25 May 2006 – Philippine Ambassador to Ankara, Turkey Bahnarim A. Guinomla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that he presented his Letters of Credence and the Letter of Recall of his predecessor to H. E. Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President of the Republic of Turkey, and, in the course of their discussions, extended an invitation for Turkish businessmen to visit the Philippines, particularly Mindanao, to explore trade and investment opportunities there and to help in the development of the region.

Ambassador Guinomla presented his Credentials during official ceremonies at the Presidential Palace in Cankaya, Ankara on 23 May 2006.

During their meeting, President Sezer extended to the Ambassador his wishes for a successful tour of duty, and conveyed his personal felicitations to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying, “Turkey values its relations with the Philippines.”

President Sezer further expressed his desire for more high-level exchanges and visits, and increased trade between the Philippines and Turkey, noting that total trade volume was only US$47 million in 2005, Ambassador Guinomla reported.

In response, the Ambassador likewise conveyed to President Sezer the greetings of President Arroyo and agreed to President Sezer’s desire for more high-level exchanges.     Ambassador Guinomla recalled the visits of President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995 and the return visit of President Suleyman Demirel in 1999, the visit of then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2000 and the two visits of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert in 2004.

Ambassador Guinomla also discussed with President Sezer the successful Turkish trade mission in Manila from 9 – 14 May 2006 and the Preparatory Meeting of the RP-Turkey Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Meeting in July 2005.  The Ambassador informed President Sezer that the Philippines looks forward to Turkey's intention to host the first JEC Meeting in October or November this year, which would preferably include a reciprocal visit from a Philippine trade mission.

The Ambassador further suggested to President Sezer the possibility that succeeding Turkish trade delegations also consider visiting Mindanao to explore trade and investment opportunities there, and help in the development of that region where most of the Muslim Filipinos reside.

Ambassador Guinomla likewise noted the present cooperation between the Philippines and Turkey in the UN – particularly in light of Turkey's strong desire to get a non-permanent seat for 2009-2010 at the UN Security Council – and briefly discussed with President Sezer the Philippine initiatives on interfaith dialogue for peace and cooperation.

The Ambassador also thanked President Sezer for the hospitality and care extended to OFWs in Turkey.   Records of the Department show that there are  1,762 OFWs in Turkey as of December 2005.

During the presentation of Credentials, Ambassador Guinomla was accompanied by Mrs. Merly Guinomla, Embassy First Secretary and Consul General Alfonso A. Ver, and Attachés Marietta Tan, Lorraine Espiritu and Segundo Dasmariñas.  Mr. Ahmet Uzumcu, Deputy Undersecretary for Bilateral Political Affairs (Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific) of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, and Ambassador Sermet Atancali, Foreign Affairs Adviser to President Sezer, were present at the meeting with President Sezer.

Following the presentation ceremonies, Ambassador Guinomla and his delegation with the rest of the Embassy officers and staff proceeded to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, the father of modern Turkey, for the customary wreath-laying, signing of the Book of Honor and tour of the Attaturk Museum. END