Based on its open national vision and its belief that culture and language are fundamental pillars in rebuilding countries emerging from conflict, the Syrian Future Movement commemorates the International Day of the Turkic Language Family, established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on December 15th of each year. This international occasion underscores the centrality of linguistic and cultural diversity in fostering human understanding, strengthening dialogue among societies, and safeguarding the intangible heritage of peoples.
The Syrian Future Movement believes this occasion is of particular importance in the current Syrian context, as Syria undergoes a pivotal transitional phase. This phase necessitates a profound review of the foundations upon which the state and society are built, and a shift from a logic of exclusion and conflict to one of partnership and equal citizenship.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement affirms that recognizing and respecting cultural and linguistic diversity within a comprehensive national framework is a prerequisite for building a state of institutions and the rule of law, and not a cultural luxury or a secondary matter.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the values advocated on this day, foremost among them respect for diversity, protection of cultural memory, and promotion of intercultural dialogue, align with the urgent need to rebuild the Syrian social fabric, which has been damaged by years of tyranny, violence, and the politicization of identities.
Historically, Syria’s diversity, including its linguistic and cultural diversity, has been a source of its strength and a testament to its capacity for coexistence and openness, not a cause of its division or weakness.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that positive engagement with cultural initiatives issued by specialized UN agencies, particularly UNESCO, reflects a strategic orientation toward repositioning Syria within the international system as a nation that respects shared human values and believes in the role of culture, education, and scientific research in achieving stability and sustainable development. This constitutes a crucial dimension of cultural diplomacy, which Syria needs to rebuild trust and establish international partnerships on modern and balanced foundations.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement calls for the development of national cultural and educational policies that respect diversity, support linguistic studies and scientific research, and contribute to the protection of cultural heritage in all its forms, within a clear vision that considers human beings the focus of development and culture a tool for building, not a means of conflict or polarization.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the Syria of the future we aspire to is a unified state, strong in its citizens, open to its surroundings, capable of managing its diversity with justice and wisdom, and qualified to engage positively in the contemporary international system. From this perspective, commemorating this occasion represents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to a solid national vision that originates from within Syria and is open to universal human values simultaneously.
