Monday, March 1, 2010

4:48 PM

JAPAN YEAR 2010 IN TURKEY

The friendly relations, which started with the visit of Ottoman Empire's Ertugrul Frigate to Japan and the disaster following the visit, will reach its 120th anniversary in 2010.

Not only the Ertugrul Frigate Disaster but also several historical incidents such as the rescue of Japanese people by a Turkish Airlines plane during Iran-Iraq War that symbolize the friendship between two countries are frequently mentioned. What is common in those two incidents is the courage and fidelity that the ancestors of the two nations displayed under difficult circumstances without expecting any return.

The two nations are proud of each other because of such a historical background.

Relations between the two countries in all fields, especially in political, economic, cultural fields, have developed thanks to our ancestors and the mutual interaction established between the people of these two countries. The number of Japanese tourist visiting Turkey has been growing steadily and it has reached 160,000, meanwhile Japanese investors' activities in Turkey are also growing. The number of symbolic projects such as the Bosphorus Rail Tube Crossing (Marmaray) Project and the construction of the Kaman-Kalehoyuk Archeological Museum are growing as well.

Even if we are very content with the level of relations between the two countries, we believe that the relations still have the capacity to be enhanced.

Therefore, we would like to state here once more that we have to stand face to face. We strongly believe that by standing face to face, the two countries would be able to walk towards new common goals hinging on new discoveries and their relationship based on mutual trust. Turkey, which lies at a strategic crossing between Asia, Europe and Middle East, has an important role in the stability of the region. We would like to further our partnership with such an important friendly country.

The “Japan Year” is a very important opportunity to re-discuss the current friendship and partnership between the two countries and “friendly Turkey” and to re-establish relations.

We have chosen the following three items as the primary objectives of the “Japan Year”:
(please click here for the details of the three objectives)

To introduce beauties of Japan
Enhance friendship
Carry our cooperation to the future
We expect applications for logo, slogan and activities for these three themes. We wish to realize many kinds of activities in Turkey during the “Japan Year” that will last for a year.

By the “Japan Year”, we also wish to enhance mutual understanding, friendship and interaction between Japanese and Turkish people and to convey these values to the younger generations as a value to be proud of.

So, these are the objectives of the “Japan Year”.

We hope to receive substantial participation from both countries for attaining the objectives of the “Japan Year 2010 in Turkey”.

-For click >Evenst of the year