YTB Introduces The Book “Once Upon A Time In Dobruja: Crimean Tatar National Movement Between The Two World Wars” In Constanta

With the support of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the book “Once Upon a Time in Dobrudja: Crimean Tatar National Movement between the Two World Wars” was presented at the Ovidius University of Constanta in Constanta, Romania.

The meticulously prepared work reveals the history and cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatar National Movement in the period between the two world wars. The periodical photographs in the book are among the documents that make the work rich.

Speaking at the program, YTB President Abdullah Eren stated that as YTB, they enthusiastically support such publishing projects that help compatriots preserve their cultural heritage, keep their national identity alive and pass it on to future generations. Pointing out that the work strengthens relations with related communities all over the world, especially in the Balkans, Eren said, “We are gathered here for the presentation of our book. At the very beginning of my speech, I wish that this valuable work, which sheds light on the history of the Crimean Tatars in Romania, records their national identity and cultural heritage and aims to pass it on to future generations, will be beneficial for all of us, especially the Crimean Tatars. I hope that these works will strengthen our ties and relations with our related communities all over the world, especially in the Balkans, and reveal our common historical and cultural heritage much more clearly.”

IT STANDS OUT AS A HISTORICAL SOURCE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR THE TURKIC WORLD

Stating that the preservation of the identity and culture of the Crimean Tatars, with whom we share a common history and culture, is of great importance, Eren said: “As our Presidency, it is among our priorities to keep alive in our memory the struggle for existence, suffering, difficult processes and exile of the Tatars in the past, to draw the necessary lessons from these tragic events, and to address the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars from past to present in all aspects. Based on these priorities, we have presented to you the '1944 Crimean Tatar Exile Oral History Study' project consisting of interviews with 250 witnesses of the exile, our study titled Crimean Tatar (Turkish-Islamic) Architectural Relics in Crimea, in which we examined 185 artifacts found in Crimea, and our documentary book titled 'They Were People Too' Crimean Oral History Study on the 1944 exile, which includes many more artifacts. The book 'Once Upon a Time in Dobrudja', which we are promoting, is one of these publications and “Once Upon a Time in Dobrudja” stands out as a historical source of great importance not only for the Crimean Tatars in Romania and Bulgaria but also for the entire Turkish world.”

Focusing on the course of the Crimean Tatar national movement between the two world wars, the book presents photographs of political and social importance to the reader in a thematic and chronological context. “The book is accompanied by informative texts and images on key figures, leaders, places and publications, folklore and daily life that shaped the total national movement. The Crimean Tatars, who preserved their cultural identity under the broad and compassionate umbrella of the Ottoman Empire without facing any difficulties, found the opportunity to rebuild their identity thanks to the liberal environment provided by Romania, although they became a minority after the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-1878.Therefore, both the Ottoman Empire's protection and preservation of the Crimean Tatar identity with all its elements and the de facto liberal environment provided by Romania played an important role in Dobrudja becoming the center of awakening in the diaspora.”

THERE ARE DEEP-ROOTED AND STRONG TIES BETWEEN OUR PEOPLES

Stating that the relations between Türkiye and Romania, especially political, economic and social relations, have developed further in recent years, Eren said: “The friendship between the two countries is not only based on state-level relations, but also on the deep-rooted and strong ties between our peoples. As YTB, we attach special importance to extending our support to the field of education through our Türkiye Scholarships Program. Within the framework of Türkiye Scholarships, Türkiye's international education brand, between 2012 and 2023, we provided scholarships to 411 Romanian students at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels and 149 of them successfully graduated from our universities. With the support of you, we aim to increase this number even further with the Türkiye Scholarships promotion programs we will organize in various universities and other institutions in Romania in the near future. In the near and medium term, we want to increase the number of Türkiye Scholars and Türkiye graduates to much higher levels.”

The book "Once Upon a Time in Dobrudja: The Crimean Tatar National Movement Between the Two World Wars" and other publications of the Presidency can be accessed through the digital library on YTB's new digital platform, the Digital Culture Platform (DİJİKÜP), at https://ytb.gov.tr/kutuphane