In fact, the progress Turkey and Ukraine have achieved in the past two years shows that a golden era has started in our relationship.
Erdogan’s visit was preceded by a number of achievements, which included mutual visa exemptions for travelers, which took effect Aug. 1, increased travel between the nations and the number of flights and establishment of a high-level bilateral strategic council.
Erdogan took the relationship further. Along with President Viktor Yanukovych, he presided over this council, in which representatives of foreign, transportation, defense and energy and economy ministries took part. The duo also opened the Yalta European Strategy forum in Crimea, known as the Davos of Ukraine. Erdogan was the honorary guest of this year’s meeting.
The tasks Erdogan set when coming to Ukraine were the following:
Make up a road map for increasing bilateral trade to $20 billion by 2015. In 2011, it was $6.5 billion.
Accelerate preparations for a free trade agreement, which is expected to be signed by the end of this year. This is the most vital component for increasing the volume of mutual trade.
Improve cooperation in the energy sector.
Increase frequency of flights between two countries.
Conduct talks to open a Turkish Cultural Center in Kyiv.
Work on relations in the tourism sector.
The Turkey-Ukraine strategic council touched upon all of those issues, and laid grounds for cooperation in green coal technologies, natural gas storage facilities, pipeline projects, and search for sources of hydrocarbon.
Development a cultural relationship was also high on the agenda of the strategic council meeting. Turkey will now open Yunus Emre Cultural Center in Kyiv, and Ukraine has an opportunity to open its own cultural centers in Turkey.
The other matter under discussion was development of tourism. Last year, more than 600,000 Ukrainians visited Turkey, which has become the most popular travel destination, bringing the sector up in the agenda of the countries’ leadership.
The countries have achieved an agreement on visa free short term travel, which will hopefully boost the presence of Turkish tourists in Ukraine. But the nation still has much to do in this sector, including development of tourism infrastructure such as hotels and transportation, and educating workers for the sector. In this, Ukraine can learn from the Turkish experience, and its Crimea can become as attractive for tourism as Antalya.
This is one of the issues that might come up in discussion again next month, when the Turkish tourism and culture minister visits Ukraine to advance the plans laid out by the strategic council.
Improvements of transport connection between the two nations will be another issue. Although the current state of air and sea travel is quite adequate, it will fall behind should tourism and business traffic grows.
Today, Ukraine is the fourth biggest destination for Turkish Airlines following Germany, Russia and Italy. Turkish Airlines has 50 flights from Istanbul Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen Airports to six different cities in Ukraine every week.
But the Turkish side wants to increase the number of flights by two-fold, which will be beneficial for Ukraine as well. Turkish Airlines is the world’s leading airline brand with flights to 90 countries. More frequent flights to Ukraine mean that travelers from here will be able to reach more destinations in the world, with better connections, with the help of Turkish Airlines.
And, of course, improvements in infrastructure will improve cultural, political and economic ties between the nations.
Turkey and Ukraine are in the similar position when it comes to relations with the European Union. They both have broken-heart feelings. Turkey has had a free trade regime with the EU since 1996, but the debate of full membership is still ongoing.
Ukraine is yet to finalize the free trade agreement with the EU amid unresolved issues. In his speech at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Crimea this month, Erdogan called the EU to adopt a more positive approach to Ukraine in their negotiations.
It seems that Erdogan’s visit to Ukraine was very successful, giving new momentum to the bilateral relations. We can expect to see movement in many directions very soon that will fulfill mutual agreements with more substance.
Burak Pehlivan is vice president of the International Turkish and Ukrainian Business Association. (TUID)
