Traces of the Turkish Language and Balkan Turkic Heritage Kept Alive in Kosovo by YTB

The introduction of two books prepared by YTB—“Kosovo’s History, Society and Belief: Past and Present” and “The Memory of Turkology in the Balkans: Festschrift in Honor of Nimetullah Hafız”—took place in Kosovo. As part of the promotional events, a panel titled “Kosovo’s History, Society and Belief: Past and Present” was held in the capital, Pristina, and a commemorative program for Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız, one of the pioneering figures of Balkan Turkology, was organized in the city of Prizren.


The panel hosted by the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Pristina was attended by YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, Turkish World Parliamentary Foundation (TDPV) President Abdullah Çalışkan, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pristina Sabri Tunç Angılı, and numerous guests.


The event in Prizren, held at the “DokuKino” hall in the city center, brought together YTB Vice President Murat Kazancı, TİKA President Abdullah Eren, Ambassador Tunç Angılı, Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party (KDTP) Chairman and Minister of Regional Development Fikrim Damka, representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations in Kosovo, Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız and his family, as well as many guests.

 

Kosovo Is a Living Part of Our Shared History and Cultural Heritage

Speaking at the opening of the panel, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus expressed his great honor in being in Kosovo, one of the most cherished regions of the shared cultural geography. Turus emphasized that Kosovo, with its deep-rooted history and strategic position, is an integral part of the Balkans: “Every community living on these lands is an inheritor of a shared past and a common culture. Kosovo is a land where the traces of our civilization are still felt and where the echo of our history reaches the present,” he said. Turus stated that YTB has given special importance to the Balkans, especially Kosovo, since 2010: “The Balkans are not merely a historical stage for us; they are also a realm of belonging, a basin of culture.” He highlighted that more than 70 projects and activities have been carried out in Kosovo over the last 15 years, ranging from science to art, education to publishing, cultural interaction to social solidarity: “Each project has built bridges extending to knowledge, art, and humanity,” he noted. Referring to the Türkiye Scholarships program, Turus stated that since 1992, 2,382 students from Kosovo have benefited from the scholarships, and around 300 students are currently studying in Türkiye.

Commenting on the newly introduced book “Kosovo’s History, Society and Belief: Past and Present,” Turus said that the work examines Kosovo’s historical background, social structure, religious organizations, processes of national identity, and ethnic-religious balances from both a local and global perspective.

 

Prepared Through the Rigorous Work of Distinguished Scholars

TDPV President Abdullah Çalışkan, another speaker at the panel, emphasized that the book was prepared with YTB’s valuable support and the meticulous work of distinguished academics: “Every line of this work reflects a deep effort to understand Kosovo’s historical accumulation, social fabric, religious world, and cultural identity,” he said.

Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pristina Sabri Tunç Angılı also emphasized in his remarks that Kosovo holds a very special place in the hearts of the Turkish nation: “Türkiye will continue to stand by Kosovo with all its institutions,” he stated.

During the subsequent session, the following presentations were delivered: Prof. Dr. Murat Önsoy;  “Kosovo and External Realities: The State’s Capacity to Integrate into the International System”;  Dr. Abdulkadir Durguti  “The Reflections of Salafi Organizations on Religious Life and Social Structure in Kosovo”; Raif Vırmiça  “The Role and Influence of Melami Tradition on Identity Formation in Kosovo in the 18th and 19th Centuries within the Context of Sufi Movements”;  İslam Hasani “The Current Situation of Religious Education in Kosovo”

The session evaluated Kosovo’s religious, social, and identity-based structure from various perspectives, assessing the region’s historical continuity and contemporary dynamics through an academic lens.

After the panel, a commemorative event for Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız, one of the leading names in Balkan Turkology, was held in Prizren.

He Dedicated His Life to Teaching and Preserving the Turkish Language

All speakers began their remarks by offering condolences for the soldiers who were martyred in the military cargo aircraft that crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.

In his speech, YTB Vice President Murat Kazancı stated that YTB has carried out many projects over the years aimed at preserving the Turkish language and passing it on to future generations: “Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız is one of the monumental figures who dedicated his life to teaching and sustaining the Turkish language. As YTB, we were honored to present him with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2023 due to his identity as a Türkiye graduate. His contributions to the field of Turkology have always been a source of inspiration,” he said.


Kazancı added that YTB will continue to carry out projects and activities that preserve the legacy of prominent figures who add value to the Turkic world and pass on their works to new generations.

TİKA President Abdullah Eren emphasized in his speech that many important figures made significant contributions to preserving and revitalizing Turkish identity in the Balkans after World War II. Highlighting Nimetullah Hafız’s special place in the memory of Balkan Turks and the field of Turkology, Eren said: “In North Macedonia, Kosovo, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, many esteemed elders have worked tirelessly—writing, thinking, and dreaming in Turkish—to ensure the continuity of Turkish presence in these lands. Professor Nimetullah Hafız is foremost among these distinguished figures.”


Ambassador Angılı emphasized in his speech that Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız made valuable academic contributions to Turkology and greatly served the strengthening of the cultural identity of Balkan Turks and the broader Turkic world.

Kosovo’s Minister of Regional Development and KDTP Chairman Fikrim Damka expressed that Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız made significant contributions to promoting the Turkish community in Kosovo in the best possible way to Türkiye and the world.

Taking the floor at the event, Prof. Dr. Nimetullah Hafız expressed his gratitude to YTB and all institutions and individuals for their support and recognition.

Following the speeches, the event concluded with a panel session and a plaque presentation ceremony.