07 July 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Ankara hosted a dinner showcasing Filipino dishes for members of the Turkish Parliament (TürkiyeBüyük Millet Meclisi) who are also members of the Turkey-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group on June 25 at the Mabini Hall of the Embassy Chancery.  The Department of Foreign Affairs Ladies Foundation-Ankara Chapter also performed Cariñosa during the event.

The Chairperson of the Turkey-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, MP Safiye Seymenoğlu of the AK Party and Deputy of the City of Trabzon, led the parliamentarians, namely: MP Adnan Yilmaz, Deputy of the City of Erzurum; MP Osman Kahveci, Deputy of the City of Karabϋk; and MP Tülay Babuşçu, Deputy of Balikesir. All are from the ruling AK Party.  The Director General of the Protocol Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Levent Murat Burham also joined the dinner.

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez discussed the Philippines and proposed trip of the parliamentarians to the Philippines while the Deputies updated the Ambassador on developments within the ruling AK Party and the imminent nomination of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the party's official candidate for President.

“The dinner was the first step towards reinvigorating the Turkey-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group,” said Ambassador Sanchez.

“We look forward to visiting the Philippines during this special year commemorating our warm and friendly relations as we have heard so much about the beauty of the country,”  stated Deputy Yilmaz.

Deputy Seymenoğlu added, “We also eagerly await the first meeting with our counterparts in the Philippine Congress.”  END