25 November 2014 -  Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Acting Secretary Laura Q. Del Rosario welcomed the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu and his official delegation to the DFA on the occasion of his address on November 17 before the members of the diplomatic corps, Philippine government officials, academia and think-tanks. Present during this event were former President Fidel V. Ramos and the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Teresita Deles.

Acting Secretary Del Rosario noted, in her welcome remarks, that bilateral ties between the Philippines and Turkey have steadily become stronger since the establishment of diplomatic relations 65 years ago.

In his speech, entitled "Pillars of Turkish Foreign Policy and the Asia Pacific," Prime Minister Davutoğlu enumerated the major transformations in the last 35 years that have been the basis of current foreign policies of countries: the end of the Cold War, the attacks of 9/11, the 2008 global crisis and the Arab spring. He  expounded on the three principles which guide Turkish foreign policy at present: domestic peace and the balance of freedom and security, active foreign policy in the neighborhood, and the opening up to new regions/continents.

Prime Minister Davutoğlu spoke about the multi-dimensional character of Turkey. It is considered a country which is European, Asian, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, Balkan and Mediterranean.

At the open forum, former President Ramos recalled his meeting as President with then Turkish President Süleyman Demirel when they agreed that the Philippines and Turkey should act as a gateway to the Pacific and Europe, respectively. The Prime Minister offered to pursue this initiative by former President Ramos and former President Demirel, who was the first Turkish President to visit the Philippines.

Prime Minister Davutoğlu took note that the Philippines assumes the Chairmanship of APEC at the same time that Turkey holds the Chairmanship of G20, and that further cooperation between the Philippines and Turkey could be explored in this context.

Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Director Carlos D. Sorreta presented Prime Minister Davutoğlu with a Board Resolution expressing the appreciation of the members of the FSI Board of Directors for the Prime Minister’s presentation. END