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"Accord de coopération avec la Turquie"
Speech from Emir Kir, Minister in charge of International Relations at the COCOF (French Community Commission)
"Signing of the cooperation agreement in the fields of culture,
education and scientific research" Intervention du Ministre en Anglais

Mister Ambassador,
Mister Prime Minister,
Mister General Administrator,

On the eve of 50 years of Turkish immigration, that we will celebrate in 2014, I'm happy to sign this cooperation agreement in the fields of culture, education and scientific research.

Indeed, the organized Turkish immigration started in 1964, after the signing of the
agreement between Belgium and Turkey, initiated by the Belgian Coal Federation. The Turkish immigration was the last inflow of a series that started with the Italians in 1947 and was mainly followed by the Spanish, the Portugese, the Greek and the Moroccans.

Since more than 40 years, we share a common history with Turkey that allowed these two countries to prosper. This has resulted in numerous agreements, with a first one already concerning culture going back to 1959.

Furthermore I would like to make use of this event to point out the importance of the program "Langue et Culture d'Origine "(LCO) that allows children of about 28 schools in the French Community to learn the language of their origins.

I will be very satisfied that this solidary program that is open to other cultures will see the light of day in Turkey, so that the learning of French and the French-speaking culture can develop in the Turkish schools, mainly in the regions that have a strong connection with Belgium.

As a Minister of Culture at the Cocof, last December I had the pleasure of initiating a mini festival titled "Sounds of Istanbul" at the House of Cultures and Social Cohesion in Molenbeek. This event has allowed to honour Istanbul, nominated as the European capital of Culture in 2010, through all its musical richness.

This festival will be repeated this year with the support of, as we hope, the Turkish
authorities.

Last year I also had the opportunity to lead a mission in Turkey, with the objective to reopen the dialogue, in order to come to the agreement that brings us together at this moment. I have been able to meet numerous institutional and associative actors throughout the world, and to interact on themes such as education, citizenship and women's rights.

After this mission, with the Baudouin Foundation, I have encouraged a first work method with the objective to better inform young people and their families about mariage in the context of migration. At this moment we are doing a study on this subject that will allow us to better analyze this phenomenon. Last month one of the associations I met in Ankara came to visit Brussels to exchange, at his turn, his experiences with our operators. This way a collaboration is being established. It should continue after de mixed commissions that will be organized with the signing of this agreement.

As you can see, there were already several partnerships with Turkey. But thanks to this cooperation agreement, the connection between Brussels, Wallonia and Turkey will become stronger on cultural as well as scientific level by means of tri-annual programs approved by the 2 parties and will be launched end of 2011- beginning of 2012.

Before I conclude, I would like to thank you Mister Ambassador for your cooperation to the signing of this agreement, before the ending of your term office in Belgium.

Thank you for your attention.