Abdullah Eren, President of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), met Turkish students in New York as part of his US visit.

Eren met the school officials of Ataturk School and the Turkish students in and around New York in Turkey's Consulate General in New York. Students were much interested in the meeting. 

Eren, stating that he was in New York within his one-week visit to the US, said "Our institution is a diaspora institution. An institution trying to deal with the Turks abroad and having a main subject as to continue the bonds of Turks abroad with Turkey. Our institution is an entity that has the Turks abroad in the center of its business and tries to produce services to them".

Eren said that YTB gives scholarships to 17 thousand international students in Turkey, gives great importance to students and young people abroad, and therefore he met with students during his visits to foreign countries.

“We are looking for ways on how to protect ourselves“

Eren stated that, according to the structure of the United States, the Turks in this country are very quickly integrated into the society and the possibility of loss of Turkish language and culture, and said:

"While contributing to the communities in which our citizens are in, they should also be a part of the community and let their relations with Turkey continue; we want them to maintain their ties with Turkey. In addition to these, I give great importance to the Turkish youth and Turkish children."

Eren, stating that the students going abroad to the US to study are intelligent and successful people, said "Why shouldn't these young people contribute to Turkey's efforts? As a corporation, we have realized this meeting in order to understand what we can do for them and what we can make better contributions to them." 

Eren discussed with the students about the problems they experienced in the United States and the Turkish student communities in this country.

Alper Aktas, Turkey's Consul General in New York, said that there is high participation by students in similar activity programs. 

The delegation of YTB that will meet with Turkish citizens in New York will continue its contacts in the city tomorrow.