The UTD Mercury

Media Credit: Barrett DeCutler Deputy consul of Turkey Alt Findik gives the audience a short history lesson on the region.

Ali Findik, the deputy consul of Turkey in Houston, came to UTD as part of International Education Week, co-sponsored by the Office of International Education and International Student Services.

Findik gave a brief introduction about the country and then answered questions about Turkey and international relations. Questions included topics such as the recent presidential election and global financial crisis.

"We believe that what is good for the United States is good for Turkey," Findik said.

Findik could not comment about some political issues but said that Turkey was effectively inoculated against financial troubles by their economic crisis in 2001.

He also described Turkey as a nation with many young people and the ramifications of such a population.

"For the first time, education spending in Turkey was greater than defense. Can you imagine if that happened in the United States?" Findik said. "There are 60 million GSM (mobile phone) users in Turkey. Our population is 70 million. So by that calculation, even our babies should have cell phones."

The university worked with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, which is currently undertaking a program to connect high schools and colleges in North Texas with Turkey, with trips for teachers and follow-up programs in Richardson-area schools.

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