A cooperation protocol was signed between Bağcılar Municipality and Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) to promote Turkish language on the 100th anniversary of the Republic.

According to the statement made by the Municipality, officials from YEI, which has been providing services abroad since 2009 to promote Turkey's language, cultural heritage, and arts and to those who want to receive education in these fields, and officials from Bağcılar Municipality, which carries out exemplary work for local governments, came together in Istanbul.

During the meeting, the activities to be carried out on the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey to promote Turkish language and to emphasize the peace element in Turkish culture were discussed. Afterward, a cooperation protocol was signed between the Municipality and YEI.

Mayor of Bağcılar Municipality Abdullah Özdemir stated that with the tradition started by the founding mayor, important ties were established with all the lands left by Ottomans and that they have maintained strong relations, especially in the Balkan geography since the day he took office.

Stating that very important work has been carried out in many places from Kazakhstan to the Balkan geography, Özdemir said that they worked with a municipal tradition that extends the understanding of sister municipalities within the borders of Turkey far beyond the borders and that they believed that they would do valuable work on behalf of the geography and the country with the cooperation in this respect.

TURKISH COURSES LAUNCHED IN 196 COUNTRIES

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş said that they perform an important task in opening Turkey to the world, that the most important part of this is the teaching of Turkish language and that they establish a connection between the country and the world through culture and arts activities.

Stating that they currently have 65 centers, but they have opened Turkish courses not only in these centers but also in 196 countries this year with distance Turkish teaching, Prof. Ateş said, "This shows that the world needs Turkey's diversity, culture, and language. This is the most important contribution we can offer to the world. The world needs Yunus' breath, words, and love."

Ateş stated that they want to work harder on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the Republic and said, "I hope we will crown the understanding of a civilization that Turkey will bring to the world, the beauty of our language and the element of peace in our culture with many projects both in our near and far geography."