Bern 1923 - 2008 With the kind support of: Mrs Ionna Ertegiin Mrs Selma Goksel Tiirkiye I~ Bankasi Anadolu Ajans1 Thanks to: Onur Ozc;:eri (Research, text and layout) Agathon Aerni (research) Tuluy Tanc;: (editing) © Embassy of Turkey, Bern 85 years of representation of the Republic of Turkey in Switzerland (1923-2008) The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Bern ~u6tic offJ'urk,ey rrfie (Jlresufent It is no coincidence that the Republic of Turkey purchased its first Embassy premises abroad, in Switzerland's capital, Bern, to establish the seat of its diplomatic representation. The negotiation of a peace treaty and its successful outcome took the shape of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. The Treaty of Lausanne left an indelible mark in our memory. The aspiration of the Turkish nation to live as a free and independent people is thus anchored in Switzerland, a land that earned the reputation for fairness, equity and justice. The subsequent adoption in 1926 of a Civil Code based on the Swiss example, the Montreux Convention negotiated in 1936 in Switzerland giving full sovereignty on the Turkish Straits and other events have solidified this perception. I am therefore particularly pleased that the roots of the friendship bonds between Turkey and Switzerland and the main events associating Switzerland to Turkey have been compiled in a book. The book also illustrates the reciprocal attention and like minded approaches of both Turkey and Switzerland to further promote bilateral relations between two democracies and to facilitate the realization of aspirations of peace. I would like to express my thanks to the President of the Swiss Confederation, His Excellency Pascal Couchepin and to all who have contributed to the realization of this book. ~~~ Abdullah GUL-r-----__ The President of the Swiss Confederation Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confederation suisse Confederazione Sv izzera Conf ederaziun svizra 2008 will remain as a landmark in the bilateral relations between Switzerland and Turkey. This year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Switzerland's diplomatic presence in Turkey. I am happy to have the opportunity to pay an official visit to Ankara in November in order commemorate this historic event, and I would like to thank President Abdullah Gui for his kind invitation. The common interest and the numerous bonds of friendship between our two countries are even older than our diplomatic relations. Already before the creation of the Republic, young Turkish students and refugees were living in Switzerland. Encouraged by the liberal and reformist political framework, they were inspired to craft the foundation of the modern state that was about to be created in their home country. This can also explain why the Turkish Civil Code was eventually based on the Swiss one. The political, economic, human and cultural ties between our two countries are constantly developing. The Turkish colony in Switzerland is one of the largest foreign communities with more than 70.000 people. This community is a living proof that it is possible to be well integrated without renouncing to one's original culture. In addition, Turkey is more and more present in Switzerland on the cultural front: It will be guest of honor of the festival CulturEscapes in December, as well as of the Geneva book fair in 2009. On the other hand , Turkey is an important trade partner and a promising market for Switzerland. More than 320 Swiss firms are active and provide jobs for more then 10.000 people. Against this backdrop of vibrant relations, the initiative to publish a book on the history of the Turkish Embassy residence in Bern is a welcome note. This book illustrates the fact that Turkey set up its diplomatic presence in Switzerland almost immediately after the Treaty of Lausanne. And it did so with the perspective of establishing deep and long-term relations with Switzerland, by purchasing the Trachsler Villa. This year we are celebrating the result of our predecessors' foresight. I want to commend Ambassador K1l19 for providing us with this beautiful reminder of some of the milestones in our long and friendly common history. ,' lJ"' t_ ly- Pascal Couchepin President of the Swiss Confederation lnselgasse 1, CH-3003 Bern www.edi. admin.ch Foreword The subject of this book is the history of the diplomatic relations between Turkey and Switzerland, centered on the purchase by the Republic of Turkey in 1926 of an Embassy residence in Bern. The acquisition of a residence constitutes a background for the initiation and flourishing of relations between Turkey and Switzerland. Ambassador Munir Ertegiin, who bought on behalf of the Republic of Turkey the residence from a Swiss entrepreneur (Johannes Heinrich Trachsler), was the first envoy of the Turkish Republic, new member of the international community established three