ATHENS - Ambassador Yigit Alpogan, newly-appointed first civilian Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC), expressed determination to contribute to Turkey's European Union (EU) bid.
Alpogan, who is currently assuming the post of Turkey's Ambassador to Greece, told A.A correspondent that Turkey was undergoing critical days, and said, ''we are experiencing days in which important decisions concerning our country will be taken on the road to our EU membership, a modernization project. In this context, we are determined and ambitious to contribute to Turkey's EU bid.''
Asked if he planned to make new changes to NSC Secretariat, Alpogan said, ''as you know, the NSC is undergoing some changes for the last year within the framework of a new law. And, thus, the NSC undertakes new duties. Up to now I followed these developments as observer. I will see what we should do after I take over the office.''
Alpogan added, ''as Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, I am diplomatically obliged to pay some farewell visits and fulfil some responsibilities before I leave Greece. So, I think I will take over my new job by the end of September.''
Yigit Alpogan, who was officially appointed as the first civilian NSC Secretary General on Tuesday, is one of effective personalities in Turkish-Greek relations and Cyprus problem since he has served Foreign Ministry's many departments dealing with relations with Cyprus and Greece.
Alpogan, who has been serving as Turkey's Ambassador to Greece since 2001, started to work at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in 1968.
Alpogan as a diplomat had been assigned to posts in Tokyo, Lefkosa, The Hague, Geneva and Ashkabat.
Being a graduate of Ankara University's Political Sciences Faculty, Alpogan is fluent in English and French.
(BRC-ULG) 18.08.2004