Uzbekistan has opened an honorary consulate in the Turkish city of Antalya. Barış Gökçe was appointed Honorary Consul of the country. On May 23, he was handed consular exequatur and accreditation cards, Dunyo reported.

The ceremony was attended by the Uzbek Ambassador to Turkey Alisher Agzamhodjaev, deputy head of the Antalya province, representatives of the business and academic circles of this region.

“The issues of promoting Uzbekistan’s economic interests, drawing Turkish investments to the country, promoting export of Uzbek products to Turkey, developing cultural, humanitarian and other ties were discussed with the honorary consul,” the statement said.

The Cabinet of Ministers instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider the issue of appointing honorary consuls of Uzbekistan in the cities of Antalya, Adana and Bursa (Turkey) in a resolution dated August 18, 2020 (No. 494).

According to the Approval of the Consular Charter of the Republic of Uzbekistan Law, both a citizen of Uzbekistan and a foreign citizen from among persons holding a worthy social position in the host state of the consular institution can become an honorary consul. He is not in the public service of Uzbekistan and does not receive any monetary remuneration from Uzbekistan for the performance of his functions. The Honorary Consul is appointed and dismissed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

An honorary consul can perform such consular functions as keeping records of citizens of Uzbekistan who are temporarily or permanently residing in the territory of the consular district, ensure the protection of the rights of citizens and legal entities of Uzbekistan, and others.