Enver Yücel Delivers a Message of Peace at GPI

The opening ceremony of the Global Policy Institute, established in Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, which aims to become Türkiye's voice in the US by carrying out work on Turkish-American relations and Türkiye-focused studies, was held at the National Press Club with the participation of many diplomats, academics, think tank representatives and American media representatives.

"NO CIVILIZATION COMMANDS KILLING"

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Enver Yücel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University (BAU), once again drew attention to the importance of education, stating that humanity can win the war it is waging within itself not with tanks and guns, but only through education. Noting that many important developments have taken place in the world today, from technology to medical science and from space research to communication technology, Enver Yücel said: "Humanity has made very important progress. But there is one thing we have not been able to do: we have not been able to build bridges between hearts. We have not managed to live together in peace and tolerance, without excluding differences or those who are not like us. Conflicts in a geography stretching from Paris to North Carolina and from Nigeria to the Far East have reminded many people of the 'Clash of Civilizations Thesis'. Yet civilizations do not have to clash. All civilizations exist for humanity and seek the peace and happiness of humanity. Neither the 3 young people in North Carolina, nor the magazine staff in Paris, nor thousands of people in every corner of the world have to die. We know that no civilization commands killing."

"WE CAN RAISE NEW GENERATIONS WHO BELIEVE IN THE SANCTITY OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES"

Stating that he believes a better world can be built through good education, Yücel said: "We can raise generations who believe in a world full of peace and tolerance. We can raise new generations who see difference not as a threat but as a richness, who use the communication technologies of the modern age to spread a discourse of peace rather than hatred, and who believe in what is sacred to others and in the sanctity of democratic values. We can win this war that humanity is waging within itself not with tanks and guns, but only through education."

THE PATH TO INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION: MECHANISMS THAT GENERATE NEW IDEAS

"Through intercultural communication, interfaith dialogue and the exchange of knowledge between societies, we can build the world full of peace and tolerance that we have always dreamed of. The way to achieve this is to establish mechanisms that will generate new ideas. In this context, at this turning point when we need to think the most, I would like to express my pride and happiness in being part of the opening of the Global Policy Institute, a think tank that I hope will serve this purpose. I would also like to state that, as long as the desire and will to achieve these goals continue, I personally and my university will stand by such think tanks."