1. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Turkey in 2017, acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn of the ROK exchanged celebratory messages with Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on March 8.

※ The ROK and Turkey established diplomatic relations on March 8, 1957.

2. In his message, acting President Hwang extended warm, friendly greetings to the President and the people of Turkey on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the ROK and Turkey. The acting President, citing the bilateral strategic partnership established in 2012 and the bilateral comprehensive FTA concluded in 2015, went on to note with appreciation that the two countries, by drawing upon their alliance forged during the Korean War, have seen their cooperation grow across the board.

° In particular, the acting President, taking note of the broadening scope of cooperation between the two countries, as members of both the G20 and MIKTA, to include regional and global issues, voiced hope that various events to mark the anniversary, including in the fields of culture, arts, academics and people-to-people exchanges, will help deepen the mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

° The acting President welcomed the fact an ROK-Turkey consortium had won the project to build the world's longest Canakkale bridge and expressed hope for continued cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.

3. President Erdogan, taking note of the friendly and cooperative ties between the ROK and Turkey that mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, expressed willingness to work with Turkey for continued development of their strategic partnership.

° The President extended appreciation to the people of the ROK for always keeping in mind Turkey’s participation in the Korean War on the ROK side and expressing respect and gratitude to the Turkish war veterans. He voiced hope that various cultural exchanges to come in 2017, “the Turkish-Korea Year,” will help enhance the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

4. Turkey is the ROK’s long-standing ally that sent 21,000 troops to the ROK to fight alongside it in the Korean War and thereby contributed greatly to the ROK’s efforts to safeguard its security and liberal democracy. Various forms of exchanges and cooperation between the governments and private sectors of the two countries to take place in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations are expected to help enhance the bilateral strategic partnership.


* unofficial translation