Eurasia's Dialogue

Last Updated on Monday, 26 June 2006 15:45 by Ali Bulaç Saturday, 11 June 2005 05:00

A hall decorated with more than 50 chandeliers. Each of them is as big as those in our selatin (royal) mosques. There are red seats and they are lined up back to back like those in the hall of the former Turkish Grand National Assembly. Places where speeches are delivered are at the front. Undoubtedly, orders rain down from such halls not negotiations and dialogue.

The hall carries memories of a certain period. Those who know the issue think ghosts roam around the thick columns, the sullen walls, the obscure lower floors and very long corridors. What I am talking about is the Kolonny Zal (the Union House Pillar Hall), that is next to the lower wing of the Russian parliament, Duma.

I never ever thought that one day I would take the floor to speak in this hall which has witnessed so many meetings, high tone speeches, directives and programs that frighten the human soul, to inform people about the Medina Document that was written in 622 under the supervision and initiatives of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), explain what this historical document means today, and many people would enthusiastically ask me, "Did Muslim prophets really sign such a document, is it something you invented or is it included in written sources? How come no one knows about this document, do you have any books published on this issue?" Allah is the One who created days that rotate around people, and without any doubt, He changes people's hearts only if He so wishes. (3/Al-I Imran 140)

Everyone could understand "dialogue" differently. They say, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." If someone says something nice, this word finds its addressee. Our job is to say nice words and to be demanders of the "nicest words" (39/Zumer, 18). "The nicest word is worth obeying" and the real and permanent conquests throughout history happened with the Word. We do not have a stronger weapon in our hands than the magic power of words. It is possible and easy to frighten the hearts of people and terrorize them. This is even the easiest way, but uttering words that conquer hearts, throwing words as if throwing a stone to calm the waters, making waves and ensuring that these waves subside as they grow biggger, is not easy as people think.

In this context, those who prefer the path of dialogue are demanders of the difficult path. Perhaps, conveying, learning and reminding continue on that level under the framework of a new meaning. People coming together from all around the world, from exactly four continents, and reaching an agreement on common problems and responsibilities are very influential.

The "Dialogue Eurasia" meeting was in deed the dialogue of Eurasia. It was different from the others: Firstly, its being held in Moscow was significant. Moscow is a beautiful city. It still possesses the characteristic of the center. Eurasia is the name of a large geography, however, two centers come together in a way that suits each other in that large area: Istanbul and Moscow. I will try to narrate my impressions about the city that I visited for the first time. Secondly, so far, participants generally in the dialogue meetings were Muslims, Christians and Jews, believers in the celestial religions. Believers in Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism attended the meeting this time. The participants from China, Indonesia, India and South Korea illuminated the meeting. For me, what was more meaningful was the third point, one participant from Egypt, Kuwait and Iran, respectively, attended the meeting. Hasan Hanefi intervened at the appropriate times and immediately corrected wrong evaluations about the religion of Islam and the Quran. The fourth point was that the crowded group representing Turkey was quite refined and good in their respective fields.

If you ask me, so far, Turkey has contributed to the global process in two areas or has also benefited from the opportunities and advantages of globalization in two areas: The first is the schools abroad and the other the dialogue studies that are being carried out with great self-confidence. Dialogue studies do not melt inside others or make others gain unfair legitimacy; but they call on all those who believe in their religions, historical heritage, language and world understanding to talk and negotiate. The Moscow meeting was a concrete indicator of this aim.

ZAMAN