Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and 60 Turkish Ambassadors visit Mardin

With the aim of raising the effectiveness of “proactive” and “multidimensional” foreign policy implemented by Turkey, 2nd Ambassadors’ Conference was organized during 4-8 January in Ankara, under the presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu and with the participation of 200 Ambassadors officiating in Turkey and abroad. The main theme of the Conference was “Democracy, Security and Stability: A Look at 2010 in Global and Turkish Foreign Policy,”

Visiting Mardin during 9-10 January in scope of the Evalution Meeting of 2nd Ambassadors’ Conference, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and 60 Turkish Ambassadors travelled Kasimiye Madrasah, Dara Antique City, and Deyrul Zaferan Monastery and made inspections at the historical and cultural places of Mardin.

At the Dara Antique City, Minister Davutoglu was welcomed by students. Having sang Canakkale ballad together with the students, Minister Davutoglu presented books to the students. Impressed by the singing of Canakkale ballad by the students, Mr. Davutoglu asked Mardin Governor Mr. Hasan Duruer to contact with Canakkale Governor to make the necessary arrangements for hosting these students in Canakkale. Minister Ahmet Davutoglu then visited the antique city and received information from the officials.

Travelling to Deyrul Zaferan Monastery following the antique city, Minister Davutoglu and accompanying Ambassadors was welcomed by Metropolitan Bishop Saliba Özmen. Davutoglu visited the Sun Sanctuary, baptistery and praying room and the room of former metrolopolitan bishops, who lost their lives, and signed the visitors’ book at the monastery.

In his welcoming speech, Metropolitan Bishop of Deyrul Zaferan Monastery Saliba Özmen requested help from Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in bringing the historical artifacts of Assyrians to Turkey from abroad. Mr. Davutoglu replied Metropolitan Bishop Mr. Özmen, noting that the Ministry would provide the necessary bureaucratic assistance in case they prepared an inventory of historical artifacts that the Monastery was willing to bring to Turkey.

In his speech, Minister Davutoglu also noted that their aids towards Palestine would also continue. Responding to the questions of journalists in this regard, Minister Davutoglu stated that there were certain problems with the Egyptian Government, yet they continued to make efforts to overcome those problems. On the other hand, the wife of Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Mrs. Sare Davutoglu made a donation to Kırklar Church during the visit.

TABA AmCham Honorary President Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, who was born in Mardin, hosted a dinner on 10th of January, for the honor of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Turkish Ambassadors, at Ataturk Cultural Center inside the Artuklu University, where the most beautiful dishes of Mardin were served.

Speaking at the dinner organized with the participation of Mardin Governor Hasan Duruer, Mardin Mayor Beşir Ayanoğlu, Artuklu University Chancellor Prof. Dr. Serdar Bedii Omay and top officials of Mardin, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said; “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, who has been carrying out very important businesses not only in Mardin but also in all around Turkey, and put his signature under very successful projects that reflect the economic power of Turkey in foreign arena, for this beautiful dinner and his kind hospitality.

While I was having a conversation with him a little while ago, I was deeply pleased to see how Mardin public embraced us together with the youth and children. Hopefully, they will complete the construction of this excellent University, which will brighten the future of the youngsters living here, and the dormitory of Artuklu University as soon as possible. Our Chancellor is looking at us with a smile, since he knows that it is hard to build a university without a dormitory.

Here, I would like to thank Dr. Zeynel Abidin once more, who is the most prominent and important businessman raised by Mardin, known for his charitableness always. As he has stressed shortly before, we are glad to have partly contributed to the promotion of Mardin with this visit.”