PH Ambassador to Turkey Completes Chairmanship of the ASEAN Ankara Committee for the Second Half of 2020

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey and Chairman of the ASEAN Ankara Committee Raul S. Hernandez, along with the Ambassadors and representatives of the eight ASEAN mission in Turkey. (Ankara PE photo)

ANKARA 28 December 2020 — Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez completed his chairmanship of the ASEAN Ankara Committee Heads of Missions (AAC HOMs) for the second half of 2020.

Under his leadership of the AAC HOMs, Ambassador Hernandez implemented activities aimed at increasing awareness and raising the profile of ASEAN in Turkey.

Ambassador Hernandez led the AAC HOMs in commemorating the 53rd anniversary of ASEAN with a flag-raising ceremony in August. The eight ASEAN missions represented in Turkey, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, representatives from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the Turkish academe and media attended the event to honor ASEAN’s founding. It was one of the first diplomatic events held since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Turkey.

Ambassador Hernandez also spearheaded the first-ever book donation to the Presidential Library of Turkey in October. The AAC donated more than 100 books to the Head of the Presidential Library to provide students and researchers with access to books covering political, economic and socio-cultural topics of ASEAN and its member states. In addition to the books, other handicrafts and display items were also donated. For the Philippines, Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez, spouse of the Ambassador, donated her “Blue Mosque” painting to the Presidential Library.

However, other planned activities such as an ASEAN Family Day, an economic seminar in one of Turkey’s commercial centers and a visit to Gaziantep for political and economic engagements with local government officials were postponed due to new and more stringent measures implemented by the Turkish government in late October to stem the tide of rising COVID-19 cases in Turkey.

At a meeting and turnover ceremony presided by Ambassador Hernandez on 21 December 2020, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the AAC HOMs for their support and assistance throughout his Chairmanship and congratulated the incoming Chairman of the AAC HOMs, Cambodian Ambassador to Turkey Meas Kim Heng for assuming his new role. END

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez presiding over the last ASEAN Ankara Committee Heads of Missions meeting during his Chairmanship. (Ankara PE photo)

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Hernandez passes on the ASEAN Flag to Cambodian Ambassador to Turkey and incoming ASEAN Ankara Committee. Chairman Meas Kim Heng. (Ankara PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.ankarape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinTurkey/.