Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs bade farewell to Her Excellency Bengü Yiğitgüden, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, during a farewell courtesy call on 23rd December, 2024 at the Ministry’s headquarters.
Remarking on the Ambassador’s successful posting, Minister Browne thanked Her Excellency, who is also Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, on being able to invoke a spirit of togetherness, respect and calmness in her relationship with the diplomatic community, as well as in her bilateral relations with Trinidad and Tobago. He observed that she was a good friend to many as he recalled the occasions when the Ambassador hosted events to commemorate Turkish Cuisine Week, Turkish Breakfast Day, Eid- al-Fitr and the National Day of Türkiye.
Ambassador Yiğitgüden, underscored that instilling awareness of Türkiye was one of her main objectives on arriving in Trinidad and Tobago. Her Excellency further recalled that when she presented Credentials on 27th March, 2020, Türkiye was this country’s newest Embassy and it was based on this rationale, that building awareness about Türkiye with Trinidad and Tobago and the diplomatic corps was one of her top priorities.
Discussions during the courtesy call also focused on matters of bilateral concern to Trinidad and Tobago and Türkiye. In this regard, Ambassador Yiğitgüden indicated that the Turkish Civil Aviation Ministry was considering positively a Trinidad and Tobago and Türkiye Draft Air Services Agreement. Her Excellency also took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Minister Browne to attend the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum. The Forum is held under the auspices of His Excellency Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, on the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. It is designed to serve as a platform for interactive and multi-stakeholder discussion amongst Heads of State and Government, ministers, policy makers, diplomats, business leaders, academics, think-tanks and youth and media representatives.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Türkiye have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 22nd May, 1972.
On completion of her tour of duty, Ambassador Yiğitgüden will be replaced by Ambassador-designate Ayşe Selcan Şanli, who is expected to arrive in Port of Spain in January 2025.
