Dear colleagues,

We are taking another step forward in our efforts to establish a new scientific platorm in Eurasia in the field of gastroenterology with the pioneership of Turkey by establishing a website in the name of our association. Our final objective is to establish a new, strong, scientific gastroenterology society in Eurasia, reaching from Bosnia to the steppes in Kyrgyzstan. Everything that is dreamed of will be made true when the times comes if it is desired and worked for. Eurasian Gastroenterological Association (EGA) was founded in 1996. In the last 12 years, we have organized 10 international congresses.

These congresses were organized in 1997 in Baku – Azerbaijan, in 1998 in Almaty – Kazakhstan, in 1999 in Antalya – Turkey, in 2000 in Tashkent – Uzbekistan, in 2001 in Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan, in 2003 in Baku – Azerbaijan, in 2004 in Ankara – Turkey, in 2005 in Tbilisi – Georgia, in 2006 in Baku – Azerbaijan and in 2007 in Isfahan – Iran. This year, 11th International Eurasian Congress of Gastroenterology and Surgery will be organised in Baku – Azerbaijan between June 12th-15th, 2008.  

The activities of EGA gradually increase in Asia and Caucasus. Albania and Pakistan will participate in the activities of our Association this year along with EGA members such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan ve Iran. Our intentions and efforts are in a direction to have such scientific relations with Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Egypt, Kosovo, Russia, Romania, Crimea and Tatarstan with which we have historical and sentimental bonds. I would like to emphasize something else. Russia and Ukraine have been represented in many of our congresses at the top level. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all proffessors and colleagues for their contribution to these prideful developments. Our contacts with Turkish Promotion Fund and Turkish Economic Development Agency are ongoing for bringing young physicians from Eurasia to Turkey to provide them gastroenterology training in Turkey. From now on, the official language of Eurasian congresses will be English and simultaneous interpretation will be provided if the speeches are made in the language of the host country. Thus, I believe we will approach our target of enhancing the identity of being an international association.

We are promoting our society to the world every other day hand in hand with the countries and communities in EURASIA, which gave its name to our association representing the Balkans, Thrace, Anatolia, Caucasus, Middle East,central and western Asia region, and with which we have historical bonds. The next step will be to encourage the researches in this area and to help them take their place in the literature.

I would like to extend my deepest regards and love to all the scientists who lead, support and give their scientific support; the organizations and institutions which provided financial support for the organization of the congresses.

Distinguished friends; we are awaiting all our colleages to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, for the “11th International Euroasian Congress of Gastroenterology and Surgery” to share our enthusiasm and happiness for carrying Turkish medicine to Eurasia with the spiritual leadership of Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who said “The truest guide in life is science”.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Hasan ÖZKAN, MD
President of Euroasian Gastroenterological Association