Opening Ceremony Of Sierra Leone Embassy in Ankara, Turkey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sierra Leone and Turkey had entered a new chapter of heightened diplomatic relations and international cooperation between the two nations with the establishment of Embassies in both Ankara and Freetown, with resident ambassadors, following the establishment of bilateral ties in 1971.  

In February 2018, the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey commenced operations in Freetown in a move to bolster diplomatic ties between Sierra Leone and Turkey. In early March 2020, in a reciprocal act, the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone was opened in Ankara.

The opening of the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Turkey is a bold step forward by the Government of Sierra Leone in consolidating the bilateral ties between the two countries and promises the deepening of cooperation with the Government of Turkey in several areas, ranging from cultural exchanges, tourism, defense and security, human capital development, and also leveraging Sierra Leone's unique opportunities for trade and investment from Turkey.      

The establishment of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Turkey coincided with the global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The uncertainty of the evolving catastrophic impacts of the pandemic, and large scale restrictions on the movement of people around the world, including Turkey, posed a challenge to the full-scale operation of the Embassy.

 

 

This notwithstanding, as promised by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio [Dr.], to place the highest premium on development and economic diplomacy as a core national interest, Madam Nabeela F. Tunis, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone led a delegation to Turkey to officially open the Embassy. The Minister was accompanied by Rtd. Colonel Moina B. Massaquoi, Deputy Minister of Defense, Ambassador Florence Bangalie, Director-General and some senior officers from the Foreign Ministry.      

On 3rd  November 2020, the Sierra Leone Embassy in Turkey was officially opened. The ceremony was graced by Mevlut Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, the Director-General of African Affairs and some senior officers from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps and a considerable number of African Ambassadors to Turkey and other dignitaries also participated in the event.

The ceremony was marked by keynote statements delivered by the Sierra Leone Foreign Minister and her Turkish counterpart. The Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Turkey delivered welcome remarks while the Deputy Head of Mission gave the vote of thanks.    

 

 

In their statements, the two Foreign Ministers expressed hope for more strategic engagements between Sierra Leone and Turkey, both in the public and private sectors, with the view to achieving the mutual goals and objectives of the countries.

They expressed delight for the establishment of Embassies in both Ankara and Freetown, which they underscored as an important step in consolidating bilateral ties, deepening cooperation, as well as leveraging opportunities for trade and investment between Turkey and Sierra Leone.

 

 

 

The two Ministers stressed the need for the promotion of trade and investment between Turkey and Sierra Leone and to facilitate and support companies, wishing to expand or enter the markets of the two countries.

The official opening precipitated the signing of three significant Agreements and two Memoranda of Understanding {MoU} between the Governments of Sierra Leone and Turkey. These Agreements and MoU seek not only to further cement the already strong ties that exist between Turkey and Sierra Leone but more importantly, the signings will mark the beginning of operational cooperation on trade, defense and human capital development between the two countries.

 

 

Her Excellency Madam Nabeela F. Tunis held a series of bilateral meetings with various Turkish institutions and the Sierra Leonean community. The discussions with the Turkish institutions covered a whole range of issues spanning from strategic cooperation and partnership, the deepening of trade and economic relations, and political cooperation.

In this vein, the bilateral meetings underscore the determination of the Government of President Julius Maada Bio to savor the warm and excellent bilateral relations that have existed between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Turkey since 1971.

They further underscore the need to capitalize on the potential of public-private partnerships and economic diplomacy in the interests of strengthening and expanding the traditionally, friendly and mutually beneficial ties between Sierra Leone and Turkey.