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An international academic congress examining five centuries of relations between Türkiye and Spain opened at Istanbul University on Monday, bringing together discussions on diplomacy, trade, cultural exchange and the shared Mediterranean history of the two countries.
The two-day event, titled "Spain and Türkiye: Five Centuries of Relations in the Mediterranean, History, Diplomacy and Encounters," is being held at Istanbul University's Rectorate Building in Beyazit in cooperation with the Spanish Embassy in Türkiye, the Cervantes Institute in Istanbul and the Spanish National Research Council, known as CSIC.
Istanbul University Vice Rector Professor Cemil Kaya said the choice of Sept. 14 for the opening carried particular significance, as the Ottoman Empire and Spain signed their Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce on Sept. 14, 1782.
According to Kaya, the agreement opened up a new period in relations between the two countries, which he described as states with deep-rooted traditions and rich cultural heritage located at opposite ends of the Mediterranean.
The congress will take up Ottoman-Spanish diplomatic relations, early contacts across the Mediterranean, trade networks, travel, cultural representations, embassies and leading diplomatic figures.
Kaya also drew attention to a session planned for the second day under the title "Shared Pasts from 1453 to 2053: Shaping Peaceful Futures Together." The discussion will use a "fishbowl" format, an interactive session built around an open group discussion.
"Transferring the knowledge and experience gained from the past into the construction of the future is also one of the fundamental responsibilities of universities. With this in mind, we attach particular importance to the 'fishbowl' session titled 'Shared Pasts from 1453 to 2053: Shaping Peaceful Futures Together,' which will be held on the second day of our symposium," Kaya said.
Spanish Ambassador to Ankara Cristina Latorre Sancho said the congress had come together through cooperation among several institutions and was intended to strengthen the exchange of knowledge between specialists and organizations.
She also noted that Istanbul University's Department of Spanish Language and Literature is marking its 40th anniversary this year, with additional events planned for November.
Sancho said organizers wanted the initiative to become permanent and its content to remain accessible, including through social media.
"We want this project to have continuity, and we attach great importance to its content. For this reason, we want to prepare a record related to it. We also expect your contributions. We want these to be available on social media as well. As Spain and Türkiye, we all support peace together," she said.
The opening program also featured a video message from Istanbul University Rector Professor Osman Bulent Zulfikar.
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