Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı currently serves as the Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs. He is the former Turkish Ambassador to Iraq (2013-2017) and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the European Union (2017- 2018) as well as the former Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to Turkey’s EU Minister and Chief Negotiator and Director for EU Communication (2008-2011). In addition to having previously served in a number of diplomatic posts in Tripoli (Libya), Kabul, Brussels and Basra, Ambassador Kaymakcı is a holder of the NATO Medal for his distinguished service in Afghanistan.