‘Transformation of Perspectives Through Migration’ International Conference was Held in Bonn
TÜBA’s President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acer has participated in the international conference entitled ‘Transformation of Perspectives Through Migration’ that is held by the Orient-Institut Istanbul in collaboration with the partnership of Bonn International Science Forum (International Wissenschaftsf I Universitaet Bonn) and with the support of German Research Society (Deutsche Forschunsgemeinschaft, DFG) under the "Turkish-German Research Training Innovation Year 214/2015" in Bonn on 4- 6 May 2015.
On May 4, the planned day for the guests who came together for the occasion of conference, the conference started with the opening speeches of Secretary General of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Dorothea Dzwonnek and right after the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Berlin Huseyin Avni Karslıoğlu. It continued with the welcome speeches of German Christian Democratic Union Party Federal Parliamentarian, Compliance Officer Cemil Giousouf, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany Migration Affairs Officer Dr.Götz Schmidt-Bremme and finally the Rector of the University of Bonn Prof. Dr. Michael Hoch. The day continued with the Rhine River cruise and ended with the dinner.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar, who took the floor at the ‘Transformation of Perspectives Through Migration’ conference opening and later at the roundtable meeting where Ministers and Parliamentarians from the Federal Republic of Germany along with academics, journalists and experts within the country and from abroad were present, made the following speech: "Migration that defines people’s international and inter-communal mobility is a phenomenon as old as human history. Throughout history, migrations have been experienced because of wars, famines, epidemics, political and economic reasons, etc. Today, migrations that occur for mainly political and economic reasons have various effects on both immigration and emigration countries and societies. Turkey and Germany are two counties that experienced mutual migration during and after the World War II, and later since 1960s. German scientists who came to Turkey during the World War II contributed to Turkey's science and educational life and likewise, the Turkish workers who migrated to Germany after 1960s have also made significant contributions to the economic and social life in Germany. Today Germany is the country where most Turks living abroad are settled and as Turkey’s top foreign trade partner, it is a major partner of Turkey. The Turkish-German migration relationship which was based on qualified and semi-qualified labor migration at the beginning has now changed form and reached a level where thousands of Turkish and German entrepreneurs mutually operate and thousands of second and third generation Turks take part in the German education system and business life. As a result of all these, the German-Turkish migration relations constitute a serious potential that should be evaluated. In terms of more efficiently using this potential in science, education, business and community life, some steps should be taken, such as facilitation of visa and travel processes for students, science and business people, taking more effective and constructive measures against the rising xenophobia in Europe and Germany, development of Turkish-German relations in the science and education life as well are the first few steps that can be mentioned. The development of Turkish-German relations by such measures will be a significant achievement in terms of establishing a more livable world, as well as improving the relations between the two countries and between the Europe and Turkish-Islamic world.”
In continuation of the presentation about the ""Migration country, Germany's ongoing Mosaic Structure" exhibition that was exhibited in Haus der Geschichte; under the top title of “Coming, Staying, Going or Shuttle Migration: Transformation in Turkish-German Migration”, presentations entitled as “Ethnic Classifications: German-Turkish Perception in Close Social Relations”, “Continuity and Transformation of Turkish Origin People in Germany”, “Being German in Turkey: A Chronological Assessment” and “Education Status of Turkish origin Immigrant Children's in Germany” were given.
Alice Salomon Hochschule from Berlin, Prof. Dr. Nuray Ekşi from Istanbul, Assoc. Dr. Barbara Pusch from Istanbul Policy Center & the Orient-Institut Istanbul attended to the "Inclusion, Exclusion and Law: Is it a Dilemma Impossible to Overcome?" session with their presentations that started after the coffee break.
The program continued with "Roundtable Discussions" on May 6. TÜBA’s President participated as a speaker to the "Roundtable Meeting" entitled as " Internationalization of Science and Migration". The program ended with the "Human Rights and Migration: A Critical Perspective" session.