By Ilhan Toprak
ANKARA (AA) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has highlighted the importance of arts and culture in the development of a country during the 2016 Presidential Culture and Grand Awards ceremony in Ankara.
In his address at the presidential complex, Erdogan said: “Fundamentally, it is not possible for a country to be independent in the real sense without development in the fields of arts and culture, or at least sustain its independence.”
This year the awards were given to Mustafa Kutlu in the literature category, Prof. Dr. Kemal Hasim Karpat (social sciences), Prof. Dr. Erol Parlak (music), Sener Sen (cinema) and Feridun Ozgoren (traditional arts). Also, the late Prof., Dr. Suheyl Unver, was given a Vefa (loyalty) award.
Turkish president said Kutlu -- who could not attend the ceremony due to health reasons -- had told stories of the Anatolian people.
He described Karpat as one of the people who best described the political history of Turkey.
He said Parlak had dedicated his life to Turkish traditional songs.
About the prominent actor Sen, Erdogan said his name comes to mind as soon as anyone mentions Turkish cinema.
The 75-year-old Sen said he had received his award in the hope of contributing towards peace in the country.
On Ozgoren, the president said he was a one-man army in the field of traditional Turkish arts.
He commemorated the late professor Unver as one of the last “Ottoman gentlemen”.
The presidential culture and arts awards are annual prizes that have been awarded by Turkish presidents since 1995.