Brotherly Afghan people and my fellow citizens,

After 3,5 years, my term of duty has come to an end, and I am leaving Afghanistan for good today (14 May 2021). I remember like yesterday the day I set foot in Kabul on 30 November 2017. Since then, never a dull moment and I didn't notice how time flied.

The first two years of my term witnessed two major elections in October 2018 and September 2019, and their ensuing implications. Then, following the agreement signed between the U.S. and the Taliban on 29 February 2020, peace negotiations have started in Doha on 12 September 2020. The attention was on the peace process till recently. In the wake of the withdrawal announcements on 14 April 2021, I believe that the Istanbul Conference which is expected to bring dynamism and momentum to the peace process, has become all the more relevant and critical. The current historical opportunity for peace should not be missed. Both Afghan sides and the international community have responsibility in this regard. It is with this understanding that Turkey is dedicated to host the Istanbul Conference when the conditions are right.

My Afghan brothers and sisters,

You have accorded warmest hospitality, great cooperation and a high degree of friendship to me and to the Embassy staff, and I am deeply grateful for that. I enjoyed this sentiment not only in Kabul, but also in those provinces that I had the chance to visit such as Herat, Kandahar, Mazar and Helmand among others.

I also would like to thank the Afghan Government for the gracious support and close cooperation the Embassy and myself received during my term to the efforts for further deepening our bilateral relationship in every field. In this context, I hope that Turkish-Afghan Women University project can be brought to life without further delay. It will be meaningful to sign the founding agreement at a time when we are celebrating this year the centennial of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. We are also determined to revitalize inter-parliamentary relations once the Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Kıymetli vatandaşlarım,

İhtiyaç olduğunda sağladığınız desteğiniz ve anlayışınız için teşekkürlerimi sunmak isterim. İkili ticari ilişkilerin çeşitlendirilmesine katkı sağlayan Türk işadamlarımıza özellikle müteşekkirim. Mevcut ikili ticaret hacmi, Afganistan'ın gerçek kapasitesini ve ikili ilişkilerimizin doğasını yansıtmaktan uzaktadır. Bu itibarla, Türk işadamlarını Afganistan'a daha fazla yatırım yapmaya davet ediyorum. Bazı Türk şirketlerinin sorunlarının çözüme ulaşması, Büyükelçiliğin bu yöndeki çabalarına katkı sağlayacaktır.

Covid-19 salgınının ve müteakip kısıtlamaların yaşam biçimlerimizi temelden değiştirdiği bir dönemde, Afganistan'daki vatandaşlarımıza sabırları ve anlayışları için teşekkürü borç bilirim.

Dear brotherly Afghan people,

It has been a terrific experience for me since I assumed my post in Afghanistan. I am honored and privileged to had the chance to serve the Turkish-Afghan relations. I am going back to Ankara, but Turkey is committed to support the brotherly Afghan nation as long as our help is needed.

With my best regards,

Oguzhan Ertugrul
Ambassador