Sarajevo, October 29th 2009
On October 29th His Excellency Vefahan Ocak, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey hosted the reception to mark the Turkish Republic Day at Sarajevo city centre's historic military palace “Dom Oružanih snaga BiH”. Present at the reception were His Excellency Dr. Haris Slajdzic, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and other top Bosnian dignitaries as well as leaders of foreign diplomatic missions, community leaders, academia and representatives of international organisations. As Republic of Turkey has been taking part in a multitude of international projects for the development of Bosnia-Herzegovina the reception was again truly one of the major events in the capital's agenda.
During the reception Ambassador Ocak held a frank conversation with the IUS Rector Prof. Dr. B. Gultekin Cetiner and the IUS deans, expressing his deep conviction in a unified effort of Republic of Turkey's diplomatic, academic and business presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina, regardless of differences of opinion, towards the development and consolidation of the existing historic ties between the two countries in every field. He then announced his long-held willingness to give a special lecture at the International University of Sarajevo on the subject of international relations, meet IUS students and staff and personally contribute to the efforts of the 5-year old Bosnian-Turkish institution - a proposal the IUS Rector enthusiastically accepted.
