Minister Göktaş: I believe the alliance between Turkey and Luxembourg will continue
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the Luxembourg National Day program in Ankara, expressing satisfaction that diplomatic relations between the two countries have reached their 80th year.
June 23, 2026, Tuesday 21:08 Updated: 23.06.2026 21:08
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the "Luxembourg National Day" program held in Ankara.
Speaking at the program, Minister Göktaş said: "Today, we are together on the occasion of a meaningful day that reinforces the Luxembourg people's commitment to their independence will, culture, and values. There are symbolic days in the memory of nations that strengthen their unity and solidarity. June 23 is one of those days for Luxembourg. This date represents a time period in which national memory and tradition are most strongly felt. On this occasion, I extend my most sincere wishes on Luxembourg National Day."
"Our friendship has overcome many periods of international tension and crises"
Speaking about the relations between Turkey and Luxembourg, Minister Göktaş said: "The friendly relations between Turkey and Luxembourg, based on deep-rooted ties spanning many years, are developing day by day on the grounds of mutual respect, trust, and values. Two allied countries sharing common sensitivities for the establishment of peace, stability, and prosperity on regional and global scales continue to move their relations to a stronger foundation. This year, we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of our diplomatic relations established in 1946. Our friendship has overcome many periods of international tension and crises. Despite those difficult days, our bonds have been carried to these days."
"The opening of the Turkish Embassy in Luxembourg in 1987 was a historic step"
Stating that a new phase has been reached in relations with Luxembourg, Göktaş said: "The opening of the Turkish Embassy in Luxembourg in 1987 was a historic step. By 2011, the Luxembourg Embassy opened in Ankara. This move signaled a new period in which our bilateral relations gained momentum. Throughout this process, economic and commercial relations have held an important place in our bilateral relations. Now we are in a new phase. We are ready to develop new cooperation opportunities in a wide range from financial technologies to high-tech ventures, climate change to green transformation, logistics to R&D."
Speaking about the recent field data between the two countries, Göktaş said: "Our determination in this area is based on concrete realities we see in the field. Turkish Airlines increasing its Luxembourg-Istanbul flights to 14 frequencies per week. The number of tourists coming from Luxembourg has been steadily increasing in recent years. Moreover, this number exceeded 19 thousand last year. Furthermore, approximately 6 thousand of our citizens living in Luxembourg serve as a bridge to our bilateral relations. All these are clear indicators of our potential."
"I believe our trade volume and innovative collaborations will strengthen and increase"
Noting that Turkey's human resources offer investment opportunities, Göktaş said:
"Turkey, with its strong human resources, deep-rooted production infrastructure, and strategic location, offers attractive opportunities for businesspeople and investment funds. Similarly, Luxembourg, with its advanced capacity, holds significant opportunities for Turkish companies. In this sense, we see the direct investments made by Luxembourg investors in our country as a sign of trust and welcome them with pleasure. I believe that in the coming period, our trade volume and innovative collaborations will strengthen and increase. To contribute to this goal, we plan to hold the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting soon. Undoubtedly, with goodwill steps and concrete work towards common goals, we will pave the way for new collaborations that will create added value."
"We expect high-level participation from Luxembourg at the NATO Summit and COP31"
Stating that they expect high-level participation from Luxembourg at the NATO Ankara Summit and COP31, Minister Göktaş said: "This will open doors to strong collaborations not only in economic and commercial areas but also in diplomacy. Indeed, we believe that the high-level visits from Luxembourg to our country in 2026 are extremely pleasing. In April, we hosted the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler, on the occasion of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Istanbul. We will be happy to see Wiseler once again in our country within the scope of the NATO Parliamentary Summit to be held this month. Hosting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel again at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April was also valuable for us. Additionally, we expect high-level participation from Luxembourg at the NATO Ankara Summit and COP31."
"I believe the alliance between Turkey and Luxembourg will continue"
Stating that they look hopefully to the future of Turkey-Luxembourg cooperation, Göktaş said: "The determination of our leaders to strengthen our bilateral relations allows us to look hopefully to the future of Turkey-Luxembourg cooperation. In an atmosphere of uncertainty where tensions in Gaza, the Middle East, and Ukraine escalate, the goodwill they display moves relations between our countries to a more resilient ground. In this direction, I believe that the alliance and strategic cooperation between Turkey and Luxembourg will continue with strong momentum."
