Turkey and Romania are the two largest states in the Balkans.

They are heirs to a common history, geography, and culture. Atatürk's statement, "Nations are bound more by feelings than by agreements. Romania has taken a brotherly place in our hearts," best reminds us how strong the foundations of our friendship are. Civil society activities have an important place in the Marmara Group Foundation's relations with Romania. Romania, as a state and a nation, has always been generous to the Marmara Group Foundation. Especially during the terms of former Presidents Ion Iliescu and Emil Constantinescu, the relations that began then and have continued uninterruptedly to this day have always played a reassuring role in Turkish-Romanian relations. The Romanian State honored the Marmara Group Foundation's activities with the participation of the President, Prime Minister, and Ministers, awarding Dr. Akkan Suver twice: with Prime Minister Viktor Ponta in 2014 and with Prime Minister Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă in 2019.

The Romanian Royal Family, through Crown Princess Margareta, awarded Dr. Akkan Suver the 1st Degree Officer Title Medal of the Romanian Crown.

Meanwhile, the Constanța Maritime University also awarded Dr. Akkan Suver an honorary doctorate. The Marmara Group Foundation continues its work as a civil society entity in developing the existing relations between Turkey and Romania.

The Marmara Group Foundation has signed important collaborations in the past period with New Strategy Center, one of Romania's significant think tanks. Also important are the joint works we have presented as partners with the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and Civilization, one of Romania's renowned think centers. Emil Constantinescu, President of the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and Civilization, said the following at the signing ceremony held in Istanbul.

"His Excellency Dr. Akkan Suver, when I started this partnership with Dr. Akkan Suver, we based it on the idea that the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and Civilization and the Marmara Group Foundation share the same values of peace, economic and social development through such means.

The more than thirty years of activity of the Marmara Foundation is an inspiration for what we call cultural diplomacy.

The scientific research conducted by the Institute focuses on the Levant, which we understand as a broad area including the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa. This entire region has been deeply marked by Ottoman culture and civilization for centuries.

However, the research is not only about the past but also about the current reality and future in the global world where Western culture and civilization will play an important role in the cradle of the Levant.

The cooperation between our institutions, between the academic circles and business environments in Romania and Turkey, can be a model of what we can use from our common past, what brings us closer rather than what separates us. We can use the current opportunities to build a better future for us, for our countries, for the Levant countries, and for the whole world. Congratulations and success for all your efforts!"