Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı attended the Start Ceremony of the Turkish Phase of the 16th Europa-Orient / East-West Friendship and Peace Rally

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı attended the Start Ceremony in Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul on 12 May 2022 for the Turkish Phase of the 16th Europa-Orient / East-West Friendship and Peace Rally

The Ceremony was held with the participation of Deputy Minister Faruk Kaymakcı, Niyazi Erten, İstanbul Deputy Governor, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Hacıcaferoğlu, Istanbul Governorship Provincial Sports Director, Wilfried Gehr, President of the Europa-Orient Rallye, Nadir Serin, President of the East-West Friendship and Peace Rally besides the representatives from General Consulates of the EU member, candidate and potential candidate states and the International Organizations located in Istanbul.

At the Start Ceremony in Istanbul, which unites the West and East, Western Europe and Anatolia, Ambassador Kaymakcı mentioned that he was pleased to be with the rally participants who traveled for miles to celebrate 9 May Europe Day and informed rally participants that they would experience Turkish hospitality in the provinces along the route. He also stated that rally racers were believed to be voluntary ambassadors of Türkiye when they return back to their home countries.