Nobel Laureate and Turkish Scientist Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar spoke to the Summit participants by sending a message to the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit organized by the Marmara Group Foundation. The participants listened to Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar's message of peace and dialogue with great enthusiasm and applauded for a long time.

H.E. Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2015
Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
at the University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill / United States of America

April 11, 2018
To the participants of the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit
Welcome to Turkey, of which I am proud to be coming from.
Despite all my desire, I could not take a break of my scientific studies and leave my university to attend the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit.
I regret that I cannot be among the participants of this great meeting that is organized by the Marmara Group Foundation.
Participants of the Eurasian Economic Summit, a success story for a non-governmental organization, organized by the Marmara Group Foundation with an identity of civil society for now 21 years...
Excellencies Presidents, Speakers, Ministers, Deputies, Academicians, Religious Representatives, Representatives of the Business World, Ladies and Gentlemen...
I greet you all with respect as a Turkish scientist.
By organizing the annual Eurasian Economic Summit for the last 21 years, the Marmara Group Foundation has served for economy, peace and equality not only in Eurasia but in the whole world. There are now significant scientific and technological developments in the world that will be useful to all humanity. But unfortunately, also economic and social conflicts are continuing by all kinds of means around the whole world.
As a scientist, I see the solution of these conflicts in teaching next generations scientific thinking as well as tolerance.
Dear participants,
I believe in self-confidence, not intelligence.
My country, the Turkish Republic built by Great Atatürk, infused into my generation the importance of hardwork and self-confidence. I had very idealistic teachers. They taught us that Turks by hardwork and dedication could do everything, reach every goal. They had won the war of National Liberation by fighting the whole West and found the Turkish Republic. Founding a new nation is a great accomplishment, however, scientific education and technology are neccessary to keep a country equal to leading countries in the world. That’s what the founders of the Republic did.
I grew up with the idea that I could reach every goal I set, and I went to America, with the confidence my teachers installed in me "we Turks can do anything we want".
As long as we keep on working and producing, we will be superior. For superiority is not genetic and all humans are equal.
Most people believe in intelligence, I don't. What distiniguishes us from each other is hard work, I believe in hardwork. If there hadn't been my love of country, I wouldn't have come here. Work hard, teach your children to work hard and to love their country. Children have to learn these things. Those who are useful to their country, will be useful for the whole world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Through the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit, I would like to state that the armed conflict and terrorism in my homeland has been the source of anguish and sadness most of my life. I would give all my accomplishments in science even the Nobel Prize for peace in my homeland.
With the thought of "peace at home, peace in the world", a quote by Great Atatürk, who has always been an idol for me, I want to call out to the participants of the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit. Let us search together for ways of peace and living together.
Dear Marmara Group Foundation and dear participants, all of you who are at the top of their profession, by realizing the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit, you are not only serving for equality and peace in each of your own countries but also in my homeland Turkey.
I wish you great success for this nobel task and I offer my gratitude and respects.

Aziz Sancar, M.D., Ph.D.