Development of Relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Turkey helps to coordinate Positions in the European Institutions and Global Organizations
On Monday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, met Bülent Arınç, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, within his official visit to the Turkish Republic.
V. Lytvyn stated that the relations between Ukraine and Turkey were in the stage of dynamic development, and Ukraine was interested in further cooperation. He hopes that the visit of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, "will give impetus to the bilateral cooperation in the economic, military-technical, social and others spheres, helping to coordinate the positions in the European institutions, regional and global organizations."
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine declared, "We have similar stances, so at the inter-parliamentary level we will exert the efforts to form a reliable legal foundation for fruitful cooperation. We will establish contacts at all the levels to guarantee a people´s diplomacy."
B. Arınç stated that there were no political problems between the states. "We have friendly and neighboring relations; the trade between our states is rapidly developing." He is convinced that such development of economic connections is essential for the both states. The Deputy Prime Minister reminded that in 2008, the turnover of goods between the countries totalled USD 8 billion, which is regarded as a good figure. B. Arınç hopes that increase of investments will facilitate turnover of goods.
The Deputy Minister requested the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament to assist in the formation of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) Office in Kyiv. B. Arınç also requested Volodymyr Lytvyn to assist in the opening of a consulate general of the Republic of Turkey in Simferopol. V. Lytvyn stated that these issues would be scrutinized in terms of strategic partnership between Ukraine and Turkey.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine calls for resuming the assistance programs to the Crimean Tatars that have returned to Ukraine. "These questions can not be settled without external help", V. Lytvyn believes. He announced that more than 6 thousand Tatar families in the Crimean peninsula needed the housing, while 21 thousand needed assistance in the individual building. There are also problems with water, power energy, roads, construction of public and cultural establishments, and building of schools.
V. Lytvyn suggested carrying out the program, whereby the Turkish Party shall build 1 thousand apartments for the Crimean Tatars annually.
"Mutual understanding and efforts will let us enter a new level of strategic partnership", V. Lytvyn is convinced.
The participants discussed the social-political situation in both states, and expressed their hopes for sustainable and dynamic development of bilateral relations.