Prince Abdul-Aziz Visits Department of International Relations
On January 5, 2012, Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, president of the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development (AGFUND), visited the Department of International Relations. He was hosted by a group of undergraduate students taking the course Turkish Foreign Policy and the course instructor, Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar. In his speech, Prince Abdul-Aziz mainly focused on the Arab Spring and stated that this event is a consequence of years of authoritarianism, low wages and limitations on the freedom of speech. He also underscored the importance of bilateral relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia and called for carrying relations to a higher level in terms of trade as well. The prince in addition highlighted the importance of strengthening civil society cooperation in the fields of education, culture and science. In conclusion, Prince Abdul-Aziz stated that he welcomes the increasing role of Turkey in the Middle East.