Belarusian-Turkish research center opens in National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

MINSK, 2 November (BelTA) – A Belarusian-Turkish research center has been opened at premises of the Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), the academy's press service told BelTA.

During the solemn opening ceremony Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Gusakov noted that the creation of the center represents an important constructive step on the way of further advancement of Belarus-Türkiye relations, relations between scientists, public and cultural figures of the two countries. This step has become possible thanks to friendly relations between the leaders of the states.

Vladimir Gusakov said: “We are well aware of the breakthrough results of Turkish science and actively cooperate with many scientific organizations of Türkiye. They include the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBİTAK), the Academy of Sciences of Türkiye, and other ones. Today we are starting active interaction with the Turkish Maarif Foundation. The opening of the Belarusian-Turkish research center is only the first step in our interaction, which is supposed to actively progress in various branches of sciences instead of only philosophy.”

The head of Belarus' Academy of Sciences thanked the Turkish embassy in Belarus, the Turkish Maarif Foundation for support and promotion of joint decisions. Vladimir Gusakov suggested organizing Turkish language studies for Belarusians at premises of the University of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

In turn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Türkiye to Belarus Mustafa Ozcan remarked that the two countries are connected by particularly warm relations. But today it is necessary to move forward with the advancement of mutually beneficial cooperation in education, science, and studies and reach new heights.

The Belarusian-Turkish research center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Turkish Maarif Foundation has been created in accordance with the protocol on cooperation signed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Türkiye Culture and Education Foundation. The research center is supposed to coordinate and carry out joint scientific research, individual projects focusing on the historical, cultural, and philosophical legacy of Belarus and Türkiye, improve qualifications of scientific personnel by teaching Turkish, and translate works by Turkish and Belarusian philosophers, scientists into Belarusian and Turkish.

The research center is a branch of the Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The center includes both Belarusian and Turkish researchers. The center offers space for theoretical and practical interaction of scientists from two cultures that differ in origin and subject matter. This interaction is particularly significant because it allows detecting common value vectors and idea vectors in the historical past and cultural present of the two different states and nations that cooperate with each other.

For now the center will focus on the history and the current state of the philosophical, spiritual and cultural legacy of Belarus and Türkiye. Turkish researchers are busy preparing a review of the main accomplishments of Turkish philosophy while Belarusian colleagues are studying the influence of the Belarusian-Muslim tradition on forming the cultural and national identity.

In addition to research the center will perform educational functions and popularization ones. Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus are expected to go to the center to study Turkish. There are plans to organize various lectures and workshops.