The KRG Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research received Orhan Hikmet Azizoğlu, President of International Universities Council.
During a meeting, Dr. Yusuf Goran said welcomed Mr. Azizoğlu warmly, and said: “We can build bridges of peace and tolerance among peoples through the universities.”
Dr. Yusuf Goran also expressed his delight to promote bilateral scientific and academic relations with the Turkish Universities. He indicated that ranking of the Turkish universities at the international level have been raised, describing this as important step for the Kurdistan region to develop and expand its relations with the Turkish universities, highlighting that a large number of Kurdistan Region students are studying in Turkey.
“The ministry is ready to support any project that raises the level of relations and consolidation between the two sides,” the KRG minister also said, pointing out “The development and progress of the universities anywhere contributes to the progress of whole societies, since the universities are the minds of the society. Accordingly, we as the neighboring nations of Kurds, Arabs, Turks, can build bridges of peace and tolerance through the universities.”
On his part, President of International Universities Council said that their organization includes up to 150 universities from 20 countries, adding that this year the number of its members rises to 40 countries.
Mr. Azizoğlu said the purpose of their visit is to promote bilateral relations with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and expressed his willingness to visit Baghdad to try to develop relationships with them, especially to deal with the issue of those students and professors from universities under the reign of ISIS, who are now been displaced in different places.
Finally, Mr. Azizoğ presented the logo of the International Universities Council to the KRG Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.