site.btaAnkara Hopes for New Boost in Relations with Brussels During Spanish EU Presidency

"We hope that during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ankara-Brussels relations will get a new boost," said Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay.

Bozay, who is also Turkiye's Ambassador to the EU, spoke on Thursday night at an event organized by the Spanish Embassy in Ankara on the occasion of the EU Council Presidency. The event, which featured a concert by the Limak Philharmonic Orchestra, was organized at Turkiye's Bilkent University.

The event was attended by many dignitaries, including Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozker, who was Turkiye's chief negotiator with the EU, politicians, members of the EU delegation in Turkiye. Mehmet Kemal Bozay thanked Spain for its support in Turkiye's relations with the EU.

Spanish Ambassador Francisco Javier Hergeta Garnica also pointed out that Spain had always supported Turkiye in its EU accession efforts and that it would continue to do so. He added that visa liberalization for Turkiye with the EU is extremely important.

Garnica expressed his condolences to the people who lost their loved ones in the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye on February 6, adding that the EU, and Spain in particular, were among the first to help Turkiye during the tragedy. The Spanish Ambassador added that Madrid and Brussels would continue to provide support to the areas that were severely affected by the devastating earthquakes in south-eastern Turkiye.

Garnica also thanked representatives of the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara for attending Thursday night's event, pledging that the EU will continue to support Ukraine in every way. 

Following the statements by Ambassador Garnica and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Bozay, a concert entitled "Flamenco Meets Anatolia" was held in the concert hall of Bilkent University in Ankara, conducted by Angel Hill-Ordones. This is the first time the world-famous conductor has conducted a concert in Turkiye. Spanish and Turkish works were performed.