STATE VISIT OF PRESIDENT CEVDET SUNAY TO BRITAIN (1-8 NOVEMBER 1967)

The State visit of the President of the Republic of Turkey to the United Kingdom took place from the 1st to the 8th of November, 1967. The President was accompanied by an official suite of 16, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his wife, three politicians from three different Turkish political parties, including one who was a former Ambassador in London and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and one who was a former Minister of Reconstruction, officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential Office, and the Major-General commanding the War College. The purpose of the Turkish President’s visit was to demonstrate Britain’s interest in Turkey as an ally and an economically developing country in the process of democratisation. The Turks recognised the mainly symbolic nature of the visit, but for a number of reasons were somewhat apprehensive beforehand. The visit was, however, successful and the Turkish delegate was impressed by the hospitality of their hosts. The Turks were pleased to engage in political discussions of substance. The Turkish Press gave the British positive coverage, and the British Government hoped that some impact would be made on the Turkish people as a whole. The visit certainly made an impact on the President and his suite, who were impressed by the excellent planning and the traditional splendour. However, what surprised and pleased the Turks most of all was the ease of the relationships which they formed. They returned with a lot to think over, and the British Ambassador believed that the visit would help Anglo-Turkish relations.