In new diplomatic push, many Turkish embassies to add energy: coınselors

As diplomacy today isn't confined to political affairs, if you lack a say in energy diplomacy, your political influence will be limited, said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu recently, speaking about government plans to ensure professional handling of Turkey's diplomatic contacts. Under a new government project, trade counselors at Turkey's embassies abroad are to be joined by energy counselors, especially in countries that have large Turkish energy investments. Under the project, countries such as Iran, Iraq, the Central Asian Turkic republics and Russia will be among the first countries to receive such counselors. A Foreign Ministry official said that they were continuing talks with the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry on creating the new post. The energy counselors would have the same qualifications as counselors appointed by the Education, Defense, and Culture and Tourism ministries as well as the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Press and Information (BYEGM), Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, and Directorate General of Religious Affairs. And much like their counterparts from other ministries or government bodies, the energy counselors would have no diplomatic qualifications, but their posts would remain under the Energy Ministry. The Foreign Ministry reportedly began the project due to Turkey's rising energy investments worldwide, and in light of the growing number of Turkish embassies around the globe, especially in energy-rich countries. As international relations becomes a multiplayer game including influential non-state actors – such as international organizations, multinational corporations and civil society groups – and as economic and diplomatic issues intertwine, giving rise to economic diplomacy, states need a diplomacy that extends beyond official contacts and includes experts from various fields.