Turkish ambassador to US to speak Jan. 28 at Baker Institute

CONTACT: Franz Brotzen
PHONE: 713-348-6775
EMAIL: franz.brotzen@rice.edu

Turkish ambassador to US to speak Jan. 28 at Baker Institute

Turkey is playing an increasingly important role on the world stage by taking advantage of its geographic position straddling Europe and the Middle East. Namik Tan, Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, will discuss Turkish-U.S. relations and the Turkish government’s views on regional conflicts Jan. 28 at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The talk begins at 6 p.m. in Baker Hall’s Kelly International Conference Facility on the Rice campus, 6100 Main St. For directions, go to http://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/media_directions.cfm.

Tan was appointed ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the United States in February 2010. Prior to this appointment, he was deputy undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for bilateral political affairs and public diplomacy. He served as Turkey’s ambassador to Israel from 2007 to 2009.

Tan joined the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982. After working in the Department of Maritime Affairs, he was posted to Moscow as second secretary from 1984 to 1987. He then spent two years as first secretary in Abu Dhabi. After returning to Turkey, Tan served as the deputy chief of cabinet to the Turkish president until 1991. He was later assigned to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., where he served as counselor from 1991 to 1995 and first counselor from 1997 to 2001. Between these assignments, he served as chief of cabinet to the Turkish foreign minister.

Upon his return to Turkey in 2001, Tan served as head of the Department for the Americas and was subsequently named head of the Information Department in 2002. He went on to serve as the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2007. Tan holds a law degree from Ankara University.

The event will also be webcast at http://bakerinstitute.org/events/his-excellency-namik-tan. Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Franz Brotzen at franz.brotzen@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.