The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reopened its renovated press briefing room in Ankara on July 1. The portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his quote, 'Yurtta Sulh, Cihanda Sulh' (Peace at Home, Peace in the World), which were previously located in the room, were not present in the new arrangement. A brown wooden wall was placed in the area where the Atatürk figures had been located.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs martyrs' monument, located in the corridor leading to the briefing room, was also removed.
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources told Cumhuriyet that renovation work was ongoing and the room had not yet reached its final state at the time of the July 1 reopening. Sources stated the room was used before renovations were completed because an exam was being held in the alternative room used for briefings during the process. Sources also stated that the missing Atatürk figures and other deficiencies would be replaced.
Thirty-six days after the reopening, the Atatürk portrait, the 'Yurtta Sulh, Cihanda Sulh' quote, and the martyrs' monument were still missing from the briefing room during a joint press conference held by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syrian Foreign Minister Esad Hasan Şeybani.
Assessments have been made that the current arrangement is permanent because the renovation had not been completed for 36 days while press briefings continued in the room. Ministry sources reiterated that the deficiencies would be completed.
