Türkiye, UK two big powers on fringe of Europe: Envoy

Türkiye and the United Kingdom enjoy excellent relations as two big powers on the fringe of the European continent, the British envoy to Ankara has said, describing the former as an important partner on wider issues in the region.

British Ambassador to Türkiye Sir Dominick Chilcott bid farewell to Türkiye and the Turkish people as he completed his four-year term, through an exclusive interview with the Hürriyet Daily News.

Here are the questions and answers:

Q- You are coming to the end of your service in Türkiye. It will be your second goodbye to Türkiye when considering your first term in this country in the early 1980s. Now, after all years, what can you say about Türkiye? What emotions you are leaving here and what emotions you are carrying with you?

A- I have mixed emotions to be honest. I'm sorry to be leaving so many good friends behind in Türkiye. My wife and I have so many great memories from our two postings here. It's a huge privilege to be the British ambassador in Ankara and suddenly to lose such an interesting job with really excellent colleagues and the prestige associated with the role could be quite a shock. On the other hand, I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life and the opportunities that retirement may bring.

Q- What is unforgettable for you about Türkiye?

A- There's too many unforgettable things to mention them all. The annual commemorations at Gallipoli where enemies of over 100 years ago meet in a spirit of great friendship are very moving. The view of the Bosphorus at night-time from a rooftop restaurant is pretty unbeatable. Skiing on Mount Erciyes or Kartal Kaya with a police protection officer for company is not...