Dr. Yusuf Goran, the KRG Minister of Higher Education on December 12, 2014 met with a delegation from the Italian Consulate in Erbil including Carmelo Ficara, the Italian Consul in Erbil.
The meeting took place in the KRG Ministry of Higher Education's Divan in Erbil. During the meeting, Dr. Yusuf welcomed the delegation and indicated the importance of the Italian universities and said:" An Italian priest has written the first book on the Kurdish language's grammar; therefore, we as the Kurdish people pay importance to the Italian Universities."
On his part, the Italian Consul indicated the aim of their visit, saying:" We want to develop and boost scientific, cultural, and Academic relations among the universities of Kurdistan Region and Italy. We in the Italian Consulate in Erbil plan to practically boost our attention toward the scientific and cultural affairs which are part of our duties."
The KRG Minister of Higher Education expressed his delight to improve relations among the universities of Kurdistan Region and Italy. He pointed out to history and importance of Italian universities in Europe and globally in regard to the fact that the most ancient universities in the world are located in Italy.
He stressed that for the Kurdish people Italy has a vital position, saying in the past the first book on the Kurdish language's grammar was written in that country, and currently Italy's universities have opened Kurdish language departments.
The KRG Minister of Higher Education said his ministry pays great importance to scientific research and research centers, and reinforced on holding joint efforts for conducting joint scientific researches in the different aspects, and arranging scholarships for students for joint cultural closeness, exchanging joint expertise and professional knowledge. He expressed his ministry's readiness to embrace Italian students who have researches on Kurdistan. He affirmed on furthering opening more gates in scientific research, indicating this will enhance more political, economic, and diplomatic cooperation between both sides.