PH Ambassador to Turkey Assumes ASEAN Ankara Committee Chairmanship for Second Half of 2020

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez gives his acceptance speech at the turnover ceremony of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ankara Committee Heads of Missions (AAC HOMs). (Ankara PE photo)

ANKARA 03 July 2020 — In a turnover ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara, Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez assumed chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ankara Committee Heads of Missions (AAC HOMs) for the second half of 2020 from Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, who completed his chairmanship of the AAC on 30 June 2020. 

Ambassador Hernandez congratulated Ambassador Iqbal for successfully carrying out scheduled AAC activities in the first half of 2020 despite limitations arising from the coronavirus pandemic. He also expressed his gratitude to the eight resident AAC HOMs (Ambassadors, Chargé d’Affairs), who in a meeting in April, unanimously agreed that Ambassador Hernandez, as the most senior diplomat of the group, is best-positioned to take over chairmanship of the AAC for second half of the year. This gives the time needed for the next-in-line chairman, incoming Ambassador from Cambodia, to prepare for the task.

Ambassador Hernandez informed the HOMs of his plans to mount several activities during his tenure to further raise the profile of ASEAN in Turkey, while being mindful of the present and projected COVID-19 situation for the rest of the year. These include the ASEAN flag-raising ceremony, ASEAN Family Day, a visit to the newly-opened Presidential Library for a book donation, an economic seminar in Turkey’s commercial center in Istanbul, and a visit to one of Turkey’s cities for political and economic engagements with local government officials.

The AAC was established in January 2009 with the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam as the first five members. Over the years, it has grown to include Singapore, Brunei, and Cambodia. The AAC has collectively worked together to promote ASEAN’s political and economic interests by forging sustainable partnerhips with Turkish government agencies, local government units, business entities, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the academe. It has also endeavored to bring the concept of ASEAN to the consciousness of Turkish society by embarking on promotional events that showcase each ASEAN member countries’ various cultures, arts, and cuisines. END

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez receives the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag from Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhamad Iqbal in a symbolic gesture. (Ankara PE photo)

The eight of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ankara Committee Heads of Missions (AAC HOMs) pose for a family photo. (Ankara PE photo)

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