Foreign ministry to open Izmir office; Antalya to follow

The Foreign Ministry has decided to open an office in the Aegean city of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest metropolitan area, in a move to turn the city into a diplomatic hub. "Izmir will be our third city with such an office, after Ankara and Istanbul," said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu over the weekend. Ambassador Dicle Kopuz will head the new office, starting in late June or early July, he added. "We will turn Izmir into an important diplomatic center," said Davutoglu. "Then we have a similar plan for Antalya as well. We will open an office in Antalya very soon." One of Turkey's busiest ports and most important tourism centers, Izmir is home to consulates from many prominent countries.