Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers in Turkey opened a new center in the village of Tufanbeyli.

Said Bargandzhia

A new Abkhazian cultural center - Dernek as they are called in Turkey, is opened in the Turkish village of Tufanbeyli. The head of the Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers in Turkey, Atanur Akusba, told the information web portal about it.

He added that the center was opened by the initiative of representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza community living in the Adana region of Turkey and with the assistance of the Federation.

According to Akusba, in the near future, at the general meeting of the members of the board of the cultural center, a decision will be made to enter the Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers, thus, the dernek in Tufanbeyli will become the fourteenth cultural center that entered the Abhazfed (abbreviated name of the Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers -ed.). 

«This cultural center is called upon to unite representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza Diaspora, compactly residing in three neighboring villages: Igdebel, Bolatpinar and Akpinar. There are about 3,500 representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza people permanently residing in the villages,» said Akusba.

According to Atanur Akusba, the dernek will deal with issues of preserving the ethnocultural identity, providing support for ties with the historical homeland, promoting the expansion of the Abkhaz-Abaza cultural space. Its activities will also focus on popularizing the Abkhaz language and strengthening the positive image of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Republic of Turkey, preserving Abkhaz traditional values and nurturing the younger generation in close connection with the life of the historical homeland.

The head of the Abhazfed said that Davut Hapat was elected chairman of the cultural center in Tufanbeyli.

The Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers (Abhazfed) today unites 13 villages (centers) throughout Turkey, where, according to approximate estimates, more than 1.5 million representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza ethnic group live.

In accordance with the Constitution of the Congress, the Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers in Turkey is the Unconditional partner of the organization.