SPEECH BY TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL GUNES YESILDAG ON THE OCCASION OF TURKISH-AFGHAN FRIENDSHIP DAY

(March 5, 2013, Almas Hall, Mazar-e Sharif)

Distinguished Guests,
I would like to welcome you to the Turkish-Afghan Friendship Day.
The anniversary of signature of the Turkish-Afghan Alliance Treaty on 1 March 1921 was designated as the Turkish-Afghan Friendship Day in 2011 and since then it has been commemorated both in Turkey and in Afghanistan.
The Turkish and the Afghan peoples enjoy friendly and brotherly relations. The strong connection between the Turkish and the Afghan peoples stems from the deep-rooted history and shared culture. This firm relationship has revealed itself as a strong solidarity throughout the history. The two peoples supported each other whenever they went through hardships. Afghanistan, by signing this Alliance Treaty, was one of the first countries to recognize Turkey as an independent state.
Turkey continues to be in solidarity with Afghanistan. We make every contribution within our means to the efforts for the development of Afghanistan in order to ensure the Afghan people have a peaceful, stable and prosperous future. Our contributions which are focused in the fields of education, health, reconstruction and sustainable development as well as encouraging regional cooperation will continue as long as our Afghan brothers and sisters wish us to do so.

Distinguished Guests,
One of the most prominent figures of our shared history and culture was born here in Balkh. Mawlana Jalaladdin Rumi, who was an important poet and philosopher of the Islamic world and known as Mawlana Jalaladdin Balkhi in Afghanistan, is our common heritage. His journey in the mortal plane, as described by him “I was raw, ripened and then scorched”, had begun in Balkh, Afghanistan and ended in Konya, Turkey. The restoration project of the Madrasah of Hodja Bahauddin Valad, which includes the house Mawlana was born in, is undertaken by Turkey.
On the occasion of the Turkish-Afghan Friendship Day, we will witness today a traditional Samâ Âyîn (Whirling Prayer Ceremonies) by Turkish Tasawwuf Music Ensemble members coming from Konya, which is the sister-city of Mazar-e Sharif, for the first time here. Samâ Âyîn is inspired by thoughts of Mawlana and represents a mystical journey of man’s spiritual ascent.

Distinguished Guests,
Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank to H.E. Mohammed Atta Nur, Governor of Balkh Province for hosting this event and Mr. Mohammad İbrahim Ghazanfar for his support.

It is a great pleasure to be with you here on this beautiful day. I would like to repeat my strong conviction that the Turkish-Afghan Friendship will only continue to be strengthened.

Thank you.