Dear Mr. President Dr. Lee Si-hyung,
Distinguished members, dear friends,

I would like to express my gratitude for your kind invitation on the occasion of Korea-Turkey Friendship Association General Meeting. It is an honour and privilege for me to share this evening with you.

We are following with appreciation the valuable endeavors of your Association for further developing the happily existing excellent relations between our countries. Friends are for difficult days. We came to fight and sacrifice our lives for the independence of Korea and Korean people through your Association came to help earthquake victims in Turkey. Your contributions will never be forgotten.

Korea has a very special place in our hearts and mind. We highly value Korean people and address them as “blood brothers”.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Korea.

Our relations in all avenues have recently gained great momentum. His Excellency Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, paid an official visit to Turkey on 19-20 January. His Excellency the President Lee Myung-bak also paid a state visit to Turkey on 4-7 February. During the Ministerial visit, an action plan that will serve as a road map for the next 5 years was signed by both Foreign Ministers. During the Presidential visit, a joint declaration that upgraded our existing close and friendly relations to the level of strategic partnership was also signed by the Presidents. Our Prime Minister, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is envisaged to attend the Nuclear Security Summit that will take place in Seoul on 26-27 March.

Within the next couple of months, we are expecting several Ministerial and other high level visits including military exchanges as well.

There will be a “Turkish wave” in Korea this year. We will participate in the Yeosu World Expo. During the Expo period, we will organize several cultural activities in Seoul and Yeosu. A Turkish exhibition called “Emperors in İstanbul” will take place at the Korean National Museum and probably in Busan. Furthermore, “Turkish Cultural Days” will be organized in Seoul either in September or October.

As the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, I will always stand by and support you with great pleasure in all your activities aiming to further enhance the Turkish-Korean friendship.

It is my sincere wish and hope that your future contributions will reflect the newly announced strategic partnership era.

I have been informed that you have already elected the new President. I sincerely congratulate her and promise to extend all my support.

Thank you once again for your kind invitation and also for giving me this opportunity to address to such a distinguished audience.