Turkish president inaugurates Turkish studies department

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Sweden's King Carl XVI. Gustaf on Tuesday inaugurated the Turkish Studies Institute at the University of Stockholm. A ceremony was held at the university which was attended also by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt. Speaking at the ceremony, Davutoglu said the institute would serve as an important tool "to preserve the legacy of friendship and peace between the two nations." "Strong relations can only last long if all segments of the society own those relations and show resolve to work together. In this sense, we are starting today a very strong institutional framework to improve our strategic relations. It is the task of this institute to create a new generation of people who would reflect best the values of our two countries," Davutoglu said. Also addressing the ceremony, the Swedish foreign minister said the Turkish studies institute would make great contributions to cultural, political and economic relations.