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Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz has been appointed as Türkiye’s new ambassador to Damascus, Syria, Turkish diplomatic sources said Friday.
Türkiye raised its flag at its embassy in Damascus last December, marking the resumption of diplomatic activities after a 12-year hiatus. The embassy suspended operations in 2012 amid escalating tensions and the outbreak of civil war in Syria.
The flag-raising ceremony came after major political changes in Syria, including the collapse of the Baath regime in early December 2024. Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who ruled for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia that month, ending the Baath Party’s rule that began in 1963. A new transitional administration led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa was formed in January.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has approved a series of new ambassadorial appointments for Turkish embassies and permanent missions abroad.
Yaprak Balkan, director general for Bilateral Relations (Latin America), was appointed as Türkiye’s permanent representative to the European Union. Faruk Kaymakci, Türkiye’s current EU representative, was named ambassador to Luxembourg.
Sebnem Cenk, director general for Bilateral Relations (Central and West Africa), was appointed as Türkiye’s permanent representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Ayda Unlu, director general for Overseas Promotion and Cultural Affairs, was named ambassador to Podgorica, Montenegro, while Bilgin Ozkan, deputy director general for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, was appointed ambassador to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
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