Luxembourg–Turkey: a new impetus for parliamentary dialogue

A Luxembourg parliamentary delegation, led by Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies, paid an official visit to Ankara. This visit forms part of the drive to strengthen relations between Luxembourg and Turkey, which are celebrating 80 years of diplomatic relations.

During his meeting with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GANT), Numan Kurtulmuş, Claude Wiseler welcomed the ‘new impetus’ in bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of parliamentary dialogue in deepening cooperation between the two countries.

Discussions also focused on relations between Turkey and the European Union. Claude Wiseler reaffirmed Luxembourg’s support for Turkey’s prospects of accession to the European Union, whilst reiterating that progress in this process remains closely linked to respect for the rule of law, democratic principles and fundamental freedoms, in particular freedom of the press.

The Luxembourg delegation also met with members of the GANT’s National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committees. The discussions provided an opportunity to address key security and foreign policy issues, particularly in the context of relations between Turkey, the European Union and NATO.

Furthermore, the programme included meetings with representatives of political parties, from both the majority and the opposition, as well as with civil society organizations and the media. These exchanges provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of political and societal developments in Turkey and to discuss issues relating to democracy and fundamental rights.

During his visit, Claude Wiseler also visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, to pay tribute to the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

This visit highlighted the importance of parliamentary dialogue as a complementary dimension to diplomatic relations, helping to strengthen ties between the two countries and promote open exchanges on issues of mutual interest.