Anderson, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Ankara, outlined his country’s approach to developments in Gaza and the West Bank and backed the full implementation of a two-state solution. He said relations between Türkiye and the United Kingdom were also growing stronger.
Anderson, who began his tenure after presenting his credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on September 8, previously served as deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Ankara. He said that after leaving Türkiye, he served as director for consular and crisis affairs and managed the UK’s relief efforts in Türkiye following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes.
Anderson said he was pleased to return to Ankara and that he knew Çankaya, Tunalı Hilmi Avenue and Ulus well.
Interest in Turkish and Turkish cuisine
Anderson said he had studied Turkish, read Turkish newspapers and followed television programs, adding that he was interested in Turkish idioms. The ambassador said he liked the idioms “Kuş uçmaz kervan geçmez,” meaning a remote and inaccessible place, and “aynı tas aynı hamam,” meaning that nothing has changed.
Describing Turkish cuisine as “incredible,” Anderson said his favorite dish was stuffed collard greens. He said he ate stuffed collard greens during a family holiday in the Black Sea region and katmer during a visit to Gaziantep with his children.
Türkiye-UK partnership expands
Anderson said the ties between Türkiye and the United Kingdom were strong and continuing to advance, noting that the “Strategic Partnership Framework Document” was signed in April and the “Security and Defense Partnership Document” in July.
Anderson said trade between the two countries had risen from £17 billion to £28.6 billion, while the number of British tourists visiting Türkiye had increased from 1.7 million in 2020 to 4.4 million this year.
Anderson said negotiations on a new free trade agreement were continuing and that cooperation was deepening in migration, defense, development, science, technology, innovation and the transition to green energy.
Anderson said Türkiye and the United Kingdom were two important NATO allies, adding that the Security and Defense Partnership Document signed in Ankara during the NATO summit demonstrated the two countries’ determination to develop defense industry cooperation across all sectors.
New approach to Gaza and the West Bank
Anderson also commented on the decision by 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Canada, to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Anderson said the United Kingdom had changed its approach on the issue and that the situation in Gaza and the West Bank could not continue. He said the UK would not remain silent while more suffering was taking place and stressed that fully implementing a two-state solution was a core policy of his government.
Anderson said they wanted to continue working in the region with the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Group of Eight, whose statements on developments in Palestine he welcomed. He said the new measures had been announced to support a two-state solution and prevent Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Anderson said they would continue to assess the Israeli government based on its actions and that they expected a new approach from Israel regarding Gaza and the West Bank.
