Syrians studying in Turkey ‘contribute to both nations’

ANKARA- Anadolu Agency

Syrian students studying in Turkey will contribute to building a society in both countries, the head of the EU delegation in Turkey said on July 4.       

"Your presence here is also very powerful message because it shows that you have succeeded in making a life for yourselves in Turkey," Christian Berger told a graduation ceremony of Syrian students at the Hilton hotel in capital Ankara.     

Berger underlined that the students managed to get out of a very difficult situation in Syria, and worked very hard and learned the Turkish language.     

Stressing the importance of higher education, as it determines many students' future, Berger noted that the EU delegation's focus in Turkey was education.     

He added: "Our approach to education is from kindergarten all the way to university."     

He said the delegation instituted a two-fold approach to the issue, providing support to both refugees who fled to Turkey and their host country which welcomed the refugees.     

Berger said Syrian students who received higher education in Turkey would contribute to building a society "either here or back in Syria" if they chose to return.     

Abdullah Eren, the President of Turkey's Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) office, said they bore the university fees of Syrian students in the country since 2014.     

"Syria and Turkey are two countries which have very old historical and cultural ties," he said, adding that the close ties were also affected by the Syrian civil conflict.