Azerbaijan to establish school in Istanbul

An educational institution of the Republic of Azerbaijan will be established in Istanbul, which will operate at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, The Daily Baku reports.

This was reflected in the draft law “On approval of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye on cooperation in the field of education dated October 31, 2017” submitted for discussion at today's session of the Milli Majlis.

It was noted that the current Additional Protocol was prepared for the purpose of implementing the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye on cooperation in the field of education dated October 31, 2017. The said Agreement determines the legal basis of cooperation in the field of education between the two states, envisages the development of relations between educational institutions, exchange of experience, and implementation of joint educational initiatives.

The Additional Protocol was concluded in accordance with Article 19 of the Agreement and regulates issues related to the commissioning of school buildings, the implementation of educational activities in those buildings, as well as management, financing, and repair and restoration matters.

Under the Protocol, it is envisaged that an educational institution of the Republic of Azerbaijan will be established in Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, operating at primary, secondary, and high school levels in accordance with Turkish legislation. It also provides for the mutual, indefinite, and free-of-charge allocation of appropriate buildings in the Republic of Azerbaijan for the operation of Baku Turk Education Institutions.

At the same time, ownership rights to the school buildings will remain with the party that provides them for use.

The document reflects the provisions on the implementation of education in the Azerbaijani educational institution on the basis of state educational programs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and international educational programs, teaching the Turkish language and Turkish subjects, provision of teaching staff, mechanisms for payment of salaries, customs procedures for textbooks and teaching materials, as well as the issuance of temporary residence permits for teachers and their family members.

The Additional Protocol determines the use of school buildings only for educational purposes, the procedure for terminating the right of use in cases of permanent suspension of educational activities, as well as the procedures for handing over the buildings in a suitable condition. At the same time, it is determined that the repair, restoration, reconstruction, and additional construction works are the responsibility of the Party Providing the Use, and in the event of termination of the right of use, the objects and structures subsequently constructed by that party shall remain the property of the Party Providing the Building for Use without compensation.

Additional Protocol envisages the regulation of financial issues, including the collection of taxes and duties, in accordance with the national legislation of the parties.

The draft law was put to a vote and adopted in one reading.