Iran, Turkey Boost Educational Cooperation

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Turkish education ministers met here in Tehran on Wednesday in a bid to improve ties and enhance mutual cooperation in the field of culture and education.

Iranian Education Minister Alireza Ali-Ahmadi said that during the meeting the two sides declared 2009 Iran-Turkey culture year, adding that they were ready to work towards introducing more Turkish classes in Iran.

Turkey’s National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said Wednesday that further cooperation with Iran in the field of education was possible.

Celik said during the meeting that they were assessing formation of a joint commission on education with Iran.

He said growing relations in economy and trade could make tutoring in Turkish and Persian easier in the two countries.

Celik said there were Persian Studies department in 11 Universities in Turkey while there was only one Turkish studies department in Iran. He said Ankara wanted Iran to open Turkish studies departments in Tehran and Tabriz Universities noting that Turkey was ready to offer assistance.

Ali-Ahmadi, for his part, said Iran is ready to cooperate with Turkey in fields of nuclear energy, aviation, medical science and bio-technology.

He said his ministry is ready to work towards introducing more Turkish classes in Iran.

Later, the two ministers signed a document expressing the will of the two countries for cooperation in education.