International students gather for iftar in Edirne
International students studying in Edirne came together for an iftar program organized by the Edirne Coordination Office of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).
During the event, held at a local venue, YTB President Abdullah Eren engaged in conversation with the students before iftar.
Ali Mehmed, a student from the Faculty of Theology at Trakya University from Burgas, Bulgaria, recited the Quran, while İsmail Veli from Xanthi called the adhan.
After the iftar, Sabir Salai, a university student from Gostivar, North Macedonia, led the prayer of gratitude.
"The World is Almost Off Its Course"
Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer remarked that, considering recent events, the world seems to have veered off its course.
"Every day, we face turmoil and instability in different regions. This instability has started to affect almost all countries. We call the coming century the ‘Century of Peace and Tranquility.’ As a nation, under the leadership of our President, we are laying the foundations for this and working towards this goal. We are striving to ensure that Türkiye remains an island of stability and brings happiness, peace, and tranquility to our brotherly nations and our heartland," he said.
Emphasizing the importance of young people preparing themselves for the future, Sezer expressed his hope that the friendships international students form in Türkiye will continue in their home countries.
He also praised YTB for its efforts and wished success to the international students studying in Edirne.
Trakya University Hosts Many International Students
Trakya University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler noted that both Edirne and the university host many international students.
Highlighting YTB’s global initiatives, Hatipler stated:
"I would like to thank YTB for its interest in our university. We have nearly 150 students receiving YTB scholarships. Additionally, we have approximately 5,000 international students. I hope the number of YTB scholarship recipients at our university will continue to increase."
"We Currently Have 15,000 Scholarship Students from 182 Countries"
YTB President Abdullah Eren emphasized that students from all over the world come to Edirne, a historic frontier city that once served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, for education.
He noted that international students have the privilege of studying in a city rich in historical and cultural heritage.
Touching on Türkiye’s efforts to support communities with historical and cultural ties to the country, Eren said:
"Türkiye’s tremendous efforts in this regard involve the contributions of many institutions—our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant ministries, TİKA, Yunus Emre Institute, Maarif Foundation… And of course, YTB plays a crucial role in educational and cultural diplomacy. As of now, we have 15,000 scholarship students from 182 countries. These students continue their education in various cities across Türkiye. We plan to increase the number of students in Edirne in the coming years.
Edirne is a frontier city and a former Ottoman capital, and we have a governor who is working to revive the city’s historical and cultural heritage. We support Governor Sezer’s vision of extending Edirne’s outreach to the Balkans, and we will continue to contribute to these efforts."
The program was attended by Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yörük, the Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Edirne, Edirne’s Director of Culture and Tourism Kemal Soytürk, Trakya Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Director Nihat Kınık, Edirne Migration Management Director Musa Aşılıoğlu, YTB Edirne Office Coordinator Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şentürk, AK Party Edirne Provincial Chair Belgin İba, academics, and international students.
Photo: Anadolu Agency
