Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara Andrii Sybiha, Turkey is one of the favorite holiday destinations of Ukrainians, said that this year, Ukrainians’ holiday choice to be Turkey again. “Ukraine and Turkey have started consultations on the launch of scheduled flights between our countries. In my opinion, these will be very important to preserve the dynamics of this year’s tourism season,” he said. Ambassador Sybiha and his wife, Tanya Sybiha, explained the coronavirus process and the relations between the two countries.
M. Ferhat Yüksel
Where do you spend your time in the epidemic process?
Andrii Sybiha: I’ve spent the last two months in two places: the embassy and the residence. But because of the quarantine, I spent most of my time in my study home.
What precautions have you taken against the epidemic as an embassy? Are you still working?
Andrii Sybiha: Undoubtedly the epidemic and the quarantine being imposed, affecting both aspects and shapes of our diplomatic activities. As an embassy, we have taken necessary anti-epidemic measures such as wearing mandatory masks, using disinfectant products, and measuring the fever of employees on duty. Both as an embassy and myself, we continued our work every day, following quarantine rules, even as we moved on to remote work.
How’s this going as an ambassador? Have your priorities changed?
Andrii Sybiha: On the one hand, the epidemic has limited direct contacts and negotiations as required by quarantine rules, and this has led us to quickly adapt to the new way of working, emphasizing e-diplomacy. It has become customary for us to participate in events in a virtual environment that continues to be organized in a large number of Turkey. We also have conversations with colleagues online. Regardless of today’s circumstances, we are actively continuing our high-level dialogue: Our presidents, Foreign Ministers, and Finance Ministers have made phone calls (phone calls are also expected among several ministers). I would like to draw particular attention to the events we organized here in May in memory of the victims of the Crimean Tatar exile. Together with the Crimean Tatar diaspora and the Crimean Tatar National Assembly in Turkey, we were able to carry out an online mourning rally, twitter-storm and candle-lighting in 1944 to remember the victims of crimes against the Crimean Tatar people committed by the Stalin regime.
In the field of public diplomacy, the Embassy, together with Ukrainian associations in Turkey, has launched a series of virtual digital projects in the fields of education and culture. The possibilities of online culinary diplomacy are also very actively used.
WE HOPE THE FLIGHTS WILL BEGIN
Turkey is one of the most important holiday destinations for Ukrainians. Do you expect Ukrainians to come for the holidays this summer?
Andrii Sybiha: I am very sure that my citizens want to spend their holidays in beautiful Turkey this year. It is a fact that Turkey is one of the Ukrainians’ favorite holiday destinations. And that’s very understandable and fair. Quality service, amazing infrastructure, breathtaking places and amazing hospitality are a unique blend, making the holiday in Turkey unforgettable. It is also not surprising that the number of Ukrainians who have spent the last three years holidaying in this magnificent country has increased by between 10% and 20%. Last year, for example, the number of tourists from Ukraine to Turkey exceeded 1.5 million. We have been informed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism about what this year’s tourism season will be like and conveyed it to the relevant Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine and Turkey have started consultations on the launch of scheduled flights between our countries. In my opinion, these will be very important to preserve the dynamic of this year’s tourist season. We hope to get some good news about this as soon as possible. Meanwhile, as of May 20, Ukrainian citizens can come to Turkey for treatment and surgery in Turkey. The number of patients from Ukraine is also increasing every year.
How are relations between Turkey and Ukraine during this period? How were different areas, especially trade, affected by the epidemic?
Andrii Sybiha: Minimizing the negative consequences of the epidemic, which could be reflected in bilateral trade, was both an issue we are working on and an issue in the telephone conversation of our Presidents. In this context, as a result of our active virtual consultation process with the Turkish side, we were able to find a suitable formula for truck drivers who took products to the two countries. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, we are adapting to the new quarantine reality and trying to preserve the dynamic nature of our bilateral relations. We have online discussions with various business associations and exchange ideas.
LET’S GROW TOGETHER
In 2019, trade volume increased by 22.3 percent compared to the previous year and increased to $5 billion. This is a trend that is popular in our bilateral trade relations because the volume of trade between our countries has been increasing continuously over the last three years. That’s what we’re trying to do so we can’t lose that dynamic structure. We have established the necessary communication links to continue the ongoing consultation process on the Free Trade Agreement and this process has not stopped. I believe with all my heart the accuracy of the formula ‘let’s grow together’ expressed by our President of Ukraine during his business form in Istanbul. We are two countries that can improve economic interaction with the win-win formula. Despite our results, we have not fully understood the potential of our bilateral trade.
