On 13 August, a farewell reception was held in Ashgabat on the occasion of the completion of the diplomatic mission of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye to Turkmenistan, Ahmet Demirok.
The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, Turkish companies, media representatives.
In his speech that evening, Ambassador Demirok explained why the assignment in Ashgabat held such personal significance for him. “Throughout my diplomatic career, it had always been one of my greatest aspirations to serve as a diplomat in a fellow Turkic country. To represent Türkiye in Turkmenistan—a nation with which we share not only centuries of common history, but also deep cultural, linguistic and spiritual ties—has truly been a privilege and the fulfilment of a long-held dream,” he noted.
The Ambassador emphasized that his posting in Turkmenistan “exceeded every expectation” and that it was an honour “to witness first-hand the strength of the bonds between our brotherly nations and to contribute, even in a small way, to further strengthening those ties.”
Ambassador Demirok expressed his gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Turkish community—including Turkish business circles —the staff of the Embassy of Türkiye, and the people of Turkmenistan for the hospitality and support extended to him throughout his tenure.
“As we prepare for our next chapter, we leave Ashgabat with hearts full of gratitude. While diplomatic assignments eventually come to an end, genuine friendships do not,” the Ambassador concluded.
Before his departure, the Ambassador Demirok handed over to the public organization “Yenme” the funds that had been presented to him as a gift. On this occasion, Ambassador of Romania Ion Naval presented Ahmet Demirok with a commemorative plaque featuring a letter of appreciation from “Yenme”.
Here is the full text of Ambassador Ahmet Demirok’s remarks:
-Esteemed colleagues,
-Distinguished guests,
As my assignment in Ashgabat comes to an end, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for joining us this evening. It is both an honour and an emotional moment to stand before you as we reflect on the remarkable years we have spent in this beautiful country.
Every diplomatic posting leaves its mark, but Turkmenistan has been particularly special for me. Because Turkmenistan is our fatherland. We migrated from Turkmenistan to Anatolia one thousand year ago on horseback and returned to our fatherland by the Turkish Airlines.
There is a saying that distance brings people apart. Yet, despite the geographical distance between our capitals, I have always felt that Türkiye and Turkmenistan are, in many ways, brothers and sisters at heart. Our shared history, language, traditions and values create a bond that goes far beyond diplomacy. Here, one quickly realizes that many things feel familiar—not only the words we understand, but the warmth, hospitality and generosity that we experience every day. We are leaving Turkmenistan with friendships, memories, and a profound appreciation for this country and its people.
Dear Guests,
Throughout my tenure, I have had the privilege of witnessing the continued strengthening of the relationship between our two brotherly nations. Whether through economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, education, or the many personal connections formed between our peoples, I have been constantly reminded that the friendship between Türkiye and Turkmenistan is built on mutual respect and genuine affection.
There is also a personal reason why this assignment has meant so much to me. Throughout my diplomatic career, it had always been one of my greatest aspirations to serve as a diplomat in a fellow Turkic country. To represent Türkiye in Turkmenistan—a nation with which we share not only centuries of common history, but also deep cultural, linguistic and spiritual ties—has truly been a privilege and the fulfilment of a long-held dream. Looking back today, I can honestly say that this posting has exceeded every expectation. It has been an honour to witness first-hand the strength of the bonds between our brotherly nations and to contribute, even in a small way, to further strengthening those ties.
Of course, diplomacy is often described as a profession of meetings, negotiations and official visits. While that is certainly true, I can assure you that diplomats also become experts in something else—packing suitcases! Just as we finally learn the names of the streets in the country, it is time to move again. Fortunately, the friendships we make are much easier to carry than our luggage.
Dear friends,
To our Turkmen brothers and sisters, thank you for your generosity, your trust, and your sincere friendship. Your hospitality has made us feel welcomed from the very beginning, and that is something my family and I will never forget.
To my colleagues at the Embassy, thank you for your professionalism, your dedication, and your unwavering support. Whatever we have achieved has always been a collective effort, and I have been privileged to serve alongside such an outstanding team.
To the Turkish community in Turkmenistan, thank you for representing our country with integrity, hard work and goodwill. Whether in business, education, diplomacy or other fields, you have been an important bridge between our two nations. I would also like to commend our Turkish companies, whose outstanding achievements and contributions to Turkmenistan’s development have become a source of pride for us all. I wish each and every one of you continued success and prosperity.
Seizing this opportunity, I wish to express my profound gratitude and sincere thanks to the President of Turkmenistan, his Excellency Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty His Excellency Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov for their strong and unequivocal support to strengthen bilateral relations between Türkiye and Turkmenistan.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to my big brother Mr. Raşid Meredov and our colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan for their limitless and unconditional contribution to our works during my term in office in Ashgabat.
Dear Guests
As we prepare for our next chapter, we leave Ashgabat with hearts full of gratitude. While diplomatic assignments eventually come to an end, genuine friendships do not. I sincerely hope that the bonds we have built here will continue for many years to come. I don’t say “good bye”, I say “hope to see you soon”.
Thank you all for your friendship, your support, and for making our time in Turkmenistan truly unforgettable.
Sağ bolun. Thank you. ///nCa, 14 August 2026
Here are some photos from the event:
