Turkish official informs students of foreign policy

Mr Suat Kiniklioglu is the AK (Justice and Development) Party Deputy Chairman of External Affairs and Spokesman for Foreign Affairs Committee in the Turkish parliament. Having given a talk to a group of students on 11 May at the University, Mr Kiniklioglu said of the visit, ‘I’m glad to see the enormous interest towards Turkey and its growing importance in world politics. I’m truly honoured to be in such a great university and to explain Turkish foreign policy outlook to the students of the University of Exeter.

He added, ‘I believe that Turkey should introduce itself further and in a right manner. Therefore, as a AK Party Deputy Chairman of External Affairs I came to explain the foreign policy vision of Turkey and our approach to the basic issues of world politics.’

Business Management student Lutfiye Tutincu is the President of the University Turkish Society and was keen to ensure that students from across the campus would have an opportunity to learn more about Turkey in a political context. Lutfiye said, ‘As a Society we wanted to have an influential speaker who would intelligently explain Turkey’s position as an increasingly influential country to students who may have a limited impression gained through the media. It’s also great opportunity for Turkish students to directly hear and ask questions on the current foreign policy. Also we are interested in finding out how relations with our bordering countries in Europe and the Middle East are responding to the foreign policy.’

To have an authoritative survey of current Turkish foreign policy from a very prominent member of the Turkish government, is important in the context of the new initiative to establish Turkish Studies at the University of Exeter according to the Director of Turkish Studies, Professor Stephen Mitchell. He said, ‘Mr Kiniklioglu is also chairman of the ‘Friends of Britain’ group in the Turkish parliament, and is pushing for the creation of a regular Anglo-Turkish forum, which will involve academics, politicians, and representatives of the cultural and business communities. His visit creates an excellent opportunity for Exeter Turkish Studies to build on these links and establish its position as a centre for advanced research into contemporary Turkey.’