SOLD OUT - Consular Series at the Turkish House on January 29, 2026 at 6.30PM
Guest Presenter: Consul General Ambassador Muhittin Ahmet Yazal
Consul General Ambassador Muhittin Ahmet Yazal was born in Ankara in 1969. He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Public Administration and Political Science in 1992.
Consul General Yazal joined the Foreign Service in 1992. At the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, he served as the Head of Department between 2009-2011, and as Deputy Director General between 2015-2017 at the Deputy Directorate General for Relations with Iraq.
He also served in the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Sarajevo as Third Secretary between 1996-1998; at the Consulate General in Bregenz as Vice Consul between 1998-1999; in Kosovo as Head of Turkish Coordination Office between 1999-2001; as Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Rome (NATO Defense College Senior Course) in 2021; as First Secretary and Counsellor at the Permanent Delegation of Türkiye to NATO in Brussels, between 2003-2006; as Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Baghdad between 2006-2009; as Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Basrah in 2009; as Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Mosul between 2011-2013; Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Amsterdam between 2013-2015.
He served as Ambassador in the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Ulan Bator between 2017-2021; and then appointed as Councellor for Foreign Affairs to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye in 2022.
Consul General Yazal has assumed his duty as the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in New York as of 20 August 2024.
He is married and has two children.
The session will be moderated by Cigdem Atay Binal:
Çigdem is a Partner at Activate Consulting, working with technology and media companies to define growth strategies and improve business performance through product, pricing, new business and go-to-market strategies. She also works with private equity firms on strategic due diligence and performance improvement.
Prior to joining Activate, Çigdem was a venture capitalist, focused on B2B technologies. Her experience spans adtech, video, ecommerce, marketplaces, consumer electronics, media data and measurement, filmed entertainment, travel, news and digital publishing.
Consular Meeting – Program Agenda
6:30 PM – Guest Arrival & Welcome Reception
Guests arrive and are welcomed
7:00 PM – Seating & Dinner Service Begins
Guests are invited to take their seats
7:30 PM – Opening & Moderated Conversation
Moderator and Consul General take their seats
Opening remarks and moderated discussion
8:15 PM – Q&A Session
Audience questions and interactive discussion
8:30 PM – Dessert Service
Dessert is served
9:00 PM – Closing Remarks & Adjournment
Program concludes
Scope of our Consular Sessions (see message below from Mujdat C. Altay, President RCNY)
It is my pleasure to share an exciting new initiative that will enrich our club’s international engagement and strengthen our ties with the global diplomatic community.
Beginning January 2026, the Rotary Club of New York will launch a special program entitled:
“The World Meets in New York: A Consular Speaker Series”
Hosted at The Turkish House
With the generous collaboration of the Turkish Consulate General in New York, this distinguished series will bring together Consuls General from ten countries serving in our city. Between January and May 2026, each session will feature a Consul General who will share insights on global affairs, bilateral relations, cultural diplomacy, and their nation’s engagement with the United States and the international community.
Why This Series Matters
New York is the world’s most international city home to one of the largest diplomatic communities on the planet. This program reflects our club’s historic mission of fostering peace, dialogue, and understanding across borders.
The series aims to:
- Strengthen meaningful dialogue between diplomats and civil society
- Offer our members unique first-hand perspectives on global priorities
- Highlight the international spirit of Rotary and our club’s longstanding leadership
- Celebrate the cultural and diplomatic diversity that defines New York City
All sessions will take place at The Turkish House as a Club dinner, which will start at 6:30 pm. Each session will run approximately 45–60 minutes, including time for Q&A.
We look forward to your active participation in this meaningful and globally minded initiative — one that embodies the spirit of Rotary and the international character of our great city.
