Merkel, Erdoğan praise Turkish-German University in Istanbul

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during a ceremony before their talks in Ankara, Turkey, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

A Turkish- German University being established in Istanbul is concrete proof of friendship between the two countries, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said today in a joint press conference with his counterpart, German chancellor Angela Merkel.

“Humanistic relations with Germany reserve an important place. There is a lasting friendship between our countries and the Turkish-German University is concrete proof of that; the process continues rapidly,” Erdoğan said.

Merkel added that the university will kick off its first academic year this fall.

“I hope we can found a German-Turkish University also in Germany,” Merkel said.

The Turkish German University (Türkisch-Deutsche Universität) is a state university founded through a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

The university will have programs in engineering, natural sciences, law, economic and administrative sciences, cultural and social sciences departments.

The multilingual university is set to provide “double degrees” that will be valid in both countries.

The campus will be based in Istanbul’s Anatolian district of Beykoz.