Royal Visit to Turkey

Unzipped covers tthe Queen and Prince Philip’s first visit to Turkey since 1971. As the official state visit has been taken as signifying the importance of Anglo-Turkish relations, the blog makes reference to concerns that it could also impact on the international campaign to have the 1915 massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire recognized as Genocide. The BBC also covers the visit and reports that the Queen will lay a wreath at the tomb of Kemal Ataturk.

The Queen and Prince Philip have arrived in Ankara at the start of a four-day state visit to Turkey, their first to the country since 1971.

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Britain is a strong supporter of Turkey’s attempts to join the EU. The country became an official candidate in 1999 and entered formal accession negotiations in 2005.

It is seen as a key ally in the fight against terrorism. In recent years it has also led the International Security Assistance Force fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Turkey last November.