Tag: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  • Turkey starts training 67 young foreign diplomats

    Turkey starts training 67 young foreign diplomats

    The Foreign Ministry on Monday kicked off a program to train 67 young foreign diplomats from 67 countries.

    The International Young Diplomats Training Program began with a welcome speech from Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru in Ankara on Monday and will continue until April 24, according to a Foreign Ministry statement issued on Sunday.

    In his address Koru said the world is witnessing historical changes such as the Middle East and North Africa struggling for greater democracy, liberty and trust. Noting that Turkey is a rising power with a fast-growing economy in the region, Koru said, “Economic and political transformation provide Turkey with opportunities to lead the way with a more active and dynamic foreign policy in its neighborhood.”

    The diplomats will attend English-language academic platforms and conferences conducted by Foreign Ministry personnel and academics on issues ranging from Turkey’s core foreign policy principle of mediation in relations with the European Union, as well as Turkey’s history.

    The aim of the program, according to the Foreign Ministry statement, is to provide these young diplomats coming from different corners of the world with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and share their professional experience and education through different social and cultural interactions.

    Along with lectures related to the philosophy of policy development and international relations, the young diplomats will also visit Parliament, the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the Prime Minister’s Overseas Turks Agency (YTB), the Yunus Emre Institute and the Public Diplomacy Coordination office to attend various activities.

    The program participants will also travel to Konya, Cappadocia and Istanbul to study Turkey’s economic, historical, cultural and touristic wealth.

    The program was first held in 1992 and has hosted 785 young diplomats from 101 countries so far.

    via Turkey starts training 67 young foreign diplomats.

  • Turkey urges its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon

    Turkey urges its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon

    turkey lebanon flagsTurkey is advising its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Lebanon following the kidnapping of two Turkish nationals there.

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday also urged Turks already in Lebanon to take “all kinds of precautions” for their safety.

    The travel advisory was issued hours after the country confirmed that a second Turk — a truck driver — was abducted in Lebanon on Thursday.

    On Wednesday, members of a powerful Shiite Muslim clan said they had kidnapped more than 20 Syrian nationals and a Turk in retaliation for the abduction of their relative in Syria this week.

    The abductions have raised concerns that Syria’s civil war is spilling into Lebanon.

    Associated Press

    via Turkey urges its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon | Ya Libnan | World News Live from Lebanon.

  • Turkey warns US envoy over comments on domestic politics

    Turkey warns US envoy over comments on domestic politics

    06 February 2010

    US Ambassador
    US Ambassador

    Spokesman of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said U.S. Ambassador in Ankara should have refrained from comments on Turkish domestic politics.

    Spokesman of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Saturday the U.S. Ambassador in Ankara, James Jeffrey, should have refrained from comments on Turkish domestic politics.

    The MFA spokesperson’s remarks came after an interview that Jeffrey gave to a Turkish newspaper recently.

    Answering a question, the MFA spokesman said that Ambassador Jeffrey uttered certain remarks targeting Turkey’s internal policies while giving an interview to a Turkish newspaper recently.

    Based on diplomatic conventions, ambassadors should not make comments regarding internal politics of the countries in which they serve, the MFA spokesman stressed.

    Ambassador Jeffrey should approach this matter with greater sensitivity. Mr. Jeffrey should have refrained from making comments and remarks on Turkey’s internal political life, the MFA spokesman underlined.

    World Bulletin