Former Danish Ambassador to Turkey Jesper Vahr, who will soon assume his duties as deputy secretary-general of NATO in Brussels, hosted a luncheon in Ankara on Thursday on the occasion of Dr. Sarıibrahimoğlu's appointment as the honorary Turkish consul general of Iceland. Iceland's ambassador to Denmark also acts as its ambassador to Turkey, and some issues such as visas are handled by the Danish Embassy in Ankara.
Ambassador Vahr noted that Sarıibrahimoğlu will successfully fulfill the duties of the honorary Turkish consul general, given his strong background including his legal expertise. Iceland has the oldest parliament in the world, set up in A.D. 930 (thus 1,100 years old) recalled Ambassador Vahr, adding that Iceland has been a pioneer in press freedoms, gender equality and rights for minorities.
Dr. Sarıibrahimoğlu noted during his speech at the luncheon that his expertise on EU affairs may also help Iceland to sort out its fishing problems with the union. Sarıibrahimoğlu also stated that through Danish Ambassador Vahr's new position as the deputy secretary-general of NATO, the world will better understand the Islamic world as well as Turkey's role in this world.
Hasan Gerçeker, head of the Supreme Court of Appeals and former Turkish foreign minister, as well as ambassadors from Canada, Austria, Egypt, Israel, India, Brazil and Venezuela were present at the luncheon given in Dr. Sarıibrahimoğlu's honor.
Dr. Sarıibrahimoğlu, an Ankara-based lawyer, has received the Order of Civil Merit from Spain, Austria's Golden Order of Merit and Brazil's National Order of the Southern Cross due to his outstanding achievements in legal services.
