The Turkish capital was dressed in Cameroonian colours as the Head of State and wife Madam Chantal BIYA arrived for state visit on the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah GÜL.
The Ankara ESENBOGA airport was the starting point of the four day state visit that will also include activities in Istanbul, the economic centre of Turkey. On his alighting from the airport, the President of the Republic was given a bouquet of flowers by a young girl and then greeted by some top Turkish officials, led by the Vice Prime Minister, BiKir BOZDAG, the Turkish Ambassador in Cameroon, the Governor of Ankara, the Mayor of Ankara and the Cameroonian Ambassador to Egypt.
The Head of State inspected a special guard of honour with the traditional ‘Good day, soldier’. After the military honours the Head of State and Madam Chantal BIYA greeted a group of constituted authorities from Turkey and from Cameroon.
A mammoth crowd of Cameroonians resident in Turkey had taken up position at the exit of the Presidential Lounge and they sent out loud shouts of joy as the Head of State and his wife waved to them. President Paul BIYA was visibly moved by the patriotic fervour of these young Cameroonians, most of them students in Turkish universities.
The President rested a while in the Presidential Lounge before heading into downtown Ankara where he will lodge at the Sheraton Hotel. Another group of cheering Cameroonians welcomed the Presidential Couple at the entrance of the hotel. A hectic welcome that dumbfounded most spectators who are not used to such an expression of patriotism.
It should be noted that the Head of State is accompanied by a powerful delegation of Ministers and top Cameroonian businessmen, including the Minister of External Relations Pierre MOUKOKO MBONJO, the Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU, the Minister of Finance Alamine OUSMANE MEY, the Minister at the Presidency in Charge of Special Duties Paul ATANGA NJI, the Minister of Communication TCHIROMA ISSA BAKARY, and a host of others.
