Results of Visit of Mejlis’ Leader to Turkish Republic

23 December 2011

On December 22, 2011 the President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych made the official one-day visit to Turkey. The President of Ukraine was accompanied by the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Grischenko, few tarde ministers, and the Prime Minister of ARC A.Mogilev, as well as the Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people M.Jemilev.

During the visit they met with the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul, the Prime Minister of Turkey R.T. Erdogan, ratified few agreements, aimed at strengthening of the economic cooperation and further development of the friendly relations between the countries. According to many observers, the most significant agreement became the establishment of visa-free regime between Turkey and Ukraine.

The parties also discussed the issues, related to Crimean Tatars. Speaking on the joint press conference with the Head of Ukraine Mr. Yanukovych, the Prime Minister of Turkey said: “We have also discussed the situation with Crimean Tatars at this meeting. In this connection we have considered the measures, aimed at the solution of the economic, cultural, political and social problems of Crimean Tatars. The Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) has invested around 22 million US Dollars to the solution of this problems. In connection with the decision to open the office of TIKA in Kyiv, I have discussed with Mr. Yanukovych the prospects of the expansion of this aid”.

There were also separate meetings between the Chairman of Mejlis M.Jemilev and the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. M.Çavuşoğlu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu.

At the official dinner at the residence of the Prime Minister of Turkey in honor of the President of Ukraine, Mr. V.Yanukovych paid attention to the seating of the guests and noted half in jest, half in earnest: “In fact one should seat Mustafa-aga and Mr. Mogilev together…” This statement provoked a cheery excitement among all the present, as the majority of them knew about the relationships between Crimean Tatars and Mr. A.Mogilev in the past.