Marmara Group Foundation gave a dinner at the Milport Hotel in honor of Ulrike Tilly, Ambassador of Austria to Ankara marking the end of her mission in Turkey.

While delivering a speech at thedinner Dr. Akkan Suver highlighted the importance of civil thought bridge between Austria and Turkey that Marmara Group Foundation formed.

You can find the speech of Dr. Akkan Suver at the dinner attended by the Consul General of Austria in Istanbul, Gerhard Lutz down below.

The Text of Speech by Dr. Akkan Suver at the dinner given in honor of Her Excellency Ulrike Tilly, Ambassador of Austria

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This evening we gathered here at the presence of Mme. Ulrike Tilly to say goodbye to her and to express the importance we attach to joint efforts with Austria in the Balkans and the European Union.

She has given us great honor by joining us here today, we would like to thank her for not just because she is the ambassador of Austria but also for the high and successful service that she provided in relations between Turkey and Austria.

First of all, I would like to mention that the Marmara Group Foundation, of which I am the president, is a non-governmental organization that believes in the sustainability of democracy and economic development through cooperation with other countries.

We know that the Austrian State always values the good relations between the two countries and supports the Eurasian Economic Summit with high level participation. I consider it is my duty to express this here.

Our relations with President H.E Heinz Fischer, Chancellor H.E. Erhard Busek and Minister H.E. Werner Fasslabend that continuous from past to present, our partnerships with the Vienna Economic Forum are exemplary friendships. These relationships continue with mutual respect and responsibility.

Last year, the Austrian State crowned all these good relations by giving me the Gold Medal of Honor of the Austrian State as President of the Marmara Group Foundation.

The kind and gracious Ambassador Ulrike Tilly, who presented me the medal with a memorable beautiful ceremony, is leaving us on the occasion of the finalization of her mission. Marmara Group Foundation will not forget her. And we want her to know that she will always has a place between us here.

Her Excellency Mme. Ulrike Tilly,
On behalf of our friends gathered here, we would like to offer you a little souvenir as a symbol of our respect and love and gratitude. Please kindly accept.

This memento which we hope will remind you of the love of the Marmara Group Foundation as a grateful a non-governmental organization, is a small thanking for your efforts that you perform between Austria and Turkey in the international area.

We wish you all the best.

August 19,2019-İstanbul