Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Executive Director of the Foundation for State Assistance to the Media under the President of Azerbaijan, Vugar Safarli, has met with the principal of the Eastern Mediterranean University Abdullah Oztoprak.

The meeting was attended by the Baku representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Sadettin Topukchu, head of Azerbaijan's National Television and Radio Council Nushiravan Maharramli, chairman of Azerbaijan's Press Council Aflatun Amashov and representatives of media outlets.

Safarli said the relations between Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus are on the path of rapid progress.

"These relations, by encompassing different fields, are developing more dynamically in the sphere of education," he said.

Recalling the visit of Azerbaijani media representatives to Northern Cyprus, Safarli noted that they met with students attending the Eastern Mediterranean University.

"More than 1,000 Azerbaijani students are studying at the universities of Northern Cyprus. About half of them are students of the Eastern Mediterranean University," Safarli said.

Addressing the meeting, Topukchu said that TRNC attaches great importance to the development of relations with Azerbaijan.

According to Topukchu, some 7 universities are operating in Northern Cyprus and providing high quality education.

"We want a greater number of Azerbaijani students to benefit from this quality education. We constantly focus on the expansion of relations in the field of education. Because education is an important tool for the development of relations between the two nations. Azerbaijani students coming to Northern Cyprus stay here for 5 years and familiarize with the country's environment more closely. In this sense, education is important in the development of relations between nations," Topukchu said.

Principal Oztoprak said the Eastern Mediterranean University was founded in 1979. He also spoke about the 11 departments of his university, which is attended by a total of 14,000 students.

"More than 4,000 of these students are from various foreign countries. Fortunately, 1,000 of them are representatives of Azerbaijan," Oztoprak said.

Oztoprak further said the Eastern Mediterranean University pays special attention to the development of international relations and takes corresponding steps in this direction, and concludes contracts. The development of relations with Azerbaijani higher educational institutions is in particular focus.

He said the students scoring more than 600 points at the admission exams receive free education at the Eastern Mediterranean University and all kinds of conditions are provided there for their stay.

Then Oztoprak expressed support for further development of relations in the field of education, noting the steps taken in this direction, and also answered questions from the participants of the meeting.

In conclusion, Oztoprak presented a memorial gift to Safarli.