Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) was represented at a significant international platform aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of the Turkic world, strengthening its collective memory, and fostering economic cooperation. EMU Faculty of Pharmacy academic staff member Prof. Dr. Eda Becer and EMU Arts and Sciences Faculty, Department of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences academic staff, artists and curator Ayhatun Ateşin participated in the Turkic World Dialogue Forum, organized by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye in Ankara on 30–31 October 2026.
Bringing together academics, artists, experts, and prominent figures from various fields across the Turkic world, the forum focused on strengthening dialogue and cooperation among Turkic states in the areas of culture, art, economy, and joint production. Throughout the forum, discussions centered on perspectives and policy recommendations aimed at enhancing economic integration within the Turkic world, developing collaborative production models, preserving cultural values, and supporting regional development.
Prof. Dr. Eda Becer Highlights the Middle Corridor and a Shared Economic Future
EMU Pharmacy Faculty member Prof. Dr. Eda Becer participated as a speaker in one of the forum’s prominent sessions, a panel titled “From the Middle Corridor to a Shared Production Ecosystem: An Economic Model in the Turkic World”.
The panel commenced with an opening address by Binali Yıldırım, Chair of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and former Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, and was moderated by Prof. Dr. Ragıp Kutay Karaca, Vice Rector of Istanbul Aydın University. Alongside Prof. Dr. Eda Becer, the panel featured contributions from Şamil Ayrım, AK Party Istanbul Member of Parliament and Chair of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group; Dr. Lesbek Taizhanov, Faculty Member at Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bekmukhammad Tursunov, Faculty Member at the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan, who also shared their insights and perspectives.
Addressing the panel, Prof. Dr. Becer drew attention to the significant restructuring currently taking place within the global system, emphasizing that this transformation offers important opportunities for Turkic states to shape a shared future. Stressing that the Middle Corridor should be viewed as more than a transportation and logistics route, Prof. Dr. Becer highlighted the need to transform it into an integrated economic ecosystem that fosters joint production, investment, and development.
“We must transform the Middle Corridor into more than just a transportation network, developing it into an economic ecosystem where we produce, invest, and prosper together,” stated Prof. Dr. Becer, underscoring the need for new cooperation models to strengthen economic integration across the Turkic world. Highlighting the geostrategic significance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prof. Dr. Becer noted that its ports in the Eastern Mediterranean, logistics infrastructure, and regional connections position it as a potential key hub supporting the maritime dimension of the Middle Corridor. She further emphasized the TRNC’s potential to contribute to collaborative initiatives with the Turkic world in the areas of trade, production, food security, and investment.
Ayhatun Ateşin Emphasizes the Importance of Cultural Heritage and Collective Memory
Addressing the panel titled “Culture and Art in the Turkic World: From Tradition to the Future”, held as part of the forum, Ayhatun Ateşin underscored the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage, preserving collective memory, and transmitting these values to future generations through art. Presenting her perspectives under the theme “From Stories to Memory, From Memory to the Future,” Ateşin highlighted the role of art, documentary filmmaking, and publishing in ensuring cultural continuity.