“We have survived so many ups and downs together. It has been an interesting period,” Özügergin told journalists at a farewell meeting at the Foreign Ministry.
“Those who are at the beginning of their career should not assume that this is business as usual. Turkish foreign policy has been going through an intensified and accelerated period of change. My advice for you is to keep your seatbelts fastened because this trend will continue,” he went on.
Özügergin is soon to become Turkey’s new ambassador in Zagreb. Özügergin was appointed as Foreign Ministry spokesman two-and-a-half years ago as Turkish foreign policy was being radically reformed.
Since new Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu assumed his position in May 2009, Turkey has expanded ties with its eastern neighbors, continued accession talks with the European Union and sought to build ties in Africa and South Asia.
Of course, there have been setbacks, namely as they pertain to Iran’s nuclear program and Turkey’s ties with Israel, whose commandos killed eight Turks and one American in the recent flotilla incident. In a move that “disappointed” the United States, Turkey, along with Brazil, voted against sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council.
Özügergin, who is expected to begin his new job in Zagreb on Aug. 15, said that the incredible speed at which foreign policy in Turkey is being developed was irreversible. “There is no going back. Turkish foreign policy will maintain this momentum in the future,” he said.
