CITING “scheduling” issues, the Ministry of External Affairs postponed indefinitely the Thursday event at Rashtrapati Bhavan where Turkish Ambassador-designate Ali Murat Ersoy was to present his Letter of Credence to the President of India. The Ambassador-designate of Thailand and High Commissioner-designate of Bangladesh were also scheduled to present their credentials at the event. A Letter of Credence is a formal document appointing a diplomat as Ambassador or High Commissioner to another sovereign state. The postponement comes the day the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s aviation security regulator, revoked the security clearance of an Indian arm, Çelebi Airport Services India, of Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling major Çelebi Aviation Holding in the interest of “national security” with immediate effect. On May 12, the government said it had taken note of Turkey’s support to Pakistan before and during Operation Sindoor, including its diplomatic and defence assistance. Sources said today’s event was scheduled at 4 pm in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Turkish Ambassador-designate Ersoy was appointed this March. When contacted, officials at the Embassy of Turkey said personnel dealing with the matter were not immediately available to comment. An official of the Thai embassy in New Delhi said that they received a communication from the MEA conveying the postponement. “The event was to take place at 4 this afternoon, but has been deferred. The communication did not give any reason. We are waiting for more clarity and a new schedule,” he said. Thai Ambassador-designate to India Chavanart Thangsumphant took charge in March. An official of the Bangladesh High Commission also confirmed receiving a communique from the MEA. “We don’t know why the event was cancelled at the last meeting and why no fresh date has been assigned,” he said. Bangladesh appointed Riaz Hamidullah as High Commissioner to India in February, but he arrived in New Delhi only in April. Most recently, President Droupadi Murmu accepted diplomatic credentials on February 27 when the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Panama, Guyana, Sudan, Denmark and Palestine presented their Letter of Credence during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
