Turkish ambassador’s goodbye reception draws the great and good from across the capital
Londra Gazete’s Burak Gülşen and Michael Daventry presented Mr Çeviköz with a commemorative Londra Gazete front page
Turkey’s ambassador to London ended his four-year stint in the UK with references to Samuel Johnson, Robert Burns and the recently relegated Fulham football club.
Ünal Çeviköz, who was appointed shortly after the formation of the coalition government in 2010, said his term in office had been a triumph for Anglo-Turkish diplomatic and business relations.
He said it began almost from day one: “Only ten days [after my arrival in London], Prime Minister David Cameron visited Turkey. Most of my colleagues in Ankara when they saw me back in such a short time could not help but say, ‘Gosh. If you bring the prime minister in ten days, who knows what is to be achieved after that?’”
FAILED TO PERSUADE BORIS JOHNSON
“We achieved a lot, dear friends. President Abdullah Gül of the Republic of Turkey has visited the United Kingdom three times in the last four years. Prime Minister Erdoğan visited twice. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and other ministers visited London on numerous occasions.
“I failed, however, to convince the Mayor of London, Mr Boris Johnson, to go and visit Turkey and trace back his ancestors in Anatolia. But I’m not discouraged. Rumours say that he may be considering riding to Turkey on horseback.”
EU MEMBERSHIP APPEAL
Mr Çeviköz also spoke of his determination that his country would eventually achieve EU membership – but said he hoped Britain would still be there when it happened:
“In all these instances I was so glad to observe the committed and determined support of the United Kingsdom to Turkey’s memebrshiop in the European Union.
“Now this is very important, be patient and bear with us. With your support we will make it one day and when we do we want to be in the European Union together with the United Kingdom. So do not leave.”
Mr Çeviköz extolled his and his wife’s love of London, its sporting opportunities and party conferences, referencing Samuel Johnson’s words that “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”.
He went on: “But there is one basic reason why I am unwillingly leaving London. In addition to rowing and cycling, I am also a fan of football. For the last four years I have been supporting Fulham.
“As you know, Fulham is relegated this season and will not be in the Premier League next season. Now with this agony I am afraid I cannot stay any more in London,” he said, to much laughter.
Mr Çeviköz concluded his words with the chorus from auld lang syne.
He was subsequently presented with a commemorative issue of Londra Gazete, featuring stories in newspaper from his time in office.
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newspaper.jpg Londra Gazete’s Burak Gülşen and Michael Daventry presented Mr Çeviköz with a commemorative front page
