New British envoy pledges dedication to stronger ties with Turkey

ANKARA

Britain’s new Ambassador to Turkey Richard Moore presented his credentials to President Abdullah Gül on Feb. 4. AA Photo

Britain’s new Ambassador to Turkey Richard Moore, who recently replaced Ambassador David Reddaway, presented his credentials to President Abdullah Gül on Feb. 4, as he underlined his country’s firm support for Turkey’s EU membership bid.

“I am delighted to be returning to Turkey as Her Majesty’s Ambassador. I look forward to renewing my acquaintance with a country that has seen an incredible political and economic transformation since I last worked here in the early 1990s,” Moore said, before presenting his credentials.

Having joined the British diplomatic service in 1987, Moore served as Political and Press Officer at the British Consulate-General in Istanbul in 1991 and 1992 and as Second Political Secretary at the British Embassy in Ankara in 1990.

“As firm supporters of Turkey’s entry into the EU and as longstanding NATO allies, our countries have developed a very strong partnership. I’m confident that we will develop even stronger political, cultural and economic ties in the years to come,” Moore said.

Britain is one of the EU countries that strongly supports Turkey’s membership bid, seeing the addition of a dynamic economy and a powerful player in Middle East politics as a benefit for the EU.