Turkish PM receives honorary doctorate in Algeria for ‘contributions to humanity’

ALGIERS

Tahir Hajjar, the rector of the University of Algiers, praised Erdoğan's 'contributions' to science and humanity. AA photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is facing unexpected popular pressure due to mass protests in Turkey during his northern African tour, received June 5 an honorary doctorate from the University of Algiers as a reward for his “contributions to humanity.” 

During the ceremony, Erdoğan said that there was a lack among Turkish students in terms of learning and speaking Arabic. “There are more than 80 theology faculties. They manage [to teach] the grammar but there is a weakness in spoken Arabic,” Erdoğan said, adding that they intended to solve this issue by enhancing cooperation in the domain of education with countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Algeria. Erdoğan invited Algerian students to come and study in Turkey. 

Meanwhile Tahir Hajjar, the rector at Algeria’s leading university, presented Erdoğan with his gown and expressed his gratitude for the visit. 

While Turkish students are preparing a welcome filled with a new wave of protests, initially sparked by the attempted demolition of one of Istanbul’s most central parks, on Erdoğan’s return, Algerian students prepared him a surprise after the ceremony in Algiers. A student named Amina Sadi sang a folk song from the Black Sea region of Turkey, where Erdoğan’s family is originally from. 

Erdoğan proceeded from Algiers to the western Oran province of Algeria, where he was welcomed by his Algerian counterpart Abdelmalek Sellal, to attend the opening ceremony of a Turkish iron and steel plant.