İzmir, 12-15 November 2015

The “International First World War Symposium (Turkish-Russian Perspective)” organized by of Governorship of İzmir, the Higher Institute of Culture, Language and History, Turkish Historical Society, Turkish History Association in cooperation with Ege University, Dokuz Eylül University and İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University on 12-15 November 2015, was held in İzmir.

In the first day of the symposium, November 12, 2015, was held at Ege University Ataturk Culture Center Yunus Emre Hall. The opening sitting of the symposium was moderated by President of the Turkish History Association, Prof. Dr. Refik Turan. Opening speeches were delivered by President of the Higher Institution of Atatürk Culture, Language and History, Prof. Dr. Derya Örs; Member of Symposium Executive Committee Prof. Dr. İbrahim Atnur; Mayor of İzmir, Aziz Kocaoğlu; Rector of İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Prof. Dr. Galip Akhan; Rector of Dokuz Eylül University, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Füzün; Rector of Ege University, Prof. Dr. Candeğer Yılmaz; Governor of İzmir, Mustafa Toprak.

In the opening session, Prof. Dr. Refik Turan was chair. In the session, Honorary President of AVİM, Ret. Ambassador Ömer Engin Lütem delivered his presentation on “Britain’s Ottoman Policy during the WWI”. Prof. Dr. Mihail Meyer’s presentation was on “Russia and Turkey’s State of Readiness for WWI”; Prof. Dr. Zafer Toprak presented his speech on “Strategic and Logistic Aspects of WWI: A Macro Prediction”; Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan, “The Political Economic and Social Results of WWI: An Analysis Hundred Years Later; Prof. Dr. Mesut Hakkı Caşın, “Last Turk-Russian War: From Hostility to Friendship WWI”

The Symposium was held in 29 sittings with the participation of 150 academics with 41 foreign participants and 116 papers were presented. Especially, it was observed that Russian academics were fluent in Turkish. In the first day of the symposium, Russian academics presented their papers. First day sessions were held in Ege University Atatürk Culture Center Yunus Emre Hall, generally, the presentations were on Russian achieves and Russian Press in the WWI. The second and the third day of the Symposium were held in Dokuz Eylül University.

In the closing session of the Symposium, Director of AVİM retired Ambassador Alev Kılıç contributed with his closing remarks. The Symposium was one of the most important historical platforms which strengthen the relations between Turkey and Russia. The high number of participants to the Symposium must be regarded as the indicator of Turkish History Association’s valuable initiatives and works in the recent years.