2ᵗʰ Istanbul Publishing Fellowship Participant Comments

As a participant on both first and second Istanbul Fellowship Programs, I think this program is an important result of relations between Arab Publishers Association and Turkish Press and Publishers Copyright & Licensing Society.

Even though being the first fellowship program, we saw that it brings very successful results. Last year fellowship program had great outcomes on introducing Turkish publishing in Arab countries and translations from Turkish to Arabic. I think fellowship programs became an important bridge between civilizations, Arab culture and Turkish culture. Therefore, cultural and literature translations between languages are the most important results of cultural transfer and I think this will take more important role in the future. I strongly believe in the importance of continuing this relations day by day and also believe that especially on Turkish side, Turkish Press and Publishers Copyright & Licensing Society-led efforts and workings will bring some huge impacts soon.

Istanbul Fellowship Program is a successful organization that represents the Turkish publishing industry in Arab world in a best way. This program has an important place for transferring cultural relations between Turkish public and Arabian public. It has a significant role in not only the transfer of experience about cultural relations but also building strong commercial ties between Turkish and Arabian publishing industries. As Turkish and Arabian publishers, we all see that we share a common history, geography, past and a lot of common grounds in current structure.

Due to Istanbul Fellowship Programs, we felt that we can take important steps about building a new future and contribute the rising generations’ education in cultural and textbooks senses together. We believe that in addition to our cultural values, having a common sense in religious values and sense of belonging to values will create a stronger tie in our common works in publishing industry. In my opinion taking a part in this program, our publishing house have a significant role in translation of some Turkish books into Arabic language.

I believe that we will be a leader publishing house for translating Turkish books into Arabic and make them spread in Arab world. Especially with these works, I think Arabian public will know Turkish culture and civilization better, witness this civilization closer. At this point, the importance of this fellowship program occurs. I believe this relation of us will grow more with next fellowship programs in the upcoming years and think that these kinds of programs will have a great role in rebuilding the cultural relations between Turkish and Arabian publics.

I thank to the organizers of this program.