Turkish President Abdullah Gul signed a decree on appointing Ambassadors to 16 states. Under the decree, Kerim Uras replaces Oguz Celikkol — Ambassador to Israel recalled after the crisis diplomatic relations deterioration with Israel. Deputy Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Unal Cevikoz was appointed Ambassador to Great Britain. Interestingly, Cevikoz is one of the sponsors of Armenia-Turkey Protocols, signed last October in Zurich.

Majority of the newly appointed Ambassadors are young diplomats holding the office for the first time, Turkish TRT channel reports. The only female representative Lale Ulker was appointed Ambassador to Kazakhstan. Turkish former Ambassador to Lebanon Serdar Kilic was assigned Secretariat-General of Turkish National Security Council (MGK).

L.A.