Turkey opens embassy in Malta as it pursues EU accession

Turkey has opened an embassy in Malta and its first resident ambassador has presented his credentials to President George Abela.

Ambassador Ethem Tokdemir said yesterday the main reason for the opening of the embassy was Turkey's bid to join the European Union. He said increased cooperation among Mediterranean countries was also a determining factor.

Mr Tokdemir said both President Abela and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg had expressed to him Malta's support for Turkey joining the EU. He said he looked forward to meeting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi soon.

At a reception yesterday celebrating the 86th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic, the country's national day, Mr Tokdemir said: "The founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, underscored that the Republic itself was a great achievement. How right he was is evident by the fact that Turkey today, with its secular, pluralistic democracy, peace promoting democracy, sound economy, modern armed forces and rich cultural life is a point of attraction in its region and a respected member of the international community".

Mr Tokdemir said today's global problems required global scale solutions. "All we need to solve these problems is a fair and inclusive global order based on trust and which regards diversity as a source of richness," he said.

Turkey, he added, continued to be a force for peace and stability in the "volatile" region in which it was located.

"With its unique location, Turkey is an Asian, European, Near Eastern and Mediterran-ean country at the same time," he said, pointing out that Turkey intended playing an active role in the Union for the Mediterranean.

He said Turkey and Malta had so far enjoyed friendly relations and he was confident the two countries would strengthen their ties in the years ahead.

The Turkish Embassy is operating from the Phoenicia Hotel. Mr Tokdemir said he hoped an embassy building would be functioning by the end of the year.