Chairman of Mejlis M.Jemilev’s Visit to the Republic of Turkey

12 August 2011

The Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Jemilev has made an official visit to the Turkish Republic on August 8-11. The delegation was also composed of the Advisor to the Chairman of the Milli Mejlis on Relations with Turkey, İsmet Yüksel, and Mustafa Jemilev’s assistant Aslan Umer.

On the first day of the visit, the Head of the National Police Department of the Turkish Republic, Mehmet Kılıçlar, organized an iftar (fast-breaking meal during the holy month of Ramadan) for the delegation, which was also attended by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Turkish President Nadir Alpaslan, the Chairman of the Turkish Cabinet of Ministers’ Overseas Turks Agency Kemal Yurtnaç, the Director-General of the General Directorate of Foundations Dr. Adnan Ertem and TRT Director General İbrahim Şahin.

On August 9, the Turkish Cabinet of Ministers’ Overseas Turks Agency Chairman Kemal Yurtnaç has met with the Mejlis Chairman Mustafa Jemilev, Vice-Chairman of the Overseas Turks Agency Mehmet Köse and experts. During the meeting, they discussed the agency’s activities and projects that are implemented or could be implemented in Crimea.

After this, the delegation has met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Bekir Bozdağ. The sides discussed Turkish projects realized in Crimea, in particular, construction of the Crimean Tatar national school in Borçoqraq (Fontany), repairing school buildings, prolongation of the program of housing provision to Crimean Tatars, the establishment of the Crimean Tatar Cultural Centre, holding an International Forum on restoration of rights of the Crimean Tatar people at its homeland, its security and guarantees of development in Ukraine. Mr. Bozdağ assured that the Turkish Republic will continue assisting in resettlement of the Crimean Tatar people in its historical homeland.

Mr. Jemilev has also met the Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Minister of Turkey, Nihat Ergün. The two politicians considered the construction of industrial park in Bakhchisaray. Nihat Ergün noted the need to set up a working group, and expressed his willingness to render support in this matter.

At the meeting with deputy heads and experts of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the delegation members discussed new projects in Crimea, resumption of the program to provide housing for the Crimean Tatars in need, registration of the TIKA Office in Ukraine, the construction of new Crimean Tatar national schools and the Buyuk Cuma Cami (Friday’s mosque) in Aqmescit (Simferopol).

On August 9, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people held a meeting with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in the course of which they raised such questions as the situation of entrepreneurs in Ukraine and businessmen who want to invest in Ukraine, as well as the TOBB’s assistance in building dormitory for the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University.

On August 10, the Crimean delegation headed by Mustafa Jemilev was received by the Minister of Work and Social Security of Turkey Faruk Çelik. Mr. Jemilev thanked the minister for the support of the Crimean Tatar people. The Turkish minister, in turn, assured he will continue doing his utmost. In addition, the parties exchanged opinions about the contemporary situation of Crimean Tatars and plans for the future.

On the same day, the delegation members visited the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Turkish Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After visiting the construction site of the mosque to seat 6,000 people together with the President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Mehmet Görmez, they discussed the possibility for implementation of the same project in Crimea and teaching religion to the Crimean Tatar young people in Turkey.

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu, the two sides discussed holding an International Forum on restoration of rights of the Crimean Tatar people and registration of the TIKA Office in Ukraine which is scheduled for autumn this year.

At the end of the visit, the delegation was invited to iftar organized by the Head of the Central Office of the Association of Culture and Mutual Aid for the Crimean Tatars, Ahmed İhsan Kırımlı.

Mustafa Jemilev has returned to Crimea on August 11.

Source: Inform Agency “QHA”