The opening ceremony of “19 May in Its 100th Year and the National Struggle International Symposium” organized with the cooperation of Turkish Historical Society (THS) and Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), and with the support of Governorship of Samsun and Samsun Metropolitan Municipality was held at OMU Atatürk Congress and Culture Centre with the participation of protocol members and the wide attendance of national and international academic community.
Governor of Samsun Osman Kaymak, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr. Ahmet Haluk Dursun, Rector of OMU Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç, Head of TTK Prof. Dr. Refik Turan, Director of OMU Atatürk’s Principles and History of Turkish Revolution Research and Training Centre Prof. Dr. Kaya Tuncer Çağlayan, district governors and mayors, directors of faculties, schools, and vocational schools, academicians, and students attended the opening ceremony of the symposium which will continue until 14 June.
The opening panel was one of the sections that drew considerable attention in the program that also included protocol speeches and OMU State Conservatory concert. Head of TTK Prof. Dr. Refik Turan moderated the panel held by Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak and Prof. Dr. Dursun Ali Akbulut.
Revealing new information on the meaning, importance, and the consequences of 19 May, and all the stages of the National Struggle; and creating a scientific platform which will enable academic evaluation and discussion are aimed at the symposium where 140 papers will be presented.
Director of OMU Atatürk’s Principles and History of Turkish Revolution Research and Training Centre Prof. Dr. Kaya Tuncer Çağlayan, Head of TTK Prof. Dr. Refik Turan, Rector of OMU Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr. Ahmet Haluk Dursun, and Governor of Samsun Osman Kaymak made speeches at the opening ceremony.
Following the opening speeches, Rector Bilgiç presented gifts to the speakers. Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Delegetion also presented a gift to Rector Bilgiç.
The symposium continued with the concert of OMU State Conservatory conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serhat Yener and proceeded to the opening panel moderated by Head of TTK Prof. Dr. Refik Turan. Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak talked about the economic aspect of the war in his presentation entitled “World War I and the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire from Within”, whereas Prof. Dr. Dursun Ali Akbulut talked about the developments until 19 May 1919 when Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk took the first step in Samsun and the aftermath.
The symposium held at the Distance Education Conference Hall is going to continue until 14 June and the historical elements and policies that had an impact on the era will be discussed within an academic perspective.
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