Turkish ambassador to Serbia honors slain diplomat, praises Belgrade's fight against FETO

2026-03-11 - 20:23

Turkish Ambassador Ilhan Saygili delivered a powerful message Wednesday during a ceremony in Belgrade marking the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Turkish diplomat Ahmet Galip Balkar, emphasizing that fighting terrorism demands a united global response. Speaking at the memorial in Tasmajdan Park, Saygili honored the memory of the ambassador killed in 1983 by Armenian militant group ASALA. Serbia commended for anti-terror stance Saygili expressed Ankara's gratitude toward Serbia for its principled position against terrorist organizations, specifically highlighting that "Serbia is a country in the Balkans that has not allowed the terrorist organization FETO to find refuge on its territory." The ambassador emphasized that "fighting terrorism is a shared responsibility of all states," noting that Türkiye has suffered numerous attacks by terrorist groups, with ASALA militants alone killing 31 Turkish diplomats and their family members in attacks abroad. Memorial ceremony draws diplomatic corps The commemoration brought together representatives from diplomatic missions and Serbian officials, including Dragan Petrovic, head of the department for neighboring countries and Southeast Europe at the Serbian Foreign Ministry. Participants paid tribute not only to Ambassador Balkar but also to Serbian student Zeljko Milivojevic, who was killed while attempting to stop the gunmen, as well as a retired colonel and the ambassador's driver who were seriously wounded in the attack. Legacy of fallen diplomat preserved Balkar was attacked while traveling to a meeting in Belgrade when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle at a traffic light on what was then General Zhdanov Street. He succumbed to his injuries two days later. Two ASALA militants, Kirkor Levonyan and Raffi Aleksandr, were subsequently arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Turkish Embassy in Belgrade maintains a memorial section dedicated to Balkar, displaying his desk, portrait, calendar, and newspaper reports about the assassination. Former Turkish ambassador to Serbia Tanju Bilgic published a book about Balkar two years ago, describing him as a "bright star of Turkish diplomacy," ensuring his sacrifice continues to be remembered by future generations.