"International Symposium on Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid and Emir Timur," jointly organized by Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University (AYBU), Samarkand State University, and Bursa Uludağ University, and supported by TİKA, the Turkish Historical Society, Yunus Emre Institute, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Yıldırım Municipality, Çubuk Municipality, Keçiören Municipality, Altındağ Municipality, and Etimesgut Municipality, was held on 26 October 2022 at the AYBU Milli İrade Campus.
The symposium Project (Samarkand-Bursa-Ankara) aimed to highlight the eras and far-reaching influences of two great Turkish rulers who made significant marks in history. The first session took place on 17-18 October in Samarkand, the second session on 24-25 October in Bursa, and the closing and discussion sessions on 26 October in Ankara at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University’s Etlik Milli İrade Campus.
The symposium, which began with opening thank-you speeches by the organizing committee chairman, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Çınar, featured speeches by Çubuk Mayor Av. Baki Demirbaş, Vice Rector of Samarkand State University Juliboy Eltazarov, AYBU Rector Prof. Dr. İbrahim Aydınlı, and President of the Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş.
AYBU Rector Aydınlı opened the session with a welcoming address to the audience, addressing students especially by noting, “Although our university is only 11 years old, it has inspired us with the name ‘Yıldırım’ — it has given us determination, courage, and accelerated our progress AYBU Rector Aydınlı stated that the tomb of the Turkish ruler Gûr-i Timur in Mâverâünnehir, located within the borders of Uzbekistan, was visited and a wreath was laid. He also reported that they participated in the city celebrations of Samarkand. He also shared participation in Samarkand’s city celebrations. He stated that the guests arriving from Uzbekistan to Bursa participated in various social events and paid a visit to the tomb of Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid, in recognition of Bursa’s designation as the Turkish World Cultural Capital by TURKSOY. AYBU Rector Aydınlı reported that a protocol has been signed with the President of the Uzbekistan Institute of History for the joint conduct of historical research and archaeological studies related to the war zone initiated in the Çubuk Plain. He conveyed that Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, and Mr. Şevket Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, are walking together on the same path in understanding and interpreting Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid and Emir Timur.
He highlighted the importance of the symposium, noting that this major event has generated significant resonance in both countries. He stated that, as a university bearing the name Yıldırım Beyazıt, the topic had been discussed with Uzbek scholars over a period of two years before organizing this symposium, and emphasized that efforts in this area would continue, describing the event as merely a modest beginning. He concluded with the hope that this symposium would serve as a main framework for future projects.
Following the opening speeches, the symposium sessions commenced. On the final day, three sessions were held: one in the morning and two in the afternoon. On Thursday, 27 October, the symposium manifesto will be announced at the Esenboğa Complex, followed by tree planting in the commemorative forest.