Several Ukrainian citizens living in Turkey are also waiting to return to Ukraine for the summer. Do you have any expectations of when flights will begin?
Andrii Sybiha: Of course, efforts to ensure the return of our citizens to Ukraine both from Turkey and through Istanbul, designated as hubs, were among the priority activities of our embassy. We are grateful to Turkey for its assistance and convenience. Thanks to our coordinated cooperation, more than 3,000 Ukrainians have returned home and this process continues. Karasu-Chornomorsk ferry services between our countries, which my compatriots regularly use to return to Ukraine, continue. Also, we started the special ‘Zahyst’ program by providing relevant assistance to our citizens who cannot return from Turkey for certain reasons.
How do you spend your time at home, how many hours a day do you work?
Andrii Sybiha: I take this long process at home during quarantine as, above all, an opportunity to spend more time with my family. I’d say I’ve taken full advantage of this opportunity. In addition to the attention he has shown to our family, I am more grateful to my wife, who has time for several important projects. It’s not easy. On the other hand, I took great pleasure in the distance education that my children continue and the homework we do together. I was also very happy to work in a small garden that is in our residence. Both plants and trees thank us by awakening positive emotions in us.
How do you take your time at home?
Tanya Sybiha: We’ve been staying at home like everyone else since quarantine began, but the busy schedule hasn’t changed. Working conditions have changed, of course, but the intensity is the same, perhaps more (we’re talking about all the household chores and cooking every day). We learn how to work remotely using all available resources and applications effectively. We’re lucky to be all together. We have two boys, and three children, 11, 8 and 2 years old. Apart from daily work intensity, household work and cooking, we are actively home-schooled. Our children keep us physically and mentally fit. We need to find time for fun, like work and playing games with our kids. When you have a large family, it is very important to set an effective time management program and priorities.
How is diplomatic life in Ankara? Are you seeing any other diplomats?
Tanya Sybiha: We’ve all been staying at home since quarantine began, and sometimes it’s especially difficult for people with a very active social life. All public diplomacy events and receptions have been canceled or postponed. These are the realities of today. But staying at home doesn’t mean being emotionally locked up. We organize online meetings and communicate with friends from the diplomatic community. For the last two years, I have been honored to coordinate the Kitchen Club in Ankara. We have a very active group of ladies who share recipes and even organize online cooking courses with the participation of professional chefs or gourmets from around the world. I was very happy when two professional chefs from Ukraine accepted my invitation and gave free online lessons to our international community. We currently have an online art exhibition called Another Time with the participation of a Ukrainian curator and two artists. We are lucky to be able to exhibit ceramic works of art by Kyiv artists at the Art Ankara Contemporary Art Fair 2020. We are currently working on various cultural diplomacy projects in digital format.
What do you recommend to spend this period most efficiently?
Tanya Sybiha: Routine kills creativity, so it’s important to stay as creative as possible during this period. Setting realistic goals and implementing them is a good thing. During this time, our mental health is very important. Every man does different things to maintain a good mood. I try to combine handicrafts (I love embroidery) as a remedy for active exercise and relaxation. But the most important thing is the time I spend with my children, helping others through organized activities that strengthen charities.
OUR HOME IS OUR CASTLE
What kind of activities do you do to make your home life more enjoyable?
Tanya Sybiha: It’s easier to follow daily routines because there are young children in our family. Our home is our castle. That’s why we’re trying to make it as reliable and fun as possible. We planted a garden with our children, it is really enjoyable to look after our plants and watch them grow. We also have pets (a dog, a rabbit, two hamsters, and a turtle), hedgehogs, birds, and so on. So children are busy taking care of all animals and exploring their habits every day. We try to play different games and do fun activities with our children.
What did you miss doing the most?
Tanya Sybiha: What I miss most is meeting and chatting with my friends. I can’t imagine the social distance going on forever. My kids miss their school and their teachers, sports activities, dance or music classes, inviting their friends to our house. However, we know that staying at home, keeping the social distance, and self-isolation can save lives.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPLORING TURKEY
What do you plan to do first after the quarantine is over?
Tanya Sybiha: We are all looking forward to seeing the end of the process. If the conditions allow, we would love to travel around Turkey and explore places we haven’t seen yet. Of course, we want to go back to the simple pleasures of life, like meeting our friends more often. This time of isolation was given to give even more value to human beings, to what we are accustomed to. The universe is not outside of you, but the universe is within you, emphasizing the great philosopher Mevlana, ‘Look inside yourself, everything you want is already you,’ he said. In other words, this new truth was given to us to teach us a new, important lesson, to value everything we have now and in this place.
