Kyrgyz Author Cengiz Aytmatov Was Commemorated in Ankara

Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency (TİKA), International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Ankara, Ankara University Language and History-Geography Faculty (DTCF), and National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan organized the “3^rd Cengiz Aytmatov Days”.

“3^rd Cengiz Aytmatov Days”, which is supported by TİKA, took place in Ankara University Language and History-Geography Faculty, started with the opening program on October 09, 2023.

During the opening program, Secretary-General of TURKSOY, Sultan Raev, Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to Ankara, Ruslan Kazakbayev, Rector of Ankara University, Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Cengiz Aytmatov’s sister, Roza Aytmatova, and Prof.Dr. F. Sema Barutcu Özönder from Ankara University gave their speeches.

In his speech, Secretary-General of TURKSOY, Raev stated that Cengiz Aytmatov is a shared value for the Turkic world and emphasized that Aytmatov’s works draw attention worldwide with their universal themes. Raev stated that Cengiz Aytmatov was a diplomat as well as an author and emphasized that Aytmatov’s thoughts contributed to Kyrgyzstan’s gain of independence and her international recognition. After his speech, Raev presented a medal to Roza Aytmatova as a memoir.

“Aytmatov is the public memory of the Turkic world.”

 In his speech, Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to Ankara, Kazakbayev stated that Aytmatov is “the public memory of the Turkic world” while also adding “We all have our own Aytmatov. For me, Aytmatov is the symbol and brand of Kyrgyz culture and literature, as well as the entire Turkic world’s language, and literature; before all else. Kazakbayev emphasized that according to UNESCO data, Aytmatov is among the most-read authors, right after Shakespeare and Tolstoy, his works contain a “deep philosophy”. Kazakbayev emphasized that Aytmatov is very well-liked in Türkiye, adding that the name Aytmatov is honored in numerous fields in Türkiye.

In his message on the 3^rd Cengiz Aytmatov Days, the Rector of Ankara University, Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar said: “As the Language and History-Geography Faculty, we are proud to host the 3^rd Cengiz Aytmatov Days. I express my thanks to Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to Ankara, distinguished Ruslan Kazakbayev, Secretary-General of TURKSOY, Sultan Raev, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Prof. Dr. Kanat Abdrahmanov, and Cengiz Aytmatov’s precious sister, Roza Aytmatova for their participation.”

3^rd Cengiz Aytmatov Days ended with a set of activities that took place on October 9-10, 2023.

About Cengiz Aytmatov

Cengiz Aytmatov, born on December 12, 1928 and passed away in May 2008, alongside his literary works, represented his country as the ambassador to Luxembourg, Belgium, and Netherlands, while also taking the position of Kyrgyz deputy of the EU, NATO, UNESCO, and the Benelux Union.