Exhibition of Turkish Archery Opened in Sarajevo

The exhibition of Turkish archery organized by the Turkish Archery Foundation in cooperation with the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially opened today at the National Museum in Sarajevo.

The exhibition was officially opened by Denis Zvizdić, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hakan Çavuşoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Bilal Erdoğan, member of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish Archery Foundation, and Elmedin Konaković, Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton.

Chairman Zvizdić emphasized in his address to the attendees that the relations between BiH and Turkey are characterized by sincere friendship and common interests.

“The Ottoman Empire left hundreds of monuments in the territories of BiH, some of which, with their universality and originality, are today on the UNESCO list of protected cultural monuments. In addition to culture, art, and education, economic relations are also strengthening. The economic exchange between our two countries is approaching the magical figure of one billion dollars, which shows that Turkey has recognized our economic needs. For all these reasons, we thank the Turkish president, the government, and the people of Turkey,” said Zvizdić.

Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Hakan Çavuşoğlu highlighted the importance of such cultural events for strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries and their peoples.

“We share historical and other ties with BiH, and now is the time to strengthen these ties and come together so that our future is brighter. Turkey is and will be with BiH to help you build a functional state. Such events remind us of our common history, and without knowing history, we cannot build the future. In archery, courage, integrity, and dignity of archers are most prominent. When the archer shoots an arrow, they exclaim “O, Lord,” which symbolizes faith in God, integrity, the desire for goodness, justice, and righteousness. Just like them, we will never give up on justice and righteousness,” emphasized Çavuşoğlu.

 

Bilal Erdoğan, member of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish Archery Foundation, expressed his satisfaction that the exhibition was organized in BiH two years after the initial discussions.

“The technology used at that time for making Turkish bows is unsurpassed, just like the technology used to make the famous cannon used during the conquest of Istanbul. In today's world, we witness how in recent days it is said that modern technology will be used to erase some countries. Today, more than ever, there seems to be a need for a perspective of breaking down the walls between worlds that our ancestors were very aware of,” said Erdoğan.

Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković welcomed the holding of this exhibition in Sarajevo as a testament to the strong ties that exist between our two countries.

The curator of the exhibition, Mehmet Lütfi Şen, informed the attendees about the details of the exhibition, and the director of the National Museum, Mirsad Sijarić, welcomed them on behalf of the museum.

Bilal Erdoğan, on behalf of the Turkish Archery Foundation, presented commemorative gifts, bows and arrows, to Chairman Zvizdić and Prime Minister Konaković. After the official ceremony, the high-ranking guests had the opportunity to test their archery skills in the Botanical Garden of the National Museum in Sarajevo.

During the exhibition, original examples of archery weapons belonging to the Seljuk and Ottoman periods will be presented to the public. The exhibition will feature bows, arrows, shields, wrist guards, quivers for storing bows and arrows, as well as numerous other accompanying equipment related to Seljuk and Ottoman period archery.

In addition to exhibits, paintings and videos related to archery will be presented at the exhibition. The holding of the exhibition in BiH also has additional symbolism, as Miralem Ahmed-aga, one of the best archers in the history of Ottoman Turkey, originated from this region.

The exhibition of Turkish archery in BiH is being organized thanks to the great efforts of the President of the Turkish Archery Foundation, Haydar Ali Yıldız, the curator Mehmet Lütfi Şen, and the director of the National Museum in Sarajevo, Mirsad Sijarić. The project coordination was led by the Secretary General of the Foundation, Mehmet Erdoğan. The entire project in Istanbul and Sarajevo was organized with the significant contribution of many experts in this field.

The exhibition of Turkish archery will be open from September 23 to October 15, 2017. Visitors can view the exhibition as part of their visit to the National Museum in Sarajevo.