Participating in the event were not only representatives from Australia, Ms. Ms Catherine Raper, Ms Si’alei van Toor, from New Zealand, Mr İsmet Erikan, from the Turkish Office, there were Ambassadors and representatives from different countries and cultural offices as well as from the Foreign and Defense Ministries. Australia, New Zealand and Turkey invited their respective speakers: Dr. Peter Pedersen, Mr. John Crawford, Professor Dursun Köse, to be present and share the significance of the Çanakkale Battles for their respective countries and its meaningful consequences on other nations.
So that the NCL can keep in its collections this important historical event of the Gallipoli Battles, Dr. Peter Pedersen, the speaker from Australia, personally offered to NCL Director General Tseng Shu-Hsien, three autographed copies of his books: “No Better Death”, ”Kia Kaha: New Zealan in the Second World War”, “The Territorials: The Histroy of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces of New Zealand”. Mr. John Crawford, New Zealand speaker, also offered three of his books: “No Better Death”, “Kia Kaha: New Zealan in the Second World War”, “The Territorials: The Histroy of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces of New Zealand”.
In her speech, NCL Director General Tseng expressed her profound sadness in the recent terror attack in Turkey. She is united with the Turkish people to seek for peace: a peace that is obtained not by violence and hatred but by dialogue, respect and immense hope in the capacity of man to will the good of others.
The Event also projected many films, including songs composed on this Battle by many artists invited by Turkey to let more people know the history of Gallipoli Campaign and to pay tribute in memory of these brave soldiers; more importantly, so that we can reflect on the global importance of peace. After one hundred years, we must not only work together for peace, in the years to come, countries should work together to face common difficulties to build a more peaceful and better world.