ISTANBUL (AA) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Wednesday that those who say that Europe and Turkey could not be represented in the same organization, ignore an important part of the common history between them.
Addressing a ceremony at Marmara University where he received `doctor honoris causa` degree, Schroeder said that he hoped to do his utmost for Turkish-German friendship together with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Referring to the close cultural, commercial and economic ties between Turkey and Germany and between Turkey and Europe, Schroeder said that the Ottoman Empire played an important role in the history of Europe. Reminding the migration of many German citizens to Turkey upon the initiative of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during the `terror regime of nationalist socialists`, Schroeder said that many scientists who were on exile also came to Turkey during those times and they contributed to development of Turkish universities.
In his speech, Schroeder also underlined the importance of the cooperation and student exchange programs between universities of the two countries.
(֓-MS)
2005-05-04