ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that he had felt deep sadness over loss of Turkish veteran journalist Mehmet Ali Birand.
"Mehmet Ali Birand was one of the press members who I followed with admiration. He was doing his job with enthusiasm," Davutoglu said while speaking at the Anadolu Agency's "Editors' Desk" on Friday.
Noting that he had met Birand first in 1989 at a European Union conference, Davutoglu said that he was writing his doctorate thesis at that time and had exchanged ideas with Briand.
Davutoglu said that Birand had made vital contributions to explain Turkey's image abroad with his precise touch.
Stating that he was together with Birand on an occasion on January 11, 2013, "He probably held one of the his last interviews with me. He sit next to me and asked his precise questions. We had continued our terrific conversation until 01.00 am." Davutoglu said.
"May God rest his soul. He was a personality that should be taken as an example by new generation media members due to his life and journalism ethics," Davutoglu said.
