Denmark

President Gül, accompanied by First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül, paid a state visit to Denmark at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. Pointing out that this visit was the first Presidential visit from Turkey to Denmark, President Gül noted that Turkish-Danish bilateral relations can be traced back to the 18th century and emphasized the existing fellowship between the two countries. The President, addressing Turkey-Denmark Business Forum in Copenhagen, also laid an emphasis upon the great economic potential both countries enjoy. President Gül, on the last day of his visit, received a delegation of the Muslim Community in Denmark.

President Gül, accompanied by First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül, paid a state visit to Denmark at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II.

President Gül was welcomed with an official ceremony. The Presidential plane, upon entering the Danish airspace, was escorted by two F-16 military jets belonging to the Royal Air Force. The First Couple got off the plane with the march played by the Royal Guards of Honor Band and were welcomed by Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik.

PRESIDENT GÜL AT THE AMALIENBORG PALACE

After the welcoming ceremony, President Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül proceeded to the Amalienborg Palace.

The Royal Mounted Troops escorted the motorcade of President Gül enroute to the Amalienborg Palace, where the Presidential Couple were welcomed with a ceremony. Afterwards, the Royal Family and the First Couple had a tete-a-tete.

 

WORKING LUNCHEON WITH BUSINESS LEADERS

President Gül, as part of his official program in Denmark, met with Turkish and Danish business leaders at a working lunch. Evincing his pleasure to be addressing business leaders, President Gül said that his visit is the first presidential visit from Turkey to Denmark. Noting that Turkey and Denmark enjoy robust political relations, the President pointed to the necessity for both countries to boost the existing bonds in the economic area, as he said the current volume of trade between the two countries is less than two billion dollars, which he added should be raised.

 

TURKEY-DENMARK BUSINESS FORUM

President Abdullah Gül and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark participated in the Turkey-Denmark Business Forum held at the Confederation of Danish Industries.

Turkey - which enjoys a GNP worth more than 1 trillion dollars by purchasing power parity, which is the world’s 16th biggest and Europe’s 6th biggest economy, and which is a member of the G-20, the next summit of which is to be held in our country - offers huge potential for investors indeed. Although it is not an EU member, it has been a part of the Customs Union, which means there is no customs wall between our countries. We have made our country even stronger by implementing the necessary regulations and reforms. We have also fulfilled the necessary conditions including the Copenhagen criteria and the Maastricht criteria as part of our negotiation process with the EU. Danish investors should seize the opportunities that Turkey can offer with its broad area of influence in its region. Wherever you go in Central Asia, you will see huge projects successfully completed by Turkish firms. The projects which Turkish contractors have carried out in other countries in the last decade are worth more than 250 billion dollars. Turkish and Danish business leaders can also establish partnerships and conduct projects in other countries and regions as well including the Caucasus, the Balkans, North Africa and the Russian Federation.”

 

OFFICIAL DINNER HOSTED BY THE ROYAL COUPLE

President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül attended the official dinner that Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik hosted in their honor at the Amalienborg Palace. Delivering a speech at the dinner, President Gül expressed his wish that the existing fellowship between Turkey and Denmark which dates back centuries be fortified in all areas, adding: “The Turkish community in Denmark whose number is almost 65.000 is the largest international community in that country. These Turkish people and the Danish citizens who have made Turkey their second homeland serve as one of the most sturdy bonds between our peoples. We are resolute to further consolidate our bilateral relations on this robust foundation.”

Recalling that the first sentence of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, which was signed between the Ottoman Empire and Denmark in 1756, said that “an eternal peace and intimate friendship shall be established between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Denmark”, President Gül noted: “we are glad to observe today that the principles that have left their marks in Turkish-Danish deep-rooted relations which date back 258 years are partnership and cooperation that resonate in this fellowship.”

President Gül, on the second day of his visit, met with Speaker Mogens Lykketoft of the Danish Parliament.

 

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

President Abdullah Gül held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

President Gül evinced his pleasure to be paying the first Turkish Presidential visit to Denmark and pointed out that Turkish-Danish bilateral relations can be traced back to 1756, when he noted a Friendship, Commerce and Navigation Agreement was signed between the then Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Denmark, sharing his wish to boost the existing relations between the two countries on the occasion of his visit.

