Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı received US Ambassador John Bass who paid him a courtesy visit.  

Minister Avcı greeted newly appointed US Ambassador Bass saying “welcome to Turkey and the Ministry of National Education” and stressed that Turkish-American ties go way back in history.

Minister Avcı said since 1945 the two countries have undertaken “good work” in all fields of education and added “Allah willing we will do much better things during your tenure here. Our relations date back in history and we have excellent close cooperation especially in the field of education. Yet as President Obama pointed out during his visit to Turkey our relations are “a model partnership “and thus much more is expected of our ties.” 

Saying “We have a tradition: Our president, our minister of culture and our minister of national education all speak Turkish at official talks but listen in English” and gave information about the figures on students being educated in the two countries.

Minister Avcı said Turkey sends 1519 students on official grants to the US and that Turkish students are among the top three in the US universities among foreign students with the Turks who pay for their own tuition. On the other hand Avcı reported that there are 247 American students at Turkish universities paying for their own tuition. Minister Avcı went on to say “we have to increase these figures. We need more Turkish students at American universities and more American students at Turkish universities.”

Ambassador John Bass thanked Minister Avcı for the hospitality accorded to him.