Speaking at the Istanbul Negotiations, our Foundation President Turgay Aldemir defined the reconstruction of Syria as a civilizational responsibility and stated: “We are not only rebuilding buildings, but also hope, justice, and Syria’s future.”
Representatives of civil society organizations, opinion leaders, academics, and media members operating in Istanbul came together on March 27, 2026, at the ÖNDER Headquarters building for the “Istanbul Negotiations” meeting. Moderated by Sinan Özyurt and enriched by the contributions of Rıdvan Kaya and Kazım Sağlam, the honored guest of the gathering was Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir. Aldemir shed light on the past and present of the Syrian revolution and made historic warnings and visionary statements regarding the role of civil society organizations in Syria's future.
THEY USED DIVERSITY AS A TOOL OF DIVISION
Aldemir began his speech by emphasizing Syria’s historical and strategic importance. “Syria is not merely a state in the Middle East; it is a junction where the fertility of the Mediterranean, the security of Anatolia, and the ancient knowledge of Mesopotamia converge,” he said. He noted that the Baath regime transformed this immense ethnic and religious diversity into a “tool of governance and division,” thereby damaging social peace. Referring to the process that began in Daraa in 2011, Aldemir stated that it evolved into a struggle for dignity and existence, and that the regime responded to these demands with systematic massacres, reminding that approximately one million Syrians lost their lives in this cause.
BEING ANSĀR IS OUR ANCIENT DUTY
Stating that the process quickly turned into a laboratory where global powers tested new weapons, Aldemir described the support given by Iran and Russia to the regime as a “purge of the people.” Opening a special parenthesis for Türkiye’s stance, he emphasized that they did not view the issue through numbers or barbed wires and said: “For us, being ‘Ansar’ is not a favor but the fulfillment of an ancient debt, a thousand-year brotherhood. The four million brothers and sisters we host today are not merely refugees; they are entrusted to us by history, geography, and our faith. Where global conscience has fallen silent, Türkiye has single-handedly upheld the honor of humanity.” He added that Türkiye’s “Open Door Policy” is not merely migration management but a tremendous movement of “human revival” against “human degradation.” He also emphasized that the primary aim of cross-border operations carried out by Türkiye is to provide breathing space for civilians and to create conditions for safe return.
THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IS TO REVIVE MINDS
Drawing attention to the work of institutions such as Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM in the region, Aldemir summarized the responsibility of civil society with striking words: “You may rebuild a city and reconstruct destroyed buildings, but if you do not revive minds and hearts, those piles of stone cannot establish a civilization. The most painful consequence of the Syrian crisis is the threat of ‘lost generations’ that cannot be captured in statistics. As Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM, we have set up a barrier against this threat with academic rigor and civil enthusiasm. We have viewed our educational activities not merely as curriculum delivery, but as the construction of identity and belonging. Through our projects in safe zones and in Türkiye, we prevented tens of thousands of children from exchanging pens for weapons. The ‘Social Cohesion’ books and curriculum studies prepared by BEKAM reinterpret the ancient brotherhood of the two peoples through the language of modern sociology. These efforts were not only about saving today, but also about preparing the intellectual infrastructure of the engineers, doctors, and teachers who will rebuild Syria tomorrow.”
He emphasized the importance of Anatolian Cultural Centers established in Azez, al-Bab, Jarabulus, and Afrin under the leadership of Bülbülzade Foundation, stating: “We are not merely opening a foundation branch there; we are reinforcing the pillars of a thousand-year-old bridge of civilization.”
A CALL FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR A NEW SYRIA
Defining December 8, 2024, as a turning point when 60 years of darkness were torn apart for the Syrian people, Aldemir shared his vision for the new era following the collapse of the Baath regime. He outlined the roadmap for rebuilding Syria as follows:
“We must now close the chapter of ‘emergency aid’ and move on to the page of ‘sustainable development.’ Delivering bread is not enough; we must build the bakery that produces it, the energy that runs it, and the universities that will train the engineers who will establish that energy system. The fact that the required resources for reconstruction exceed 600 billion dollars shows the magnitude of the responsibility on the shoulders of civil society organizations. International civil society must take responsibility in strengthening civil institutions and establishing justice mechanisms in Syria. People do not only want to return to a house, but to a future. To build this future, we must establish a new ‘construction site’ that unites academia with civil society and bureaucracy with the people. As Bülbülzade Foundation, our strategic plans and field experience are at your disposal.”
Aldemir concluded his speech with a historic call to all national and international civil society organizations:
“Come, let us rebuild Syria not only physically, but also spiritually and intellectually, together!”
Click here for the full speech delivered by Turgay Aldemir.
