Mehmet Özay 23.06.2018
On February 19, the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies (APAM) of Ankara University will organize a conference titled "Exchange of Experiences for the Future: Japanese and Turkish Humanitarian Aid & Support Activities in Conflict Zones" (Sharing Experiences for the Future: Japanese-Turkish Humanitarian Aid & Support Activities in Conflict Zones) was organized. The symposium, which was held at Ankara University 100th Year Conference Hall, attracted attention as a fruitful interaction with the participation of Turkish and Japanese universities and some non-governmental organizations. The symposium was the subject of important evaluations in the context of discussing the humanitarian aid and support activities of Turkey and Japan in conflict zones.
The phenomenon of migration, which has been on the international agenda in recent times and which is the subject of peoples exposed to violence in war and conflict zones such as Syria and Arakan, was discussed in various aspects. In the event, which was organized almost single-handedly by APAM President Prof. Dr. Ali Merthan Dündar, a total of 16 participants from two countries, including academics, field workers of various governmental and non-governmental organizations and researchers, presented their work in four different sessions. The program, which was supported by the Embassy of Japan, JICA and the Japan Foundation, as well as Ankara University, was closely followed by Akio Miyajima, the new Ambassador of Japan to Ankara. At the end of the symposium, a dinner was held at the Embassy Residence, which was made even more meaningful by the one-to-one conversations between the Ambassador and the participants.
While the presentations were centered on Turkey and the Middle East, the other part of the presentations extended to Africa and Southeast Asia. In addition to the activities of the Japan Aid Agency (AAR-Japan), PARC Inter-People Cooperation (PARCIC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Syrian migrants in Turkey, migrants living in camps in Kenya, Palestinian migrants in Jordan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on refugees in Turkey, the Turkish Red Crescent's work for Syrians in Turkey, there was also a focus on the post-tsunami relief activities in Aceh and their impact on today. There is no doubt that it is desirable for such academic studies to evaluate the presentations within the framework of the facts encountered in the field and to have a critical quality in this context.
The presence of some employees of the above-mentioned Japanese organizations in Turkey for the last five years and their cooperation with some local governments as well as Syrian refugees deserve to be carefully monitored. However, there is no doubt that it would be beneficial to realize projects that will open the door to active and constructive cooperation rather than just being a spectator in these processes.
The fact that the event was organized between participants belonging to two nations that are close to each other meant more than the potential interaction that would arise from the presentations. In fact, it was this dimension that made Merthan Hodja decide to organize and realize this event. The fact that the papers presented at this symposium will soon be published points to another phase, namely the permanence of the work. At the same time, as the Japanese Ambassador also expressed, it was also pleasing to see that there was a will to continue this symposium.
We would like to thank Mr. Merthan Dündar for organizing this event and hope that this and similar activities will continue uninterruptedly.
English and Indonesian versions translated with DeepL AI
