Gul welcomes Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

As part of her visit to Turkey on June 13-15 to mark the 400th anniversary of the foundation of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived in Ankara. Turkish President Abdullah Gul and First Lady Hayrunnisa Gul welcomed Queen Beatrix at the Cankaya Presidential Residence later on Wednesday and Turkish president hosted a dinner in the honor of the visiting queen.  The dinner was also attended by Food, Agriculture and Stockbreeding Minister Mehdi Eker, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, the Netherlands' Ambassador to Ankara Jan Paul Dirkse, some Parliament members including Turkey-Netherlands Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Saban Disli, prominent businessmen, academics and other distinguished guests. Speaking at the dinner, Gul shared his happiness to have Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Gul said that the visit paid by the Queen to Turkey shortly after his state visit to the Netherlands from April 16-19, 2012 would crown the 400th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Gul also offered his thanks to the Queen once again for her warm hospitality he received during his visit. Speaking or her part, Queen Beatrix expressed her pleasure to be visiting Turkey and said the celebrations as part of the 400th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands were continuing successfully. Indicating the importance of relations between the business circles of the two countries, Queen Beatrix extended her thanks to President Gül for his remarkable contributions to the development of the bilateral relations Turkey and the Netherlands are enjoying.