Gul presented Karamanoglu Mehmet Bey Turkish Language Award

President Abdullah Gul was presented the Karamanoglu Mehmet Bey Turkish Language Award during a ceremony which was held at the Cankaya Presidential Palace yesterday and attended by organizers and participants in the 10th International Turkish Olympiads, bringing together hundreds of foreign students each year from Turkish schools established throughout the world. During the reception, a short video was screened to show Gul's contributions to Turkish schools and the Turkish language. Afterwards, Olympiads organizing committee Chairman Mehmet Saglam said that Gul deserved the award for his contributions and that the organizing committee unanimously agreed to present him with the award this year.Saying that he is pleased to host the competition participants in Turkey, Gul said that the award was very precious for him and thanked the organizing committee for the honor. Noting that a language is a primary element of culture, Gul said Turkish Olympiads are probably the largest event serving the Turkish language. Gul said when they were discussing opening embassies in countries that have no diplomatic relations with Turkey, they realized that many of those countries already had Turkish schools. Gul also lauded Turks who travel abroad and promote the Turkish culture and called participants in the Turkish Olympiads "goodwill ambassadors" of their countries. Gul noted that these activities will result in very strong bridges between Turkey and those countries and that he thinks the value of Turkish schools will only increase in the future.