“We will have three Turkish police officers and international students who know Turkish and Serbian on the border for the European Turks who travel to Turkey during this holiday season," said Abdullah Eren, President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).

YTB President Abdullah Eren met with citizens in the iftar program organized by the International Union of Democrats (UID) in Munich. Speaking in the program, he underlined that YTB has offered scholarships to thousands of students coming from 170 countries and Serbian students will help the Turks living in Europe during the holiday season.

YTB President Eren emphasized that Turkish police officers in uniform will for the first time this year, serve on the borders of Serbia and they will be very dealing with the problems of citizens.  "We will have three Turkish police and international students on the border of Serbia for European Turks traveling to Turkey during this holiday season," he said. YTB President Abdullah Eren, the "welcome" event organized for the first-time by YTB at Kapıkule and İpsala border gates last year for the citizens, will be held more comprehensively this year, adding that citizens will be able to see YTB vehicles at customs gates.

“There are about 5 million Turkish people in Europe”

Commenting on the Turkish people presence in Europe, Eren said: "there are about 5 million Turkish people in Europe. The generation before us stood on their feet. Last year we participated in the opening of the DITIB mosque in Cologne. We had the opportunity to meet an uncle who had done Ramadan prayers for the first time at the famous Dom Church in Cologne in 1965. They told me how they organized such an event. We were very touched. The story of our presence in Europe is indeed a success story."

Noting that YTB was founded during the prime minister era of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and provide services for Turks living abroad as an institution, Eren added:

"As YTB, we operate in three main areas. The most important of these activities is to take care of our citizens abroad and resolve their problems. The Turkish people in Europe is trying to maintain its presence despite many challenges. However, in the face of recent developments, we need a new paradigm. What should we do to ensure that the Turks in Europe have a strong structure enabling them to stand on their feet and to contribute to the political and social development of their motherland? We exert our efforts as an institution in line with this. We strive to increase the public recognition of our institution.”

"We are working to solve the problems of our citizens abroad"

Pointing out that Turkish presence abroad has more population than many small countries, YTB President Abdullah Eren stated, “We are working with both institutions and ministries to solve the problems of our citizens. We also work intensely with our deputies. We are lobbying for you in Ankara. Military service in foreign currency is an example for these works. Also, entering the customs with vehicles and issues like the blue card... This is the biggest advantage of our institution for you. We are also trying to bring about ten thousand of our young people together in cultural and social activities camps. Additionally, we carry out activities and exert efforts in a wide variety of fields."

While listing these work, YTB President Eren underlined that they also organize training programs on human rights.

The iftar program organized in Munich saw the participation of Mehmet Günay, Consul General of Munich and around 250 guests. Following the iftar program, YTB President Abdullah Eren met with the representatives of the Turkish NGOs.