ANKARA
Turkish and Qatari officials have signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to provide educational assistance to Syrian refugees.
Speaking ahead of the signing ceremony in Ankara, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus reminded that Tuesday he visited the container and tent city sheltering Syrian refugees in Turkey's southeastern city of Gaziantep, together with First Lady Emine Erdogan and her guest Sheikha Mozah, the Emir of Qatar’s mother.
He explained that Mozah is the head of Qatar-based international foundation "Education Above All," which will support the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, or TIKA, in offering various education services and making investments in countries other than Turkey and Qatar, as part of the memorandum of understanding.
"The foundation will also increase cooperation with Turkey's emergency and disaster agency -- AFAD -- in helping with the education of Syrian refugees and their children in Turkey," he added.
Kurtulmus noted a further delegation from Qatar is due to visit Turkey in November to determine the places, cities and means to conduct the education projects for refugee children.
He said he hoped the investments in these countries and education efforts towards Syrian refugees will further strengthen existing cooperation between Turkey and Qatar.
First lady takes initiative to strenghten the cooperation
Emine Erdogan's guest Sheikha Mozah, AFAD President Fuat Oktay and head of TIKA Serdar Cam also attended the signing ceremony.
Relations between the two countries have steadily progressed in recent years. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to Qatar in mid-September – his first to an Arab country since assuming the presidency in late August.
During Erdogan's visit, the two countries agreed to establish a supreme strategic cooperation council – tasked with promoting bilateral ties – to be chaired jointly by the Turkish president and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
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