12 March 2015 - Turkish Grand National Assembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) Foreign Policy Committee Chair Ahmet Berat Çonkar (Deputy from Istanbul, Ak Parti), met with Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara on March 11.
Accompanied by Philippine Minister and Consul General Robert O. Ferrer, Jr., the Ambassador briefed Chairman Çonkar on the latest developments on the West Philippine Sea dispute, and the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in 2016. Chairman Çonkar said, “The Philippines is one of the most important countries with which we are building relations. We want to improve relations further with your country. We need to accelerate the exchanges between our two countries. We are committed to the peace process in the Philippines, and we hope for positive results.”
Chairman Çonkar and the Ambassador also discussed current and future projects in the culmination of the 65th anniversary of Philippines-Turkey relations, including the successful visit of Prime Minister Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu in November, the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to President Benigno S. Aquino III, and the launch of direct flights between Manila and Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. END