Message from Ankara arrives in Stockholm

It was Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, during an evening at the residence of Turkey's ambassador in Stockholm. Ambassador Kaya Türkmen was speaking. Right beside him was Nobel Prize for Chemistry laureate Professor Aziz Sancar.  

Türkmen was explaining to his guests what a great source of pride and huge morale boost Sancar winning the award had become for all of Turkey. He also told a memory of his. 

During President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's trip to Japan in October 2015, a decision was reached to form a Turkish-Japanese University. One of the Japanese hosts said, "Hopefully, there will be several Nobel Prize-winning scientists from this university."

During the talks next day, the news came that Sancar had won the Nobel Prize.   

After the ambassador finished his speech, he presented a gift sent by Erdo?an. 

 A short while later, at an open buffet banquet, Türkmen whispered in Sancar's ear, "Can we please proceed to the room upstairs? There is an issue I want to speak to you about."

They went upstairs together with the heads of three science institutions who had come from Turkey for the event. 

The ambassador told Sancar in the room upstairs, "There is a special message from the president for you. If it is possible, he is inviting you to Turkey."

Sancar told him he would be visiting Turkey in May for a meeting and would be honored to meet the president then. However, when the ambassador asked, "Can you go to Ankara directly from here?" Sancar replied, "It could be so."

Right then, Ankara was called and the meeting was arranged. 

Sancar is coming to Turkey on Dec. 13. He will be received by the president on Dec. 14. 

Erdo?an's invitation to our Nobel Prize laureate scientist, of...