Poland’s National Independence Day and Armed Forces Day was celebrated with a reception hosted by the Polish Ambassador to Türkiye, Maciej Lang, in Ankara. Stating that Poland firmly supports Türkiye’s accession to the EU, the ambassador said, “We will continue to advocate for further development of the dialogue between the EU and Türkiye, whose mutual strategic importance cannot be overlooked. Whether through economic cooperation, cultural exchange, or our partnership in NATO, we are working together to make our world a better place to live.”
Haşim KILIÇ
THE reception, held at the Polish Embassy, was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the European Union (EU) Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay, as well as numerous ambassadors, military officials, and foreign mission representatives. In his opening speech, Ambassador Maciej Lang emphasized that the relationship between the two countries is multifaceted and has been developing in every field, stating:
HIGH-LEVEL VISITS
“We appreciate the support provided by the Turkish Armed Forces to repair the infrastructure damaged by the recent flood disaster in our country, as well as the aid provided by the Turkish community and companies based in Poland. Cooperation between Poland and Türkiye in all sectors has significantly increased over the years, thanks to shared values, mutual respect, and a long-standing history of friendship. The recent high-level visits are a clear testament to our deepening relationship. The visit of Szymon Holownia, Speaker of the lower house of the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, to Türkiye, and his meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmuş, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, represent another important chapter in our political dialogue and reinforce our mutual commitment to closer cooperation. This dialogue is of great importance to the entire international community today, as it faces challenging tests such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the violence in the Middle East, both of which have devastated the lives of many innocent people.”
Maciej Lang, Mehmet Kemal Bozay
CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE AND STABILITY
Lang highlighted that cooperation within NATO strengthens the security of the region, saying, “We are responding to the challenges of the current complex geopolitical environment and contributing to peace and stability in Europe and beyond. Polish soldiers stationed at Incirlik Air Base, NATO Land Command in Izmir, and the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps in Istanbul are proof of Poland’s unwavering commitment to our collective defense. Our cooperation in the defense industry is also progressing. The visit of Deputy Minister of National Defense Sami Tüfekçi to the International Defense Industry Fair in Kielce a month ago demonstrates the strong interest of both sides in this area. Our countries understand very well the importance of defense cooperation, especially under today’s conditions.”
TRADE VOLUME REACHES 12 BILLION EUROS
Ambassador Lang emphasized the ever-growing commercial ties between the two countries, saying, “Poland and Türkiye also have a strong and growing economic partnership. Our trade volume reached 12 billion euros in 2023, and this growth not only reflects the strength of our economic relations but also shows the potential for further growth and development. The increasing investment of Turkish companies in Poland and the new opportunities found by Polish businesses in Türkiye prove that our economic ties are a crucial component of our bilateral relationship. The fact that 1.6 million Polish tourists visited Türkiye last year and that we expect even more this year is another indicator of our thriving relations. Furthermore, Poland has long been the most popular destination for Turkish Erasmus students, contributing significantly to the strengthening of mutual understanding and respect.”
Maciej Lang, Hayriye Kumaşçıoğlu
SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Stating that Poland firmly supports Türkiye’s accession to the EU, Ambassador Lang said, “We will continue to advocate for further development of the dialogue between the EU and Türkiye, whose mutual strategic importance cannot be overlooked. In conclusion, the relationship between Poland and Türkiye is built on trust, shared values, and a commitment to a brighter future. Whether through economic cooperation, cultural exchange, or our partnership in NATO, we are working together to make our world a better place to live.”
CONSTRUCTIVE AND CONTINUOUS DIALOGUE
Ambassador Hayriye Kumaşçıoğlu, Director General for Bilateral Relations with Central and Northern Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “We are determined to further deepen our bilateral relations in all fields, and we eagerly anticipate the continuation of this valuable partnership, in line with the constructive and continuous dialogue between our two countries. We continue to strengthen our solidarity. In this context, I would like to express our deep sorrow over the loss of life and damage caused by the recent flood disaster in Poland and extend our heartfelt condolences. On international platforms, especially within Euro-Atlantic institutions, we have established a productive dialogue both bilaterally and multilaterally in the face of today’s challenging global security, political, and economic environment. The Turkish community in Poland and the Polish community in Türkiye have formed diverse and strong ties between us. We are working closely together to address the issues of mutual concern. We appreciate Poland’s valuable support for our EU accession process, and we hope that this support will be further strengthened during Poland’s Presidency of the Council in the first half of 2025.”
Gunter Glitsch, Sybille Sorg
Gabriele Juen, Maria Virginia Mendes Da Silva Pina
