UPDATE - Turkey’s Maarif Foundation to open schools in Georgia

UPDATES WITH MEETING OF GEORGIA’S PRIME MINISTER AND TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTER; REVISED DECK, LEDE

By Davit Kachkachishvili and Ruslan Rehimov

TBILISI, Georgia (AA) - A Turkish educational foundation has plans to open more schools in Georgia, Turkey's foreign minister said on Monday.

"I would like to say that the Maarif Foundation will open new schools in Georgia not only in Tbilisi but also in other cities,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told the opening ceremony of the International Maarif Schools of Georgia in the capital Tbilisi.

He said that the schools provide education in Georgian, English, and Russian.

“The Maarif Foundation will educate qualified students and contribute not only to the education of Georgia, but also to its future and development,” Cavusoglu added.

Stressing that the foundation operates schools in 42 countries, Cavusoglu said the quality of its education is praised by parents and leaders alike.

With the support of Turkey, the foundation will further improve the quality of education, Cavusoglu said.

The Turkish government set up the foundation soon after the 2016 defeated coup, orchestrated by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), in order to administer overseas schools linked to FETO.

Over the last three years the foundation has also established schools and education centers around the world, from Africa to Asia.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup in Turkey, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

FETO also has a considerable presence outside Turkey, including private schools that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including schools, the military, and police.

-Stronger trade ties

As part of his visit to Tbilisi, Cavusoglu met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia to discuss stronger bilateral relations.

In a brief, closed-door meeting, Cavusoglu and Gakharia spoke about boosting bilateral trade relations as well as encouraging mutual investment.

Turkey also stressed its support to Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Cavusoglu went to Tbilisi on Monday to attend the eighth Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar