Turkey names new envoys to several countries as Murat Mercan becomes US ambassador

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A major reshuffle of Turkey’s most important diplomatic posts has taken effect with the current ambassador to Japan, Murat Mercan, being posted as Turkey’s new envoy to the United States, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Dec. 8.

Mercan will replace Serdar Kılıç, who has served as Turkey's ambassador to the United States since 2014.

A founding member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Mercan served as a deputy for the province of Eskişehir during the 22nd and 23rd terms of Parliament. He also served as the head of the Turkish delegation at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Elections and Deputy Energy Minister between Feb. 2012 - Sept. 2014.

Refik Ali Onaner, currently the ambassador in Tunisia, has been appointed ambassador in Paris. Onaner was a classmate of Emmanuel Macron at ENA, the top French school for would-be politicians and senior civil servants.

Hami Aksoy, the current spokesperson of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, has been named ambassador in Belgrad.

Dean of the Medipol Business School Prof. Dr Kerem Alkın, who is also a columnist at pro-government newspapers Sabah and Daily Sabah, became Turkey's permanent representative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Mehmet Güllüoğlu, the current head of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), has been named Turkish ambassador in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania. 

Cihad Erginay, currently the ambassador in Madrid, has been appointed ambassador in Kabul, Afghanistan, while Ahmet Başar Şen became the new ambassador to Germany. 

Hatun Demirer has also been appointed Turkey's permanent representative at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Ahmet Demirok became the new ambassador in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Esin Çakıl was named Turkey’s ambassador to Bahrain.