President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife, first lady Emine Erdoğan, emphasized that they will continue to be hope to oppressed geographies, and said, "Türkiye will always be on the field, it will continue to be the conscience of the world." 

Emine Erdoğan met with female ambassadors and ambassador spouses at the "Memories of the Century, Cultural Diplomacy Program from Past to Present" held at the Çankaya Mansion for the 14th Ambassadors Conference.

Expressing her pleasure to come together on the occasion of the Ambassadors Conference, first lady Erdoğan said: “I am proud to be together with our women, who will build the Century of Türkiye, on the 100th anniversary of our Republic at the heart of our war of independence.”

Noting that the lands known as the “our kindred geography” extend far beyond the physical borders reached by all the states established by Turks throughout history, Mrs. Erdoğan said that the climate of peace and tolerance of our ancestors still prevails.

 “The name of our nation is identified with mercy, compassion and generosity in the temples of the heart of all the oppressed in the world”

Emphasizing that foundations, mostly charitable women, are still alive, from the Balkans to Yemen, Jerusalem, the Hejaz and Africa, first lady Erdoğan said: “The name of our nation is identified with mercy, compassion and generosity in the hearts of all the oppressed people in the world.”

Stating that the ambassadors, with the lives they touch in their missions, bring the whole world into our kindred geography, Mrs. Erdoğan continued as follows: “We will continue to give hope to oppressed regions with our initiatives such as African House so that the handicrafts of productive women can be sold in a fair market. Türkiye will always be in the field and will continue to be the conscience of the world. However, our only capital is not our philanthropy. We have a deep-rooted civilizational heritage, each element of which is more valuable than the other, which can be a remedy for the world's uniforming culture."

 “I believe that we will be one step closer to world peace with the hearts that Yunus Emre will ferment”

Stating that the exhibition titled “Memories of the Century” opened at the Çankaya Mansion displays how the Turkish nation protected its history, first lady Erdoğan said: “Our past, full of heroes of civilization and culture, who will be a role model for humanity, is our greatest wealth. As Rumi says, words coming from the heart will surpass the ears and enter hearts all over the world. Likewise, I believe that we will be one step closer to world peace with the hearts that Haji Bektash Veli, Aşık Veysel, Pir Sultan Abdal and Yunus Emre will ferment. We are responsible for providing lifeline support to the world’s atmosphere, which is becoming more barren as time passes.”

Emphasizing the importance of Türkiye's loyalty and generosity, first lady Erdoğan said: "For this reason, I think it is our duty to humanity to open our treasure chest filled with the heritage of centuries, while universal values are being rebuilt. Like our spiritual world, our tangible cultural heritage will also contribute to the writing of the story of humanity on earth on the axis of truth.” 

Pointing to the repercussions of the archaeological excavations carried out in the world, first lady Erdoğan said: “As a region that becomes more and more secret as it is discovered, Türkiye is gaining more and more touristic value. Of course, we need to add these treasures to our cultural diplomacy pool together.” 

Emphasizing the importance of telling beauties as well as multiplying them, first lady Erdoğan reminded that for this purpose, they compiled the healing recipes of Anatolia in the book “ 'Turkish Cuisine with Timeless Recipes.” Expressing her belief that the Turkish gastronomy treasury will be brought to the level it deserves through the "World Breakfast Day" and "World Turkish Coffee Day", The first lady Erdoğan also sought ambassadors’ help in further promoting the “Bohça” to the level it deserves in global markets.

Emphasizing that the zero waste movement, which they are trying to transform into a lifestyle by joining hands as a nation, has reached international dimensions, Mrs. Erdoğan said: “We will hold the first face-to-face meeting of the 'United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, which I am privileged to chair, in Istanbul. I would like to remind you that the '31 October World Cities Day' meeting will also be held in Istanbul, the apple of the world's eye. Our expectation from you is that you will take steps to announce to the international public the activities we carry out to share our experiences with the human family.”

 “We aim to transform the October 29 events into a blessed feast that will befit our centennial enthusiasm and display our cultural, artistic and literary treasures”

Referring to the awards brought to Türkiye, the literary works published, the successes in cinema, TV series and sports, first lady Erdoğan said: “With this motivation, we aim to turn the October 29 events into a blessed feast that will be worthy of our 100th anniversary enthusiasm and display our cultural, artistic and literary treasures. We have a unique background with our multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-national, multi-legal background, and with our religion which tells us to love creatures for the sake of their creator. In this way, we see how much we need our experience of living together while humanity is being provoked with hostility to Islam. "It is a day to pass through the doors of hearts that were broken with charity and kindness, with our art, literature, dances, folklore, words and instruments.”

After the program, in which the artist Ferhat Göçer gave a mini concert, first lady Erdoğan had a photograph taken with the ambassador's wives.

 The “Memories of the Century” Exhibition

First lady Erdoğan visited the exhibition titled “Memories of the Century” organized within the scope of the program and got information from the stands about the events that will shed light on Türkiye's 100-year cultural diplomacy since the proclamation of the Republic, and the traditional arts and products that have survived to this day.