TURKPA attended Hun-Turk Kurultai in Hungary

On 9-11 August 2024, Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er took part at the traditional Hun-Turk Kurultai organized by the Hungarian Turan Foundation in Hungary. The Kurultai was attended by the representatives of Hun-Turkic peoples from a wide geography, including the representatives of the Turkic cooperation organizations, diplomatic corps and academic circles, parliamentarians and other officials. The Kurultai kicked off with an opening ceremony held at the Hungarian National Assembly (Parliament). Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Sándor Lezsák opened the event and made a welcoming speech. Secretary General of TURKPA Mehmet Süreyya Er also delivered a speech in the opening ceremony. In his speech, Secretary General noted that the Hun-Turk Kurultai was a manifestation of respect for the great ancestors, legacy of Attila and of the strong ties of the Hungarian and Turkic peoples. He stressed that historical bonds foster the development of cooperation between Hungary and the Turkic world at all levels and in this context, touched on the active participation of the Hungarian National Assembly in the activity of TURKPA at a high level. Secretary General mentioned the promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic world as one of the aims of Turkic cooperation and underlined that the Hun-Turk Kurultai was another contribution of Hungary, which had raised prominent orientalists and turkologists as Armin Vambery, Gyula Nemeth, Mandoky Kongur Istvan, to the promotion of the common heritage. The main part of the Kurultai took place in Bugac. The rich program of the Kurultai featured various exhibitions, competitions, demonstrations, including among others Attila’s tent (exhibition of giant yurt), equestrian shows, greyhound presentation, falconry presentation, nomadic march, folk music and dance performances, archery, national belt wrestling and equestrian speed competitions, as well as scientific and educational lectures. The program also included a Collaborative Conference with participation of the heads of Turkic cooperation organizations. During his speech at the conference, Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er highlighted the Hungarian turkology, which had played an important role in the study of the Turkic world and the development of turkology. He noted that the relations of Hungary with the Turkic world were historical bonds of friendship and brotherhood that had stood the test of time. “Today, our common roots and history are a solid foundation for rapprochement and cooperation between Hungary and the Turkic world. The studies emphasizing the Turkic factor in the history and culture of Hungary are the scientific basis of centuries-old relations between our peoples. In this context, the preservation, in-depth study and promotion of the heritage of the Hungarian turkology can foster the further development and deepening of existing cooperation among our states, and passing it on to future generations,” Secretary General added. He also emphasized the significance of cooperation between TURKPA and the Hungarian Turan Foundation in achieving the shared objectives such as the preservation and promotion of the common heritage. The program of the Kurultai concluded with fire show. The Hun-Turk Kurultai is one of the largest events in Europe gathering thousands of participants from a wide geography. The Kurultai is a celebration of preservation of ancient traditions, and serves the promotion of ancient culture of Hun-Turkic peoples and fostering the sense of shared roots and heritage. The Hun-Turk Kurultai is organized traditionally in Bugac, Hungary by Hungarian Turan Foundation headed by eminent scholar András Zsolt Bíró. The interaction between TURKPA and Hungarian Turan Foundation develops within the framework of Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2022.