Turkish ambassador thanks Jordan for ‘exceptional solidarity’ after earthquake

AMMAN — Turkish Ambassador to Jordan Erdem Ozan on Friday expressed his country’s appreciation for all of Jordan’s efforts to help the Turkish people after the earthquake that recently struck the country. 

Ozan spoke during an iftar banquet held by the embassy, in cooperation with Turkish Maarif Foundation in Jordan, the Yunus Emre Institute and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), in appreciation of the Kingdom's solidarity with Turkey after the earthquake, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The diplomat expressed his appreciation for Jordan's swift action, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, both in delivering aid and demonstrating exceptional solidarity with the Turkish people.

“The Turkish Republic and the Turkish people will not forget those who stood by them in those difficult times,” he said, adding that "we believe that Turkey's unwavering friendship with Jordan will continue forever".

Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) Secretary-General Hussein Shibli said that stakeholders in the government, the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), the Public Security Directorate, following Royal directives, were keen to assist the Turkish people from the first day of the tragic event.

Shibli also stressed the deep-rooted relations between the Kingdom and Turkey at all levels.

At the end of the iftar banquet, Ozan and representatives of Turkish institutions honoured the Jordanian International Search and Rescue Team, the JHCO, the Royal Jordanian Air Force and UNHCR Representative to Jordan Dominik Bartsch.

Jordan's assistance to Turkey and Syria included the dispatch of 13 air aircraft, 82 relief trucks and 10 ambulances, as well as opening an air bridge that transported some 10,000 tents after the violent earthquakes that struck Turkey and northern Syria on February 6.