Diplomats step up public diplomacy at home

Turkish diplomats, distressed by the deadlock on the divided island of Cyprus, ups-and-downs in the EU accession process, and diplomatic rows stemming from Armenian genocide resolutions, are stepping up public diplomacy efforts at home. "In order to determine the effects [of foreign policy-related] developments, a new project has been launched aimed to expand public affairs work across the country," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. "It is an important part of our public diplomacy strategy." Led by Ambassador Engin Soysal, three diplomats are now visiting Trabzon. Soysal is speaking at Black Sea Technical University and holding talks with local authorities, businessmen and non-governmental organizations in an effort to explain Turkey's foreign policy strategies.