years prior to the sale of this villa. The sending of an envoy, Ertegiin, who presented his letter of credentials in October 1925, and the subsequent purchase of a real estate in Bern in September 1926, well before most of the other countries represented at that time in Bern, was a symbol of the willingness of Turkey to enter into long lasting relations with Switzerland. The residence became a place where Turks and Swiss met. High ranking Turkish officials stayed in the residence. Regular receptions and national day celebrations allowed officials of both countries to get together. Children of Turkish diplomats played with children of Swiss living in the neighbourhood. The momentum given to the relations was duly reciprocated by Switzerland, and the same year, 1926, a Swiss envoy was sent to Turkey. Following the decision of the Swiss Government and Parliament, a Legation was opened in Istanbul in 1928. Six years after, in 1934, it was transferred to the capital, Ankara. The printing of this book coincides with another milestone in the bileteral relations of the two states, the first visit at Presidential level, the visit of the President of the Confederation, Mr. Couchepin to Ankara. Bern, 29 October 2008 Alev Kille 0 Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Switzerland Contents 12-1 7 Summary of Turkish-Swiss diplomatic relations 18-29 The Peace Conference of Lausanne (1922-1923) 30-37 Establishment of the Legation of Turkey in Bern (1923) 38-53 Purchase by Turkey of an Embassy residence in Bern (1926) 54-55 Turkish-Swiss Treaty of Friendship (1925-1927) 56-59 Multilateral diplomacy in the 1930' s 10 60-61 Message sent on the occasion of the 650th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation (1941) 62-63 Raising the level of the Turkish diplomatic mission in Bern (1952- 1953) 64-73 Recent bilateral contacts 7 4- 77 Switzerland as host to diplomatic negotiations 7 8-91 The residence of the Turkish Ambassador 94-9 5 List of Heads of Mission 11 Summary of Turkish-Swiss diplomatic relations Turkey's relations with Switzerland started more than 85 years ago, during the Peace Conference held in Lausanne · and has developed ever since. Contacts on the margins of the Conference were made between Ismet Inonu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Great National Assembly and members of the Swiss Federal Government who were present at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Conference. An exchange of letters of courtesy and a visit by Inonu to the Swiss Federal Government in Bern in July 1923 completed those preliminary contacts. More information is given on the Lausanne Conference in pages 18-29 of this book. When the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on 29 October 1923, Ahmet Ru~tu Bey (Demirel) was already in Bern as Charge d' Affaires of Turkey. During the New Year reception offered b y the Swiss Federal Government to the Diplomatic Corps on 5 January 1924, the Swiss President Ernest Chuard sent through Ahmet Ru~tu Bey 12 his best wishes of success to the young Turkish Republic's leaders. In pages 30-37 of this book, brief information is given on the former Ottoman Embassy in Bern and how it was acquired by the newly established Republic of Turkey, as well as the story of the establishment of the Legation of Turkey in Bern. One year later, in 1925, Mehmet Munir Bey (Ertegun) presented as first Minister of the Republic of Turkey in Switzerland his letters of credentials to the President of the Swiss Confederation Jean-Marie Musy. President Musy in his letter to the Turkish President K.emal Ataturk, informing him officially on the presentation of credentials by the Turkish Minister, also expressed his desire to contribute to the development of relations between his country and Turkey. In the following pages of this book (pages 46-47), lies a short biography of the first representative of the Republic of Turkey 1n Switzerland, Mehmet Munir Ertegun. In 1926, Ertegun bought on behalf of the Republic of Turkey a residence in Bern to serve as seat of the Legation. The story of this transaction with additional information on the first owner of the residence (Trachsler family) can be found in pages 38-53. 13 In 1925, the Treaty of Friendship between Turkey and Switzerland was signed. The text of this Treaty is reproduced in pages 54-55. Contacts between Turkish and Swiss officials continued. In 1927, President Ataturk informed the Swiss President on his reelection as President of the Republic. One year later, in 1928, exactly 80 years ago, the first Swiss envoy in Turkey, Henri Martin presented his letter of credentials to Ataturk. Following the decision of the Swiss Government and Parliament, a Legation was opened in Istanbul in 1928. Six years after, in 1934, it was transferred to the capital, Ankara. Friendly relations between Ataturk and Swiss Presidents continued to develop over the years.