I begin by saying that last week I was suppose to be on vacations, but lot of important things are happening in the world and duty calls me. Actually was by Editor that called me Wednesday asking me if I wanted to go with our Portuguese Foreign Minister, Luis Amado, to photograph the Expanded Neighboring Countries of Iraq Foreign Ministers Meeting in Istanbul Turkey.
My answer was of course Yes!!!
The meeting was designed to contribute concretely to the government and the people of Iraq's efforts to restore permanent peace, stability and prosperity in their country through invigoration of the existing national reconciliation dialog, in combating terrorism, strengthening the rule of law and widening participation in the political process
So Friday me and tree more journalists, the Minister and his delegation, flu in a Private state Jet to Istanbul. It was a four hour flight, very comfortable, with excellent food and with no check in jam!!!
We arrive to Istanbul at about 12pm, very late to go anywhere in the city and in the next day we had to wake up very early so just time to drink a mojito in the hotel terrace that has an amazing view over the city of Istanbul.
Saturday we went to the Ciragan Palace where was held the Meeting. I think I saw more than 500 cops in the 5 minute ride from our hotel to the palace.
Our credentials were very limited in terms of mobility and we had some problems with the security to do our job and non of this securities speak English, just one of them speak a very bad English, well but we are Portuguese and our capacity of negotiation and adaptation always work.
Another thing was the high amount of journalists, I count at least 20 camera mans and maybe the double of photographers, I didn't had access to Pool's, only to normal areas where all of us had to pass before in a tight security check. It was crazy, everyone pushing and running in the palace halls to get perfect spots.
After the photos there was another problem, identify all the ministers, there wasn't any paper with "who is who", making it very hard to send the photos fast to the agency, the only thing I get was a paper with names, so I had to google the names and find out if the faces showing up match the ones on my photos.
After all this I didn't had time to lunch, but no worries, a Lebanon Reporter gave me some cookies that saved me.
We got out of the Palace at 5pm and before returning to the plane, we went with the Minister and his delegation to a fast visit to the famous Blue mosque and the surrounding area of Hagia Sophia, and I pose with the Minister for a photo.(hihihihi)
Then was time to go catch the plane, in the airport we went to a lounge before take of and was time to relax and drink a tea, in this lounge was also the Foreign Minister of France, Bernard Kouchner and we also pose together for the photo.
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
©Miguel A. Lopes
