ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Turkish Ambassador Kemal Hasan Gur found it hard to pick up the chief guest to cut the cake at the reception his Defence Attache Capt Sayhan Urals hosted here on Tuesday to celebrate the Turkish Armed Forces Day.

“There are 16 here,” he told this correspondent referring to the 15 federal ministers and JCSC Chairman Gen Ihsanul Haq present at the reception to show the special and warm feelings Pakistanis have for Turkey.

Finally all the ministers formed one united hand by holding Gen Haq’s arm who cut the cake, telling the ambassador “We have to respond when you call us”.

The day celebrated Kemal Ata Turk’s final and victorious assault on the occupying forces 82 years ago to free his country.

Today Turkey contributes the second largest force to the NATO alliance after the United States - and yet is waiting to be allowed into the European Union which the NATO troops serve. A movie screened on the chancery lawns on the occasion showed tourist centres, fashion salons and modern music, beside the landscape and Islamic heritage of the country, as to emhasize Turkey’s European character.— A Reporter