TURKISH AMBASSADOR INFORMS MONGOLIAN MEDIA

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Mongolia Murat Karagoz Wednesday received media representatives in the Embassy. The Ambassador briefed on activities planned for the 45th anniversary of establishment of Mongolia- Turkey diplomatic relations. He said the Embassy has been working on deepening of the traditional relations, and stressed that high level mutual visits will greatly contribute to intensification of the relations and cooperation between our countries. About the actions planned ahead of the anniversary he said that visits are expected of the Turkish Foreign Minister to Mongolia in April and of Turkish Parliament Speaker and Ministers in June, during which high level meetings will run and some significant agreements will be signed. For social and economic relations of the two countries, the Turkish side is striving to launch direct flights between Ulaanbaatar and Istanbul and to increase a number of weekly flights. He also briefed on joint construction projects of 3,000 apartments, water treatment facility, hydro-electric plant and city planning. The Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) last year implemented 40 projects in Mongolia under a funding of USD 1.1 million, and it is planning to increase the project number up to 60 and the funding up to 10 million USD this year, said Mr Karagoz. For development of the economic relations, the Turkish part has planned many programs, including "Mongolia Investment Days", "Mongolia-Turkey business meeting" in Ulaanbaatar and other actions to promote leather processing and tourism sectors. Mr Karagoz noted the importance of arts and culture exchanges in the bilateral relations, citing such activities planned this year, including "Turkish Movie Days", art exhibition, concert, fashion show, and poetry and songs competition among pupils of the 5th school named after Ataturk. In autumn of 2014, an international symposium will run in Ulaanbaatar, said the Ambassador. In education sector, our bilateral cooperation will go further with an opening of a class for Mongol Studies in the Ankara University, highlighted Mr Karagoz. The Ambassador expressed a willingness to have a firm cooperation with the media. After briefing on activities for 2014, Mr Karagoz answered questions. For example, he said Turkey wants to become a member to the European Union, and it emphasizes a peaceful coexistence with its neighbors such as Syria and Iraq.