Ministers,
PFDJ Members,
Ambassadors,
Members of Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentleman,
Zihaberkumn, Zihaberknn,

I warmly welcome you all to the Turkish Embassy.

The Republic of Türkiye was founded 95 years ago today under the wise leadership and vision of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Since then, Türkiye has undergone comprehensive political, economic and social reforms which have anchored her among the democratic and modern nations of the world.

Our strong and competitive economy is now the sixth largest in Europe and among the twenty largest in the world.

Türkiye, in its region, continues to be a functioning secular democracy that has embraced the universal values of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law.

The significance of Türkiye’s successful transformation is perhaps more visible than ever today, as our entire region struggles with wars, conflicts, poverty and humanitarian crises.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are witnessing a historical period in the Horn of Africa. Political dynamics are changing rapidly. Consolidation of lasting peace and stability will no doubt bring economic and social development to this strategic region. Türkiye welcomes the bold initiatives taken by the governments of the region and will continue her cooperation and development support in the region and in the continent of Africa.

As a strategic partner of the Continent, Türkiye is very keen to share her experience with African countries. Overall, Turkish investment in Africa has surpassed 6 billion USD in recent years. These investments are providing much needed jobs and infrastructure.

Türkiye’s well-acclaimed humanitarian diplomacy continues to make a difference in Africa. Development-oriented humanitarian cooperation constitutes the core of Türkiye’s policies in this respect. Türkiye is the largest humanitarian donor in the world when the ratio of official humanitarian assistance to national income is being taken into consideration.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and the State of Eritrea.

Türkiye and Eritrea share deep rooted historical, cultural and social ties. Upon this heritage, exchanges in many fields are increasing rapidly. People to people contact is one of the most important. Within the framework of Türkiye scholarships, dozens of Eritrean students are continuing their university education in Türkiye. Thousands of Eritreans are visiting Türkiye every year thanks to direct flights by Turkish Airlines between Asmara-İstanbul.

On this important day, I am proud to announce that a new airport in İstanbul is formally being opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The airport, one of three biggest in the World, will solidify this historic city’s position as an international air traffic hub.

Distinguished Guests,

Before concluding, I would like to pay our utmost respect to our Great Leader and Founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all the martyrs who gave their lives for the independence and welfare of Türkiye.

I would also like to announce that a photo exhibition about the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Türkiye will remain open in the Gallery until the evening of Friday. You can see some of these photos here today. Please feel free to pay a visit in order to get a glimpse of the historical sites of Türkiye.

Finally, I reiterate my commitment to contribute to the further strengthening and development of the existing cooperation and I invite you to join me in raising a glass to the Türkiye-Eritrea friendship.

Now, I would like to invite you all to enjoy the Turkish buffet.