“We have been allotted a quota of 73,000 Haj pilgrims. We are grateful to the Saudi authorities for granting our requests for additional numbers this year as was the case in the past few years,” the consul general said. “The country had a record number of Umrah pilgrims this time because there were 700,000 Turkish people wait-listed for this year's Haj. Since they were not sure of being selected in the Haj draw, they chose to perform Umrah.”
Mutlu Sen said the consulate premises were being expanded and upgraded in a phased manner and the project was in its final phase.
“When completed within a year, the community will have huge space, three to four times bigger than what it is now, with a new center for conferences and also for cultural and entertainment activities,” he said. “There will be a Turkish language teaching center as well.”
Later, addressing the 87th anniversary of the country's foundation, Mutlu Sen said since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the republic on Oct. 29, 1923, Turkey's relations with Saudi Arabia have remained strong. They have been consolidated over the years on the basis of historical friendship and brotherhood.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to the Kingdom in January and later, during his visit in March, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah presented King Faisal International Award to him. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was in Jeddah to participate in the extraordinary executive committee meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on June 6 after the Israeli attack of Turkish aid flotilla bound for Gaza, the consul general said.
Referring to the expanding bilateral business ties, he said Turkey's exports to Saudi Arabia have reached $2.5 billion and imports from the Kingdom are estimated to be around $2.2 billion.
“The Republic of Turkey continues to work for peace, justice, cooperation, solidarity and welfare of people in its neighborhood, and also in the region and the world over. Turkey has played a key role in boosting peace efforts, from Kyrgyzstan to Philippines, Afghanistan to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Pakistan to Somalia,” the consul general said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spouses' Association collected more than $2 million at charity events held by overseas missions. With this donation, two hospitals will be constructed in Pakistan by the association.
Turkey is among the economies which have been least affected by the global economic crisis in 2008. And in 2010, Turkish economy reached the highest growth rate. Huge infrastructure projects have been carried out.
Recently, the highway project between Istanbul and Izmir was launched. The bridge to be constructed on Izmit Gulf as part of this highway will be the second longest bridge in the world. The project of high-speed train, which will have a speed of 250 km per hour and connect Ankara, Istanbul, Sivas and Konya, is under construction.
The referendum on the constitutional amendment package with broad participation of Turkish people has changed 26 articles of the country's Constitution. The amendment package has achieved very important reforms concerning fundamental human rights and freedoms, monitoring public sector and protection of rights. These essential amendments indicate the vitality and dynamism of democracy in Turkey, whose national basketball team came second at the World Basketball Championship held in the country.
