Turkish president meets students who participated in Turkish Olympics

Gul met Friday with a group foreign students and teachers who came to Turkey to participate in the 11th Turkish Language Olympics, a series of contests that hosts foreign students from Turkish educational institutions in 20 countries to sing songs and recite poetry that find their place in Turkish literature and popular culture, as well as to perform folk dance shows.

Stating he watched the Turkish Olympics with great interest on television, Gul said, "I realize how Turkish people are interested in you and welcome you with open arms everywhere you go, as well as how you impress them with your songs, poems, and shows. As far as I know, there are around 2 thousand students from all over the world. It is a great organization bringing together so many students and hosting them in Turkey while at the same time showing them our country."

Addressing to the students, Gul said, "You are the strongest bridge between Turkey and the other countries. You will grow up one day and have leading duties in your hometowns. In the future, you will definitely contribute to the cooperation between your countries and Turkey in every field."

Pointing out friendship between students served best to world peace, Gul said students coming to Turkey for the Turkish Olympics make contact with Turkish students which he said would strengthen friendship ties.   

"You contribute a lot to the promotion of Turkey and Turkish culture as well as the improvement of Turkey's relations with other countries," said Gul. "Organizations such as this one help create friendship and peace between all the children and young people across the world. It is crucial for all the people in the world with different languages, races, religions, beliefs, and cultures to respect each other and live together in peace. Otherwise, the danger of strong conflicts and great pains will be inevitable."