Turkish Schools leading actors in foreign policy

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru, speaking highly of the Turkish schools around the globe, said that the volunteer-initiated Turkish schools are instrumental in foreign policy of Turkey.

At his presentation titled “New Turkish Foreign Policy” at Science and Arts Foundation in Istanbul, Koru noted that foreign policy was previously associated merely with Ministry of Foreign Affairs but now it involves institutions such as TIKA (Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency), Turks Abroad and Related Communities Directorate and Yunus Emre Institute. Underlining that civil society initiatives alongside governmental institutions have become important actors of foreign policies, he referred to the increase in Turkish Airlines international flights and Turkish schools around the world to exemplify.

Speaking of his experiences at the schools during his visits abroad he said, “Our schools abroad are notably instrumental in foreign policies. I have been to Africa and Far East in company with the President. We visit Turkish schools wherever we go. We are deeply moved to see them everywhere even in Ghana or Gabon. At least two or three of them exist in every country. They teach Turkish culture and language. You feel proud to see students singing and reciting poems in Turkish.”

Published [in Turkish] on Zaman, 17 March 2013, Sunday