Turkey makes major diplomatic appointments

By Fuat Kabakci

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish government has made a number of senior diplomatic appointments, it was revealed Saturday.

According to Turkish diplomacy sources speaking on condition of anonymity, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu has been appointed as permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru will become permanent representative to the UN in Geneva. Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic will become Turkey’s ambassador to Serbia.

A number of other ambassadorial appointments were also announced: Turkey's Iraq ambassador Faruk Kaymakci was assigned as permanent representative to the EU; Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ali Kemal Aydin will become ambassador to Germany; and Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Murat Salim Esenli will become Turkey’s ambassador to Italy.

Foreign Ministry Director-General for the Middle East and North Africa Can Dizdar was assigned as UAE ambassador and Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Levent Murat Burhan will become ambassador to Ireland.

According to the same sources, EU Ministry Undersecretary Rauf Engin Soysal was appointed as Turkey’s representative to the OSCE.

Foreign Ministry Bilateral Political Relations Director-General Hulusi Kilic will become Moldova ambassador while Tunc Ugdul, Foreign Ministry research and security affairs chief, was appointed as Poland ambassador. Asligul Ugdul will become Turkey’s ambassador to Slovakia.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Sibel Ugurlu contributed to this report.