What is the Story of UNESCO Declaring 1981 as the Year of Atatürk?

Understanding Atatürk:

“If you understand and feel my ideas and my feelings, that is enough,” says Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. Today, at the beginning of our country's greatest intellectual impasse, we do not want to understand, which is more important than reading and writing!

We are floundering in the shallow waters of ignorance. While we think we have made a progress, when we look back, we see that we have not gone a long way. While swimming in the deep sea of ​​dreams, sometimes thinking that we can be prey to sharks, we suddenly drown in shallow waters, not in the sea. However, can we understand Atatürk? How aware are we of his vision and intellectual depth? With these thoughts, I will try to take you back many years and give you an example of how Atatürk's intellectual depth was valued in the international arena even years after his death.

How well Atatürk said it in his concise words. First of all, I would like to express that this beautiful country has always been in increasing need for those who could not reach the era in which Atatürk lived, but who did not see his face but felt like him, and those who strive to understand and feel him.

Ataturk Agenda Meeting of UNESCO:

It is interesting that little-known Atatürk had an agenda meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was founded in 1945. There is no such example in UNESCO. The fact that such an important international organization held a meeting under the title of Atatürk is a great respect for Atatürk's spiritual personality and a source of pride for all of us.

In order to better understand Atatürk, I wanted to share with you the subject of the UNESCO meeting, which I learned while continuing my research. At the UNESCO meeting held on 27 November 1978, only the Swedish delegate objected to the proposal that came to its members, and then signed it by apologizing. It was a first in the history of UNESCO and 152 of 152 countries signed the motion without any loss. UNESCO's little-known and Prof. Dr. The meeting that İlnur Güntürk KALIPÇI told us in an article took place as follows:

"The year is 1978. UNESCO comes to its members with a proposal. I would like to read a sentence in the proposal package to you. It says: "The name of all the projects UNESCO is working on today is Mustafa Kemal."

Discussion of the Atatürk Proposal at the UNESCO Meeting:

The proposal is a proposal to UNESCO, which had 152 members at that time, on the centennial of Atatürk's birth, that all states should celebrate Atatürk's birthday at the same time. Suddenly the Swedish delegate stands up and says:

"What, there are so many statesmen in the world, are we going to celebrate all their birthdays like this?"

The Russian delegate jumps up, bangs his fist on the table and says exactly to the delegates of 152 countries:

"I would like to remind my young delegate friend that Atatürk is not just any leader in the world. Let's commemorate him for a year, we should look for a solution in every problem".

What happens next? It is a first in the history of UNESCO and no negative (rejection) votes are cast. In fact, none of the country representatives would like to abstain. All representatives of 152 member states sign this historical text.

The Swedish delegate, who initially opposed this proposal and wanted to criticize it by saying, "So what...", comes to the microphone on the day of this signature and considers it necessary to use the following expressions:

"I studied Atatürk. I apologize to all the representatives of the country and I am the first to sign this text!"

Expressions Highlighting Atatürk in the Text of UNESCO's Decision:

"Who is Atatürk;

Atatürk is a superior person who has made efforts for international understanding, cooperation and peace,

A revolutionary who made extraordinary revolutions, the first leader to fight against colonialism and expansionism,

Respecting human rights,

pioneer of world peace,

Who does not show any color, language, religion or race discrimination among people throughout his life,

Unmarried statesman

He is the founder of the Turkish Republic.

UNESCO's Historic Decision:

The following is written in the resolution of the UNESCO General Assembly dated 27 November 1978:

"UNESCO General Conference, with the belief that outstanding people who have worked for international understanding, cooperation and peace will set an example for future generations, decided to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey, in 1981. Considering that he was an extraordinary reformer, he is considered to be one of the first leaders of the wars, especially against colonialism and imperialism. Atatürk's work for the establishment of mutual understanding and lasting peace among the nations of the world is an extraordinary example. All his life, there is no color between people. Reminding his belief that an era of harmony and cooperation will emerge, regardless of religion and race, he always carried out his actions in terms of peace, international understanding and respect for human rights.It has been decided that the Turkish Government and UNESCO will cooperate for the preparations of the symposium.

Atatürk: A Leader Out of His Time:

43 years after his death, in his 100th birthday, the decision of an international organization about Atatürk and the statements in the text of this decision have been one of the best proofs that Atatürk was a great leader on a scale that did not fit into time.

A philosopher has the following expression (as if it was said for Atatürk):

“When you are looking for a criterion for a country, review the greatest leader of that country.” If anyone needs to search for a criterion for our Turkey right now, I guess this historical text of UNESCO will be more than enough.

Conclusion:

Undoubtedly, it is not possible to understand Atatürk through bravery, but by feeling his ideas and views. If we can truly understand Atatürk, whose humble body was destroyed on November 10, 1938, by making serious efforts, by making a sincere effort, we can begin to think like Atatürk and do his mental reading. As Kemalists in essence, not in words; We can become individuals who, like Atatürk, have the belief and determination to sacrifice our whole lives for this country, with the need and awareness of laying a brick so that this country can reach the level of modern civilization, our people can reach the value and place they deserve, and our nation can reach wealth and prosperity. Then no one can hold this country.

Stay respectfully and with love.