On Friday, March 11, 2022, on the occasion of marking March 12, the Day of the Adoption of the Turkish National Anthem and Mehmet Akif Ersoy Memorial Day, the Office of the Educational Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo organized the finals of the Competition in Reciting the Turkish National Anthem by primary school students. The opening speech was given by the IUS Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yıldırım, who welcomed the participants emphasizing the importance of remembering significant people who have contributed to the Turkish culture and heritage we know of today. The Educational Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy, Mr. Faruk Berat Akçeşme thanked everyone who attended such an event that was entirely held in Turkish. Professor Necmettin Çelik talked about Mehmet Akif Ersoy, his importance for the Republic of Turkey and the historical period when the anthem was created.
The event was visited by a great number of prominent guests from Turkish institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina: His excellency Sadık Babür Girgin, Turkish ambassador to BiH; Military Attaché at the Turkish Embassy, Mr. Mustafa Sıtkı Tatar; Educational Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy, Mr. Faruk Berat Akçeşme; Director of Yunus Emre Institute in Mostar, Mr. Yunus Dilber; Director of Yunus Emre Institute in Sarajevo, Mr. Mehmet Akif Yaman and other distinguished guests, professors and students from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Students from several primary schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina recited the Turkish national anthem. The first place went to Ahmed Bakšić (First Private Primary School “Isa-beg Ishaković”). The runner-up was Merjem Hasković (Primary School “Edhem Mulabdić”) and the third was Nejra Džinović (Primary School “Maarif Schools of Sarajevo”). The winners of this significant competition were awarded with valuable prizes.
