BLED
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received "the Statesmen of the Decade Award" from International Middle East and Balkans Studies Institute (IFIMES) in a ceremony in Bled town of Slovenia on Monday.
A statement by IFIMES said that Erdogan was decorated with "the Statesmen of the Decade Award" due to his vision of leadership, his sound policies in the Middle East and Balkans, his achievements in economy, his contribution to alliance of civilizations and his great efforts for Turkey which had a great importance in the world.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Erdogan said that he was glad to receive this award from a prominent institute of Slovenia.
"I believe and hope this award will strengthen the bridge of friendship between Slovenia and Turkey," he said.
All countries in the region including Turkey had passed through tough periods and experienced tragic events in the past, he said, adding that but now these countries reached the current point.
In regard to Turkey's foreign policy, Premier Erdogan said that Turkish government focused on every issues and problems with other countries and searched the ways for boosting cooperation with these countries.
Turkey exerted efforts for solution of issues with other countries including Armenia and Greece, he said.
(Reporting by Adem Kadam)
