Turkey's private sector has been contributing to the warming relations between Ankara and the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, as the region's first Turkish university officially opened in Arbil over the weekend with a ceremony attended by Iraqi Kurdish government officials and Turkish deputies and diplomats. Işık University, opened by the Fezalar Educational Company, which has been providing educational services in the region since 1994, will provide English-language education for 450 students this year.

Next year the university's engineering, dentistry, economic and administrative sciences and education faculties will also begin functioning. In addition, evening classes will be available for courses in English, computer science and business administration. The Iraqi Kurdish administration was represented at the opening ceremony by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, who delivered a speech, while a message from Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan was personally delivered by Ahmet Yıldız of the Foreign Ministry, an aide to Turkey's special envoy for Iraq, Murat Özçelik.

In his message Babacan voiced his happiness over Turkish nongovernmental organizations' contributions to the Turkish government's efforts to help Iraq in its reconstruction. He described the opening of Işık University as a very important step in this process.

"We're extending all kinds of assistance to the Iraqi people, who are passing through a difficult period, so that they can stand on their own feet again. Education is one of the most important areas and we're extending support as the Turkish government. However, there are also NGOs that offer assistance. Fezalar's education institutions have been making very important contributions in the region since 1994. I'm very pleased that they have now opened a university. I believe that it will make a contribution to improving relations between Turkey and the region," Babacan said.

In his speech Barzani stressed that the opening of the university was not only an important event in the developmental process of education in the region, but would also be helpful to the political process.

"The opening of this university signifies the building of another bridge in our relations, one that will take us toward the right approach," Barzani said.

Describing the university's opening as "a symbol of and a hope for a deepening relationship" between Iraq's Kurdish region and Turkey, Barzani voiced confidence concerning the future of this relationship, which he said would be "bright and positive."

"We understand the concerns of our neighbor Turkey, and they have a better understanding of our position and of the challenges facing us. Our position is clear. We want normal and neighborly relations with Turkey. We are confident that our future ties with Turkey can be built on a strong foundation for the future, based on four pillars: growing mutual economic benefit through commercial activities and the promotion of investment in the Kurdistan Region; enhanced dialogue and earnest cooperation in understanding the realities of the situation and the building of mutual confidence and trust; respecting each other and assuring non-interference in internal affairs, while at the same time respecting border security concerns and national sovereignty; and increased understanding of the realities on the ground and respect for the unique political circumstances on each side through our full confidence in the peaceful settlement of key issues," he added.

In addition to deputies from Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), a senior ministerial official representing Education Minister Hüseyin Çelik also attended the ceremony in Arbil.

In addition to the new university, the Fezalar Educational Company has 10 schools, including kindergartens and high schools, in the northern Iraqi provinces of Arbil, Sulaimaniya and Kirkuk.

During a meeting with the university's board of trustees, Barzani pledged to allocate a wider campus area for Işık University in the near future, saying he was personally following the issue.


TODAYSZAMAN