centers of science and civilization”

Stating that while Turkish scientists such as Ulugh Beg and Ali Kuşçu were studying the sky, primitive tribes were living in Europe, Yıldırım said, “Each of the cities of the Turkic world has specialized in a particular field. Samarkand became the center of scientific and commercial civilization, and from there the traces of this civilization spread in waves to the Caucasus, Anatolia, and even the Balkans in later periods. Bukhara is an important Turkish city that initiated and developed religion, education, and foundation culture. Baghdad was once the center of science and thought. Istanbul is an important city that is the capital of empire and multiculturalism. It has the feature of transforming cultural conflict into cultural integration by connecting Europe and Asia. In short, when we say city, what comes to mind is the readable form of civilization like a book. Cities are not only made of stone, soil, and concrete. If there is a spirit, then it becomes a city. Unfortunately, today, the human dimension is not sufficiently considered in urbanism.”

“Human needs must be placed at the center in city planning”

Stating that cities are growing and developing today but people are becoming lonely in these cities, Yıldırım said, “In city planning, the human element and human needs must be placed at the center. We need to consider the balance of green areas. Unfortunately today, in European cities and large metropolises, it is not possible to connect with the stars. What is essential is for people to connect with the stars, to carry their dreams into the future, and to contemplate. Unfortunately, some countries have lost such cities. In this sense, our situation is not that severe. Since our urbanism past is very deep-rooted, thank God, we do not neglect our people while developing our cities.”

“Türkiye is responsible for its surrounding geography both historically and in terms of its future vision”

Stating that when looking around Türkiye there are wars everywhere, Yıldırım said, “To our north there is Ukraine and Russia. Recently there was war in the Caucasus. In the south, what is happening in Iran, what is happening in Gaza and Palestine, and the instability in North Africa, when we consider all of these, Türkiye’s position and role are becoming increasingly important, and the stability and future of this region are the same as Türkiye’s future. Türkiye standing strong means that the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Turkestan region, and the Middle East will also stand strong. Therefore, in the process of a terror-free Türkiye, very important duties fall upon Türkiye in the 21st century. A terror-free Türkiye is a great opportunity. Unfortunately, we lost 40 thousand of our people in 40 years, and in addition, 2 trillion dollars of our resources were lost. The cities we built with great effort were destroyed. It is easy to destroy, but difficult to build.”

Economic integration among Turkic states

Stating that Turkic states have a population of 175 million, Yıldırım said:

“When we say Turkic states, we are talking about a national income of 1.2 trillion dollars and foreign trade approaching 1 trillion. However, Turkic states only conduct about 60–70 billion dollars of trade among themselves. The rest is done with other countries. Our goal is not only to take pride in our unity but to enable the free movement of people, goods, and services across the Turkic world.”

Samsun Declaration to be signed

The Turkic World Urbanism Summit will conclude with the announcement of the “Turkic World Universities Samsun Declaration” at a signing ceremony to be held in the Senate Hall.

The event will end with a Samsun promotional tour organized for the guests.