Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Duran attended a dinner held for international journalists in Ankara just hours before the start of the NATO Leaders Summit. At the gathering hosted by the Directorate of Communications, Duran delivered a speech in English to journalists from various countries.
In his speech, Duran noted that the NATO Summit is of historic importance for determining the strategic vision for the alliance's future, and added, "The role of you esteemed journalists in conveying such a critical summit to the global public in its entirety is of vital importance."
Turkish cuisine and gastrodiplomacy emphasis
Stating that they designed the dinner meeting as an opportunity to take journalists out of the busy agenda, Duran drew attention to the power of Turkish cuisine in cultural diplomacy. "Relations between countries are shaped by official texts, summits and diplomatic contacts. But the closeness established between societies is built through far more human and lasting experiences," said Duran, adding that sometimes a shared meal at the table can be more effective than pages of text.
Every plate on your table also holds the story of a collective memory.
Duran emphasized that Turkish cuisine has a rich diversity that brings together Eastern and Western cultures in a single pot. He explained that this heritage, shaped by the interaction of three continents and countless different culinary cultures since the Ottoman period, is fused with the tradition of sharing and hospitality. "For us, the table is a circular arrangement where everyone sits at an equal distance from one another, without hierarchy. Around this circle, people share 'salt and bread'," Duran said, adding that the Turkish phrase "right of salt and bread" conveys that eating together creates a sacred bond.
Noting that cuisine is one of the most sincere forms of "soft power" experiences, the Communications Director said that many countries from Thailand to South Korea, Peru to Italy place gastrodiplomacy at the center of their promotional strategies, and that Turkey has an unparalleled heritage in this field.
Emine Erdoğan's leadership and UNESCO registrations
Duran said that Turkish Cuisine Week, celebrated since 2022 under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has increased the international visibility of Turkish cuisine. Reminding that the book "Turkish Cuisine with Centuries-Old Recipes" records 218 recipes in their original form, Duran emphasized that Gaziantep, Hatay and Afyonkarahisar have been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, that Antep baklava has received geographical indication registration from the European Union, and that Turkish coffee is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. "One cup of coffee has a forty-year memory," Duran noted, saying that Turkish coffee is a symbol of the culture of conversation and friendship.
Praise from foreign press
Speaking after the meal, American journalist Iris Tao said she was visiting Turkey for the first time and found the hospitality very gracious, describing the food as "surprisingly delicious." Tao said she was impressed by Duran's remarks on the unifying power of food across different cultures.
Romanian journalist Camelia Dontu said she was inspired by Turkey's beauty and hospitality, while Danish journalist Peter Ernstved Rasmussen expressed that it was a pleasure to meet different people at the same table. Ukrainian journalist Daniel Tkiie said that Duran's "sharing bread" message had a great impact on him, and that this philosophy strengthens bonds between people.
In a post on his social media account, Duran also emphasized that Turkey is an unshakeable and strong member of NATO, saying, "As our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has stressed, Turkey has been one of the leading allies providing the greatest contribution to the Alliance's security for over 70 years."
