Foreign Minister and Minister for Law of Singapore, Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam delivered a speech titled “The Rise of Asia” as part of the Fifth Annual Ambassadors Conference.

In his speech, pointing that Turkey has always been an important player in its region, Guest Minister said today's Turkey is on the rise and has spurred the relations between East and West. He also stated that Turkish companies should have more entrepreneurial spirit in Southeast Asia underlining Turkey's high technology and the competitiveness. Moreover, referring to the developments in Asia, Singaporean Foreign Minister said India, South Korea, and Japan have emerged as important actors in Asia.

During the second and third days of the Fifth Annual Ambassadors Conference, Deputy Prime Ministers Mr. Beşir Atalay and Mr. Bekir Bozdağ, Minister of Family and Social Policies, Mrs. Fatma Şahin, Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Mr. Egemen Bağış, Minister of Economy, Mr. Zafer Çağlayan and Undersecretary of National Intelligence Organization, Mr. Hakan Fidan also addressed the Ambassadors.

Besides, President of Turkey H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül hosted a luncheon for Ambassadors on the occasion of the conference. President Gül, said the conference enables them to discuss important issues spanning from the energy sector to transportation as well as the Turkish foreign policy. He pointed to Turkey’s great accomplishments at a time when great transformations are occurring in the World. President Gül also said Turkey has the right to claim to be one and pointed out that Turkey is a member of the donors club today and that it has spent over 2 billion dollars for humanity without expecting anything in return, referring to the fact that some 200,000 Syrian refugees have found a haven in Turkey.

Speaking at the dinner hosted as part of the conference, Prime Minister of Turkey H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined “Peace demands more cost than war. War is the easiest option while keeping peace is harder. We prefer the harder option here, to ensure peace rather than to go to war.” Prime Minister Erdoğan pointed that it is not possible to ignore, to remain indifferent to what is happening in Syria. Moreover Prime Minister Erdoğan said Turkey will spare no effort to raise the Palestinian flag as a full member status at the UN. Referring to Somalia, he stressed that Turkish diplomacy base on humanitarian values is not limited to our neighbors and regional countries.

The Fifth Ambassadors Conference will continue in İzmir on 5-7 January 2013.