Distinguished Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to have this opportunity to address you on the occasion of the Ambassadors Conference, which is being convened for the first time in the history of the Foreign Ministry, and I welcome you all.

This event is being attended by our Chiefs of Mission serving in 103 Embassies and Missions spread around the world. So, this is also an opportunity for those who have not seen each other for perhaps many years and have not directly received news from each other to get together. Our principal aim in organising this Conference is both to provide a setting for a focused exchange of views and consultation in an atmosphere of free debate, and also to make coordination between the headquarters and our missions abroad more efficient and productive.

Turkey, in terms of its historical, geographical, cultural and geopolitical position, is among the countries in the world with the heaviest foreign policy agenda. We shall conduct over the four day span of the Conference detailed discussions on all of the major topics being followed closely by the Ministry. We shall consult. The Conference will give to our Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives, the implementers of our foreign policy, the opportunity to share with their colleagues the wealth of information, experience and perspectives they have gained during their service. I would sincerely like this Conference to turn into a tradition which will continue annually. More