The Diplomatic Observer

13/05/2026

CROATIA’S NATIONAL AND ARMED FORCES DAY CELEBRATED IN ANKARA
A reception was held at the Divan Hotel in Ankara to mark Croatia’s National and Armed Forces Day, hosted by Croatia’s Ambassador to Ankara, Hrovje Cvitanovic, and Defence Attaché Colonel Ivica Grebenar.
The reception was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya, mission representatives based in Ankara, and a large number of guests.
The reception began with the playing of the national anthems of both countries. In his opening address, Ambassador Cvitanovic highlighted the aid they had provided in the provinces affected by the 6 February earthquakes, noting that they had opened schools in three provinces. Ambassador Cvitanovic stated that Croatia supports Turkey’s bid for EU membership.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Kulaklıkaya noted that Turkey and Croatia are working closely together for regional peace, prosperity and stability.

13/05/2026

CROATIA’S NATIONAL AND ARMED FORCES DAY CELEBRATED IN ANKARA
A reception was held at the Divan Hotel in Ankara to mark Croatia’s National and Armed Forces Day, hosted by Croatia’s Ambassador to Ankara, Hrovje Cvitanovic, and Defence Attaché Colonel Ivica Grebenar.
The reception was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya, mission representatives based in Ankara, and a large number of guests.
The reception began with the playing of the national anthems of both countries. In his opening address, Ambassador Cvitanovic highlighted the aid they had provided in the provinces affected by the 6 February earthquakes, noting that they had opened schools in three provinces. Ambassador Cvitanovic stated that Croatia supports Turkey’s bid for EU membership.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Kulaklıkaya noted that Turkey and Croatia are working closely together for regional peace, prosperity and stability.

13/05/2026

13/05/2026

A PANEL DISCUSSION ENTITLED “A DIALOGUE ON NATO” WAS HELD IN ANKARA
Hosted by Wendy Wyver, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, and organised in collaboration with the Embassies of the United Kingdom, Germany and France, a panel discussion entitled “The Advance to Ankara: A Dialogue on NATO” was held.
The panel, held at the British Ambassador’s Residence, featured as moderator the Director of GMF’s Southern and Wider Europe Programme; GMF Ankara Director Özgür Ünlühisarcıklı, and as speakers, the UK’s NATO Military Representative, Brigadier General Eldon Millar; French diplomat and expert on defence and security issues, Alexandre Quinet; Dr Christian E. Rieck, Associate Professor of War Studies at the University of Potsdam in Germany; and Ali Emre Özen, Deputy Director General for NATO and Euro-Atlantic Security and Defence Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event, which discussed the objectives of the NATO Leaders’ Summit to be held in Ankara on 7–8 July 2026, was attended by embassy staff, military attachés, members of the press and distinguished guests.

13/05/2026

CROATIA’S NATIONAL AND ARMED FORCES DAY CELEBRATED IN ANKARA
A reception was held at the Divan Hotel in Ankara to mark Croatia’s National and Armed Forces Day, hosted by Croatia’s Ambassador to Ankara, Hrovje Cvitanovic, and Defence Attaché Colonel Ivica Grebenar.
The reception was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya, mission representatives based in Ankara, and a large number of guests.
The reception began with the playing of the national anthems of both countries. In his opening address, Ambassador Cvitanovic highlighted the aid they had provided in the provinces affected by the 6 February earthquakes, noting that they had opened schools in three provinces. Ambassador Cvitanovic stated that Croatia supports Turkey’s bid for EU membership.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Kulaklıkaya noted that Turkey and Croatia are working closely together for regional peace, prosperity and stability.

13/05/2026

A PANEL DISCUSSION ENTITLED “A DIALOGUE ON NATO” WAS HELD IN ANKARA
Hosted by Wendy Wyver, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, and organised in collaboration with the Embassies of the United Kingdom, Germany and France, a panel discussion entitled “The Advance to Ankara: A Dialogue on NATO” was held.
The panel, held at the British Ambassador’s Residence, featured as moderator the Director of GMF’s Southern and Wider Europe Programme; GMF Ankara Director Özgür Ünlühisarcıklı, and as speakers, the UK’s NATO Military Representative, Brigadier General Eldon Millar; French diplomat and expert on defence and security issues, Alexandre Quinet; Dr Christian E. Rieck, Associate Professor of War Studies at the University of Potsdam in Germany; and Ali Emre Özen, Deputy Director General for NATO and Euro-Atlantic Security and Defence Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event, which discussed the objectives of the NATO Leaders’ Summit to be held in Ankara on 7–8 July 2026, was attended by embassy staff, military attachés, members of the press and distinguished guests.

10/05/2026

SPICE ROUTE: A TASTE OF INDIA AT THE ANKARA SHERATON HOTEL
In a collaboration between the Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Centre and the Embassy of India, the finest flavours of Turkish and Indian cuisine came together on the same table.
A special menu, created by Director of Culinary Zeki Açıköz and Executive Chef Deependra Garain, featuring a fusion of Turkish and Indian dishes, was presented to guests.
The Indian Ambassador, Muktesh Pardeshi, along with other ambassadors and distinguished guests, attended this special evening.

10/05/2026

SPICE ROUTE: A TASTE OF INDIA AT THE ANKARA SHERATON HOTEL
In a collaboration between the Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Centre and the Embassy of India, the finest flavours of Turkish and Indian cuisine came together on the same table.
A special menu, created by Director of Culinary Zeki Açıköz and Executive Chef Deependra Garain, featuring a fusion of Turkish and Indian dishes, was presented to guests.
The Indian Ambassador, Muktesh Pardeshi, along with other ambassadors and distinguished guests, attended this special evening.

09/05/2026

THE 81st ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY DAY WAS CELEBRATED AT THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN ANKARA
An event was held in the embassy garden to mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of N**i Germany in the Second World War, referred to by the Soviet Union as the ‘Great Patriotic War’.
The event was attended by Sergei Vershinin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Ankara, along with Anatoli Glaz, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Ankara, and a large number of guests.
The ceremony, which began with the 9th ‘Immortal Regiment’ March organised by Karina Düzçimen, President of the Association of Russian Language Teachers and Translators in Ankara, with the support of the Embassy and the Russian House, featured speeches by Ambassador Vershinin and Ambassador Glaz.
At the Russian House, another venue for the event, theatre, music and dance performances were held.