03.12.2025 11:01
Historian and author Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı was a guest at the Visionary'25 program, organized this year by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) under the theme "Connectivity: Order-Disorder-Reorder," which is considered one of the comprehensive future vision events for Turkey and the region.
Historian and author Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı was a guest at the Visionary'25 program, organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) this year under the theme "Connectivity: Order-Disorder-Reorder," which is considered one of Turkey's and the region's comprehensive future vision events.
The event titled "The Modern World in a Conversation," moderated by Okan Bayülgen and with Anadolu Agency as the global communication partner, took place at the Atatürk Cultural Center. Referring to the successes of the Ottoman society in the army since Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Ortaylı stated, "What has been done is not to be underestimated. There are several hundred years behind our country's structure. This place should not appear as a developing third world country."
"WE ARE AT A VERY CRITICAL POINT"
Ortaylı emphasized the importance of the Middle East, saying, "I wish the Middle East would awaken. I wish Turkey would awaken in the Middle East. This is directly the Northern Mediterranean. The Northern Mediterranean has been a region that has defended itself throughout history. If people do not collect their minds as power and opposition, and if they take pleasure in attacking and destroying our fundamental institutions, the middle classes will pay a heavy price. Those who are engaged in their work, our children will pay the price. In other words, we will come to long for the situation of Gazans. We are at a very critical point."
THEY ALWAYS NEED TURKEY FOR EXPORT AND IMPORT
İlber Ortaylı emphasized that Turkey is going through a mature period in its own history, stating:
"When we look at all the developments, we are in the most critical period of what we have experienced. Looking back, there have been coup after coup. In the 1960s, Turkey could have easily become Syria, but it did not. Turkey is an industrial country. It will continue to develop towards becoming more of an industrial country. 35% of the industry is concentrated in Urfa, Antep, and the Çukurova region. Unfortunately, due to the laziness of that region, work has come to a halt. Agriculture has also regressed. The contribution of foreign currency to our national income is at a shameful level. The most fertile plain of the Mediterranean is behind the furniture makers of İnegöl in terms of foreign currency. We need to play with some things in our policies. I don't care who will play, but it is wrong to think of incorporating northern Syria into Syria. Because the Aleppo region of Syria is not Syria. Turks live here, Kurds in the eastern part, Turkmen and Christian Arabs and Alawites in the western part. If we do not approach these areas with very sincere feelings, there are people who will intervene. Below is Israel. In other words, our industrial region is in danger. We built the dams with our blood and soul, irrigated the plain, established industry there, it developed and will continue to develop; we need to know this."
Ortaylı emphasized that economics should be prioritized before politics in Turkey, stating, "We are a Northern Mediterranean country that must be smart. Just as Azerbaijan made an unexpected leap and energy to reach an agreement with the Armenians, which is not seen in the Balkan countries, it acted wisely. Because there is no force in the Caucasus to do business other than Armenia and Azerbaijan. They cannot thrive with Georgians and of course, they always need Turkey for export and import. Similarly, Azerbaijan has also pursued a consistent policy with the Jews. Because no small state has two enemies. That is foolishness."
"WE WILL FOCUS ON OUR TRADE AND BUSINESS"
Historian Ortaylı stated that Israel will be part of the new order that can be established in the Middle East, saying:
"How it came, what pains are behind it, the whole world is writing about that. Even Israel's own people are writing. It does not mean that nothing is being written, talked about, or known. We will focus on our trade and business. It is not possible for us to live otherwise. In the eastern Mediterranean, starting from our border in Syria to Suez, there will be several states. One of them is Lebanon. Unfortunately, the Shiites of Lebanon will establish a world according to themselves. Because their minds do not align with this place. Druze and Maronites, despite centuries of conflicts, came together, and they use the Lebanese mountains; others do not like it. Therefore, there will clearly be a state there, and of course, the Tripoli and Damascus parts are close to Turkey. In other words, it is a highly Turkic region. In the south, of course, there will be Palestine. It is impossible for there not to be Palestine, and how much connection can Turkey have with the Hamas group that governs Palestine today? That needs to be reconsidered. Above all, we are a country that exports and imports intelligently and produces. The behavior of such countries differs from others. Although these differences may seem strange at first, in the end, it is seen that they are smart. We are one of the first states to recognize Israel in 1948, but since that day, what insults have been directed at Turkey... In the end, we are left in the middle."
İlber Ortaylı expressed that Palestine's voice is heard today through Turkey, stating, "If some rights of Palestine can come through Turkey, they will be given if possible. There is no one else to talk to. You are aware of that, I suppose. Unfortunately, there is no Middle East out there."
Ortaylı emphasized that Turkey, which has 400 law faculties, should also have a correct justice system.