Turkey's religious affairs authority plans to establish a Turkish-Islamic cultural center that would work as a think tank organization, top Muslim cleric of the country said on Friday.

Ali Bardakoglu, head of Turkish Religious Affairs Dept., said that the center would bring together Turkish students, businessmen and academics living in United States and help to the promotion of Turkey in this country.

"It can also play an important role to change in a better way the American public opinion's view about Islam," Bardakoglu told the A.A.

Bardakoglu also said that his department would increase the number of mosques and religious staff in the United States.

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