State Visit from Turkey to Belgium: October 4-6, 2015

[Tilia C.]

That is not the most diplomatic message she could have sent, especially when you know that your visit is considered as controversial. Or maybe President and his wife were so angry that the visit had no proper ladies program that they decided to leave there own stamp by this very visible shopping tour?

[iceflower]

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Here are some pics of the final day today, October 6:



** belga gallery ** gettyimages gallery **

[QUEENECE29]

Cumhurbaskani Erdogan Bruksel Ziyareti | Selda Göktaş

[Al_bina]

I am somewhat disappointed by lack of grandeur. However, the situation in Europe and in the Middle East are tense. So the low-key visit is understandable.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Since when is Yvan Mayeur, the most incompetent Mayor ever, in charge over who is received and who not?

[JR76]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

The president´s wife looks so... ridiculous....!

Well she's no Sheikha Moza but for a woman her age who chooses to wear a hijab she looks fine. A bit on the dowdy side but fine.


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[Duc_et_Pair]

Indeed, there is nothing wrong with Mrs Erdogan. The former First Lady, Mrs Gül, looked the same (picture).

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Indeed, there is nothing wrong with Mrs Erdogan. The former First Lady, Mrs Gül, looked the same (picture).

The difference we see between Mrs Erdogan and Mrs Gül (who looked an absolute delight at the State visit in Sweden) is that the former dresses a bit more plainly than the latter who in her vibrant colours seems more flamboyant and into fashion- think Stephanie of Luxembourg and Queen Max...

[Duc_et_Pair]

Maybe Mrs Erdogan is a more conservative lady than Mrs Gül but on itself there was hardly a difference in dresscode between the two, to be honest.

[RoyalistRiley]

Originally Posted by Tilia C.

That is not the most diplomatic message she could have sent, especially when you know that your visit is considered as controversial. Or maybe President and his wife were so angry that the visit had no proper ladies program that they decided to leave there own stamp by this very visible shopping tour?

The whole visit has been handled very badly IMO. Why give an unwelcome guest your highest order and then put on as little pomp as possible? Why not even pretend to look like you want to be there when posing for official photos with your guest?And then there is the King's strange decision to go about with a large Turkish flag pin on his lapel all day! ( see image here: Anadolu October Bucket | Getty Images)

[iceflower]

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A look back on the state visit:



** pm gallery: La reine des Belges passe du bleu au rouge **

[leidi]

I think this visit was a kind of landmine for P&M, they had to deal with the bad situation as well as they could but it was obvious no one was comfortable, thing is, it would have been even worse if they hadn't received another Head of State coming to Belgium; the only exception might be an African warlord or North Korea's leader due to international image, we all know that countries that violate human rights left, right and centre like Saudi Arabia are always welcomed everywhere due to oil

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by leidi

I think this visit was a kind of landmine for P&M, they had to deal with the bad situation as well as they could but it was obvious no one was comfortable, thing is, it would have been even worse if they hadn't received another Head of State coming to Belgium; the only exception might be an African warlord or North Korea's leader due to international image, we all know that countries that violate human rights left, right and centre like Saudi Arabia are always welcomed everywhere due to oil

As someone mentioned before, Xi Jinping was in Belgium not so long ago and was given a lavish reception with tiaras and all. As far as I see it, Xi's record on human rights is no better than Erdogan's. In fact, it may be even worse. That was not a problem to the Belgians though.

Besides, Erdogan's visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels was particularly important at this moment because of the European refugee crisis and the pivotal role that Turkey plays therein.

[leidi]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

As someone mentioned before, Xi Jinping was in Belgium not so long ago and was given a lavish reception with tiaras and all. As far as I see it, Xi's record on human rights is no better than Erdogan's. In fact, it may be even worse. That was not a problem to the Belgians though.

Besides, Erdogan's visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels was particularly important at this moment because of the European refugee crisis and the pivotal role that Turkey plays therein.

China is a very powerful commercial ally of the EU, so it is no wonder why he was received like that.

The Kurdish community had all the right to be incensed at Erdogan but I think it was sheer hypocrisy from the City Hall to meet Jinping with pomp and refuse to meet the Turkish president, that's where you see how important money truly is