With its “Be Our Guest” project launched within the scope of culture diplomacy, Yunus Emre Institute hosts the committee consisting of South African press members.

Within the program realized with the aim of introducing our country from right sources by making observations on site, together with opportunity to see and discover historical, cultural and touristic richness on site also to observe development level of Turkey in economic, social, cultural and scientific areas are offered to our guest, to press members.

The Institute, which hosts media, business world, culture, art, non-governmental organization and committees consisting of representatives of extensive public reach environments, this time hosts  South African press members.

Starting the program with a series of visit in Ankara, the committee visited the Institute on July,10 on Tuesday. At contact meeting took place in central building, domestic and foreign works of the Institute that is in service with 56 culture centers in 46 countries are explained. Also in the meeting details about cultural, artistic and scientific works as well as Turkish education are shared, information is given about the projects that are aimed to realize.

Within the frame of the program continued with Grand National Assembly of Turkey visit, the committee received information about history of GNA, its building and campus and also observed the areas that were bombed during coup attempt by Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) on July, 15 while nearly 100 members of parliament were carrying on their Extraordinary General Meeting works, on site.

The committee hosted by Head of AFAD Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu in Disaster and Emergency Management Department (AFAD) obtained information about Turkey’s works that is among the first three countries made most humanitarian assistance. After a general presentation involving titles such as humanitarian diplomacy of AFAD, its role in foreign policy and services it offered to Syrian refugees, Dr. Güllüoğlu gave an interview and answered the questions about works done towards Syrian refuges, on which the committee particularly dwelled.

After AFAD visit, the South African committee met with Head of Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş at lunch. After talking with the guests for some time Head of the Institute Prof. Dr. Ateş emphasized Institute’s vision of getting world communities know Turkey closely and from proper sources with Institute’s activities realized in several countries and under the titles of culture-art and Turkish education to foreigners and with cooperation established.

Mentioning the relations with South Africa Prof. Dr. Ateş also informed the committee about activities including public diplomacy carried out after July,15 coup attempt and struggle with FETO abroad titles. Having drawn attention to that FETO abuses attention and sympathy sensed for Turkey, Ateş stated that with various programs organized by Yunus Emre Institutes all around the world it explained to executives, press and public and thus, FETO settlement in friend and brother countries has been totally overthrown.

Realizing its last visit to Anatolian Agency in capital, the committee appeared as a guest on Editör Masası (Editor Desk). AA World Languages Editor Mehmet Öztürk and Turkey News Editor Hasan Öymez hosted the South African committee in Editör Masası.

Öztürk gave the committee information about activities, broadcast languages, goals of AA and also international settlement and operation of the institution. Having stated that among important press organizations of the world AA broadcasts in different languages as Turkish, Arabic, English and French being in the first place Öztürk also recorded that Muhabir (Reporter) book prepared by the institution is used in some educational institutions as course book.

While AA Africa News Editor İbrahim Tığlı informed the visitors about AA’s activities in Africa, Turkey News Editor Öymez also informed the committee about July, 15 Coup Attempt of FETO. Stating that FETO, which is the actor of a bloody coup attempt in Turkey, gives itself the impression of “training army” abroad Öymez expressed that in his visit to South Africa 4 months ago he saw that the organization hides behind this mask in there too.

"Dakika Dakika FETÖ'nün Darbe Girişimi" book prepared by AA and discusses chronology of July, 15 coup attempt and reactions after the coup attempt is given to participants.

The South African committee, who will also participate in the events realized on the occasion of July 15 Martyrs Day in Istanbul, left Ankara to continue the travel program prepared with the aim of showing historical and touristic reservoirs of our country.