MEDIA STATEMENT - MEEETING WITH PRESIDENT GüL, ANKARA, TURKEY

28 April 2010

I am delighted to be making my first official visit to Turkey, and to meet today with President Gül to enhance Australia and Turkey’s long standing and warm relations.
It has been particularly moving for me to visit Anitkabir, and to reflect on the life and achievements of that most remarkable of leaders, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
I have greatly appreciated the generous welcome and assistance which is repeatedly extended by Turkey to all Australian visitors for the annual ANZAC commemorations at Gallipoli.
Gallipoli is a special place for the Turkish people, too, and I was very proud to represent our country at the Turkish International Service on April the 24th and the 57th Regiment Ceremony on the 25th.
I have been very moved by the warmth and friendship shown by the Turkish Government and people at all levels towards me and to my country men and women.
Australia looks forward to working with Turkey towards the 2015 centenary commemorations at Gallipoli.

The increasingly diverse relationship between our two countries is underpinned by the positive contribution made to Australian society by the large and active Turkish community of around 60,000 people.
I welcome, on behalf of the Australian people, the increasing number of high-level visits between our two countries.
I very much hope that President Gül will be able to take up my invitation to him to visit Australia – such a visit will further deepen our ties.
I would like to once again thank President Gül for his kind invitation to visit and for the warm hospitality we have been shown.