 

TURKEY’S ACCESSION PROCESS TO THE EU

President Gül further informed his audience that during their talks with Danish officials, they had discussed Turkey’s negotiation process with the EU, adding that he had expressed Turkey’s wish that the political and artificial obstacles put in the way of Turkey on the path toward the EU be lifted so that Turkey could successfully conclude this process. “I have also shared my concerns about Islamophobia and xenophobia rising in Europe.”

 

IMPORTANCE OF UKRAINE’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

The President further noted that they had also exchanged views on the current developments in the international arena including the events in Ukraine and Cremea, underscoring the importance of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “We have reiterated that such de facto situations could lead to other problems in Europe and accentuated the significance of conforming to international law all the time. We also share the view that starting a new cold war would do no one any good. Instead, it would cause harm to all.”

Turkey is among the countries that know best the tragedies being experienced in Syria and is also one of those that assume the biggest burdens of this, declared the President, explaining that some 250.000 Syrian refugees are living in Turkey. Our country has spent more than 2.5 billion dollars to meet the needs of these people, said the President. “I have informed the Danish Prime Minister that there are also grave security issues in Syria, where there are also cross fires and underscored the importance of preventing any radicalism in that country.”

 

FIRST LADY MEETS WITH CROWN PRINCESS MARY

Accompanying President Abdullah Gül on his state visit to Denmark, First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül met with Crown Princess Mary at the Amalienborg Palace.

Hosting the First Lady at the Amalienborg Palace, Crown Princess Mary also gave a luncheon in honor of Mrs. Gül. Crown Princess Mary informed the First Lady about both the Mary Foundation, which is under her aegis carrying out activities toward the protection of women and children exposed to violence, and the shelter. Mrs. Gül then informed Crown Princess Mary about the similar activities in Turkey.

They later proceeded to the Danner Women’s Shelter, where they watched a presentation regarding the activities of the shelter. The First Lady and Crown Princess Mary chatted with the women and children staying there.

Mrs. Gül further explored the National Gallery of Arts where the works belonging to the Royal Family are displayed. She also visited the section where paintings made by Danish painters and she was especially interested in the paintings of Istanbul depicted between the 15th and 19th centuries. Mrs. Gül then the Istanbul and Süleymaniye Mosque paintings by Melchior Lorck about which Queen Margrethe II mentioned during the official dinner last night.

Informed about the works of the painter who stayed in Istanbul between 1555 and 1559, Mrs. Gül also explored the ateliers of oil painting and paper restoration at the same museum.

THE PRESIDENTIAL COUPLE HOST RECEPTION FOR THE ROYAL COUPLE

President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül hosted a reception in honor of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark. The First Couple welcomed Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik at the entrance of the hotel where the reception would be held. They later proceeded to the concert hall.

President Gül, Mrs. Gül, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, after watching the concert performed by Fatih Erkoç, chatted with the invitees at the Louis XIV Hall where the reception was held.

 

PRESIDENT GÜL RECEIVES MUSLIM COMMUNITY DELEGATION

On the last day of his state visit to Denmark, President Gül was seen off by Danish Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik from the Amalienborg Palace. The President afterwards received a delegation of the Muslim Community in Denmark and explored Rosenborg Castle with First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül.

On the last day of their visit to Denmark, President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül were seen off byQueen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik from the Amalienborg Palace.

The Presidential Couple signed the Book of Honor at the Galery Hall of the Amalienborg Palace. After that, they were seen off by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik from the Amalienborg Palace.

The President afterwards received a delegation of the Muslim Community in Denmark.

President Gül and the First Lady later visited Rosenborg Castle, in front of which they were welcomed by Director Jorgen of the Museum of Rosenborg Castle. The First Couple afterwards explored the Painting Hall and other sections where the war clothes of King Christian IV and other objects belonging the Royal Treasury.

Having completed his official program in Copenhagen, President Abdullah Gül left Denmark for Turkey.