29.12.2016 Ankara
TOBB Economy and Technology University (TOBB ETU) awarded an honorary doctorate to Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi. Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB ETU Board of Trustees Chair M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Turkey is the highest investing country into Kosovo behind Germany and Switzerland with a volume of 341 million Euros.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkish
companies operating in Kosovo are providing employment to about 10,000 people.
In terms of foreign direct investment in Kosovo, Turkey is third highest
investing country following Germany and Switzerland with a total volume of 341
million Euros. The total value of projects undertaken by Turkish contractors in
Kosovo has reached 1.4 billion Euros.”
TOBB ETU Chairman of
the Board of Trustees M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Kosovo and Turkey are
two sister countries that share their love and sorrow. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Turkey acknowledges and supports Kosovo's independence thanked President Thaçi
for declaring his support for the elected government and democracy against the
coup plot the very next day after the July 15th coup attempt.
Stating that TOBB
University of Economics and Technology is a young university of 13 years,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It has been one of the most preferred universities in Turkey
since its first years. Our university has a closed area of 162 thousand
square meters consisting of a campus consisting of 23 departments and 7
research and application centers, sports center, social facilities, student
guesthouses, laboratories and technology center, 5 thousand 100 students, a
large academic staff of 464 people. The joint training program, a first in
Turkey, has become a model for industrial university cooperation in our
country. Our academic staff consists of highly distinguished and qualified
names, both from home and abroad. As an indicator, we are in the top 5 of all
private universities for scientific success. As TOBB ETU, which has achieved
such great success, we are honored to receive the President of our sister country
Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, and to present him with an honorary doctorate.”
Stating that Kosovo
has made significant developments in transition to a market economy and in
keeping macroeconomic stability, Hisarcıklıoğlu continued:
“Turkish companies
operating in Kosovo are providing employment to about 10,000 people. In terms
of foreign direct investment in Kosovo, Turkey is third highest investing
country following Germany and Switzerland with a total volume of 341 million
Euros. The total value of projects undertaken by Turkish contractors in Kosovo has
reached 1.4 billion Euros. Kosovo boasts many successful Turkish investments in
many areas such as banking, health, food, as well as important projects such as
airport construction and operation, highway construction and electricity
distribution. We are proud to have contributed to the development of Kosovo and
we are working to move it further.”
- Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi
Kosovo President
Hashim Thaçi touching on the matter of terrorist attacks and said that the
organizations which attack Turkey are also considered terrorists by Kosovo.
Stating that, “Kosovo's independence was the best solution,” Thaçi touched on
the consensus reached in regards to Kosovo's independence.
Drawing attention to independent
institutions in Kosovo, the guest President Thaçi said, “Directives of the
independent institutions are being put into effect in Kosovo. Stating that the
belief of people in justice and democracy are rising, Thaçi spoke about Kosovo's
relations with neighboring countries.”