Colombian embassy in Turkish capital marks Christmas season with concert

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - Colombia’s embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara celebrated the upcoming Christmas season with a concert Wednesday by the country’s famous A Lo Loco Band.

Ambassador Julio Anibal Riano Velandia in a speech expressed his gratitude to the Turkish and Colombian guests at the event.

Türkiye shows friendship to Colombia under all circumstances and gives its support for peace in the country, he said.

Velandia noted that relations between the two countries have strengthened with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s visit to Colombia, which materialized this year in line with the "dynamic, pragmatic, constructive and multidimensional diplomacy" defended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has played an outstanding and commendable role in the current international arena and visit to Türkiye by senior Colombian officials.

Among the participants were the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Director General for the Americas, Levent Gumrukcu, other senior officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry and representatives of diplomatic missions in Ankara.

The Colombian ambassador also touched on Gumrukcu’s contributions to the improvement of relations between the two counties, expressing his deep gratitude to him.

He said Gumrukcu has dramatically helped create this strategic alliance that unites Colombia and Türkiye and makes Colombia Türkiye’s second-biggest trading partner in Latin America.

After his speech, Velandia presented Gumrukcu with a plaque.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry in November named Levent Gumrukcu as a permanent representative to NATO.

The guests at the concert also had the opportunity to taste Colombian coffee.

While Catholic and Protestant Churches observe Christmas on Dec. 25, it is celebrated by Orthodox churches on Jan. 7.