Esteemed Citizens, Dear Australian Friends,

I have officially assumed my duty as the 16th Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Australia, as I have presented my credentials to the Governor General of Australia, H.E. David Hurley on 8 February 2023.

It is an honor and a pleasure to represent Türkiye in Australia in this meaningful period in which we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Republic.

Despite the geographical distance between Türkiye and Australia, shared experiences bring us closer together. The Battle of Gallipoli is of decisive importance in the identity formation of both nations. Despite the heavy losses, the heroism and sacrifices of both sides in this war brought forward a deep mutual respect.

The founder of Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sowed the seeds of Turkish-Australian friendship by his words addressing the ANZAC soldiers who lost their lives in Gallipoli: “You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace and tranquility. You are side by side with our Mehmets.” We will continue our efforts to further develop this friendship. I am happy to see that our citizens living here and our Australian friends are holding onto of this precious heritage.

Approximately 150 thousand Australians of Turkish origin constitute a special human bond and cultural bridge between the two countries. It is a source of happiness and pride for that the Turkish community, which has a special place in the multicultural structure of Australia, is active in all areas of life and integrating with the rest of the Australian society while keeping their language and culture alive. I will keep encouraging the Australian Turkish community especially to actively participate in local and federal politics, and will endeavour to stay in touch with all segments of our community, especially with the youth.

Together with my colleagues at our Embassy and the Turkish Consulates General in Melbourne and Sidney, and with the assistance and contributions from our esteemed citizens, we will do all we can to take the bilateral relations between Türkiye and Australia forward in all possible fields on a 24/7 basis.

The doors and phones of our embassy are always open to you. We would be pleased to receive your suggestions and comments in every possible area, via the addresses in the contact section of our website, our phones or our social media accounts.

Kind regards,

Ufuk Gezer

Ambassador