Invest News DetailWorld News- The Queen praised Türkiye's role as a bridge between the West and the Islamic world on Tuesday during her first visit to the predominantly Muslim country in 37 years. "For us, Türkiye is as important now as it has ever been," the Queen said in a state banquet in her honour. "Türkiye is uniquely positioned as a bridge between East and West at a crucial time for the European Union and the world in general." The Queen was referring to the Alliance of Civilizations initiative. Türkiye, which is vying for EU membership, is - along with Spain - a co-sponsor of the UN-backed project aiming to increase dialogue between western and non-western cultures and to address the causes of conflict between them.