Gelibolu Centenary Research Center (BAUGAM)

The 1915 Anzac Cove landing, which entered the literature worldwide as the Gallipoli Campaign and in a sense shaped the history and future of three of the nations involved in the war, symbolizes the birth of national consciousness for Australia and New Zealand.

Similarly, the Battle of Çanakkale holds a meaning and significance that would shape the future of the Republic of Türkiye. The collapsing Ottoman Empire, which had lost much of its human resources and whose military means and capabilities were nearly exhausted, achieved the unbelievable at Çanakkale and gained great moral strength, and Mustafa Kemal began his journey toward the leadership of the Turkish National Struggle, which led to the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, with the fame and prestige he earned at Çanakkale.

The Gelibolu Peninsula is a sacred land that, in a way almost unparalleled in history, hosts together the graves of tens of thousands ofANZAC, British, French, Canadian, Irish, Nepalese, Indian and Senegalesesoldiers, along with tens of thousands ofTurks and others who came from almost every part of the Ottoman Empire to defend their homeland in the war; rather than keeping old hostilities alive and dividing over the suffering endured, today it unites Australians and New Zealanders in particular with Turks in a brotherhood born of shared emotions.

The Gallipoli Campaign,in addition to playing an important role in shaping the history of Türkiye, Australia and New Zealand, is of great importance, with political implications as well, for the peoples of the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and Canada (Newfoundland).

For this reason, the aim is to keep alive the Spirit of Çanakkale, which has become a common symbol of the friendship of the hundreds of thousands who took part inthe Gallipoli Campaignregardless of their individual views and decisions, becoming enemies only once, yet producing mutual respect and admiration out of this enmity through a bond based on shared memories and painful experiences, as well as of national unity and solidarity embracing all our citizens without distinction, and to make it permanent as an honorable legacy to be passed on to future generations.

Through these efforts, which may be described as a form of public diplomacy, the aim is to examine the causes behind the success of producing mutual respect and friendship from one of the bloodiest yet most chivalrous wars in history, to produce works of reference quality, to bring to light unknown aspects of history, and to build bridges of friendship between the past and the future through national and international activities.

To this end, the Center's fields of activity have been determined as follows:

1. To conduct research on the Gallipoli Campaign,

2. To conduct research on the National War of Independence and the founding of the Republic,

3. To organize and participate in seminars, symposiums and conferences in Türkiye and abroad, particularly in cooperation with the countries directly involved in the Gallipoli Campaign, and to develop joint research projects,

4. To establish a documentation center and library on the Gallipoli Campaign and make them available to researchers,

5. To produce reference-quality scholarly publications on the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkish and English, and to make documentaries and feature films,

6. To translate into Turkish and publish important scholarly works published in foreign languages,

7. To find, compile and publish previously unpublished documents that shed light on history, such as important memoirs, records and war diaries,

8. To prepare and publish maps and guides on the Gallipoli Campaign and the National War of Independence,

9. To organize essay competitions,

10. To organize and coordinate a series of traveling exhibitions for international circulation, featuring photographs, maps, memorabilia and objects, in cooperation with museums, particularly in the seven countries whose troops fought at Anzac Cove,

11. To organize a documentary and feature film festival on the Gallipoli Campaign and peace concerts in cooperation with the countries that took part in the war,

12. To organize exhibitions, talks, conferences and symposiums in cooperation with the Governorship, District Governorships and Local Authorities in the battle area.

Considering both the place and importance of the Gallipoli Campaign in the founding of the Republic of Türkiye and its international recognition, as well as the many studies and publications it has inspired, theGelibolu Centenary Research Centerwill serve as an international point of reference for historians, academics and all those interested in conducting research on these subjects, and will fulfill an enlightening, educational, informative and lasting function through the other activities presented under its objectives.

The Center will also open new and original fields of research on the Gallipoli Campaign, the War of Independence and the process leading to the founding of the Republic, and will initiate studies under the leadership and guidance of experts in the field.

The studies of the Gelibolu Centenary Research Center,carried out with the contributions and support of Turkish and international experts serving on its Advisory Board, will be published and made available to institutions, organizations, individuals and groups conducting research on these subjects.

Researching and evaluating the Gallipoli Campaign, one of the most important events in both Turkish history and recent world history with diverse political, social and cultural repercussions and consequences, on a scholarly level and in every detail will open new fields of study and research, enable the training of experts, serve to create an international point of reference, and help establish and develop joint research projects and studies with the countries that took part in the war.

The Gelibolu Centenary Research Centerwill serve to build historical awareness and knowledge in society and will fulfill a social responsibility by providing those who wish to learn about and research these subjects with the necessary information, documents and publications, as well as expert services and support.

The Gelibolu Centenary Research Centerhas begun planning activities to be carried out each year, from its founding in 2012 until 2015, the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign, consisting of separate yet complementary events in Türkiye and abroad.

The Center, which will focus its work on the centenary of the Ottoman Empire's entry into the First World War in 2014 and on the National Struggle and the founding of the Republic after 2015, is also planning activities for the centenary of the founding of the Republic.

The Gelibolu Centenary Research Center,based on the awareness and fact that history serves as a bridge between the past and the future, and that past experiences are full of lessons that illuminate and shape the future, considers it an indispensable duty to research and shed light on the experiences and unknown aspects of our recent history with impartiality and scholarly rigor, and to pass them on to present and future generations.

Shedding light on the history of nations, which cannot be changed or rewritten because it has been lived and recorded, by stripping it of ideological, biased, propagandist and sensational perspectives and reducing it to pure facts, not only plays an important role in strengthening individuals' sense of belonging to their country and their spirit of solidarity, sharing and unity, but also influences how the peoples of different countries view and perceive one another.

For the reasons and grounds stated above, the establishment of the "Gelibolu Centenary Research Center" under the Office of the President of Bahçeşehir University was approved by the University Senate on 20 January 2012 and subsequently by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and the regulation governing the Center's operations was published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, 10 May 2012.

The Honorary Presidency of theGelibolu Centenary Research Center,established to keep alive and perpetuate the Gallipoli Victory won by the nation, was accepted by Mr. Cemil ÇİÇEK, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the embodiment of the national will, and membership of the Honorary Board was accepted by Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Bülent ARINÇ, Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Ömer DİNÇER, Minister of National Defense Dr. İsmet YILMAZ, Secretary General of the Presidency Prof. Dr. Mustafa İSEN and Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry Mr. Efkan ALA.

Purpose of the Application and Research Center

The purpose of the Center is to conduct research in Türkiye and abroad on the Gelibolu/Çanakkale Battles and the National War of Independence, to produce written and visual publications in this field, to organize conferences, symposiums and exhibitions, to establish a documentation center and library, and to carry out educational activities.

Duties of the Bahçeşehir University Gelibolu Centenary Application and Research Center

The duties of the Center are as follows:

a) To organize seminars, conferences, symposiums, competitions, festivals and similar activities at national and international levels on the Gelibolu/Çanakkale Battles and the National Wars of Independence,

b) To conduct research and studies on these subjects in Türkiye and abroad, to participate in and support such studies, and to develop and carry out joint research projects,

c) To produce and commission publications in line with its objectives,

ç) To inform the public on matters within its scope,

d) To establish a documentation center and library on the Gelibolu/Çanakkale Battles and to contribute to public and private institutions in this field.