India delays new Turkish ambassador’s acceptance ceremony indefinitely
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday indefinitely postponed a scheduled ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan where Turkish Ambassador-designate Ali Murat Ersoy was expected to present his Letter of Credence to the President of India, citing “scheduling” reasons, The Indian Express reported.
Envoys from Thailand and Bangladesh, who were also to present their credentials at the same event, were similarly affected.
The Letter of Credence is an official document through which a diplomat is formally appointed as an ambassador or high commissioner to another country.
The development coincided with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoking the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India, the Indian arm of Turkish airport ground handling company Celebi Aviation Holding.
The clearance was withdrawn with immediate effect, citing national security grounds.
On May 12, the government stated it had taken note of Turkey’s support for Pakistan before and during Operation Sindoor, including military and diplomatic backing.
A spokesperson for the MEA said New Delhi had conveyed its concerns to Ankara with supporting evidence and expects the matter to be taken seriously.
Accrding to the report, Thursday’s credential ceremony was scheduled for 4 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Turkish Ambassador-designate Ersoy was appointed in March.
Officials at the Turkish embassy said relevant personnel were unavailable for comment when contacted.
An official at the Thai embassy in New Delhi confirmed they had been informed of the deferment.
“The event was to take place at 4 this afternoon, but has been deferred. The communication did not give any reason. We are waiting for more clarity and a new schedule,” the official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Thailand’s Ambassador-designate Chavanart Thangsumphant also assumed charge in March.
A representative from the Bangladesh High Commission confirmed receiving a similar message from the MEA. “We don’t know why the event was cancelled at the last meeting and why no fresh date has been assigned,” the official said.
Bangladesh’s High Commissioner-designate Riaz Hamidullah was appointed in February and arrived in New Delhi in April.
The last time President Droupadi Murmu received diplomatic credentials was on February 27, when envoys from Panama, Guyana, Sudan, Denmark, and Palestine presented their Letters of Credence at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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