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The Canakkale Wars Mobile Museum, which brings the spirit of Canakkale and a sense of historical memory to Turkish communities in Europe, welcomed visitors in Brussels as part of its European tour supported by the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
The mobile museum drew strong interest from members of the Turkish community in the Belgian capital. Families visited the exhibition with their children, looked over visual and written materials about the Canakkale Wars, and took photos inside the museum and in front of the mobile unit.
Many visitors also wrote their feelings and reflections in the memorial book after going through displays that set out what took place on the Canakkale front.
Brussels Consul General Onur Sevim visited the museum together with Belgian Islamic Federation (BIF) President Muhammed Unal.
Speaking after the visit, Sevim said the program carried special meaning for him because he had previously worked closely with the Canakkale Wars Historical Site Presidency during his time at the Foreign Ministry, where he was responsible for Australia and New Zealand.
He also noted that he had attended international commemoration ceremonies in Canakkale as a Foreign Ministry representative.
Sevim described the Canakkale Wars as one of the most important turning points in Turkish history and said: "Canakkale Wars can be described as the place where Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of our Republic, appeared on the stage of history. It was a very important war in which he won the people's favor before the War of Independence, became known as the Hero of Anafartalar, and paved the way for him to take on the leadership of the War of Independence."
He said the wars remain an important part of national identity and historical awareness, adding that it was valuable for such a mobile museum to travel across Europe and reach citizens and people of Turkish descent living abroad.
Sevim thanked the Canakkale Wars Historical Site Presidency and said the museum had been prepared in a successful and impressive way. He also thanked BIF for hosting the Brussels program and the Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Mosque Association, which will host the Liege leg of the tour.
BIF President Muhammed Unal said the federation was proud to host such a meaningful organization.
Unal described the Canakkale War as one of the most important symbols of the Turkish nation's struggle for existence and said: "Canakkale War is the symbol of a struggle that changed the course of our history and made the whole world say, 'Canakkale gecilmez."
Today, we had the chance to see and experience this historical spirit again."
He also said that bringing historical and cultural events together with the Turkish community in Europe was important, adding that the continuation of such projects made them happy.
After Brussels, the Canakkale Wars Mobile Museum will meet visitors in the Belgian cities of Liege, Genk, Heusden-Zolder and Maasmechelen.
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