Message of Solmaz Unaydin

The foundation of the relations in modern times between the Turkish and Japanese peoples was laid with the visit of the Frigate Ertugrul to Japan in 1890, during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II in Turkey and Emperor Meiji in Japan. Since that time, these relations developed with a rapid pace and reached levels of the closest friendship. Several other historical events constitute the mile-stones of the relations between our two countries. I shall content my self by pointing out a few of them.

In 1985 during the Iran-Iraq war, as the armed conflicts became more violent, foreigners in Teheran had to be evacuated. National Flag Carriers of many countries landed in this city to take their nationals back to safety. On 20 March 1985 at 14.00 hours the airspace over Teheran was closed as the regime of that time in Iraq declared that all aircraft*, either military or civilian, were going to be targeted no matter what their nationalities may be. The Japanese Government could not send any plane to Iran due to time constraints. On that particular day, upon the request of the Japanese Ambassador in Teheran, two Turkish Airlines planes, which were dispatched to Teheran, evacuated 245 Japanese nationals and brought them back to Turkey . Almost a century after the tragedy of the Ertugrul Frigate, the grandsons of the Ertugrul's sailors, who never forgot the gallantry shown earlier by Japan, did not hesitate to enter into the line of fire to help their Japanese friends.

In 1999, as Turkey faced yet another tragedy with the earthquakes of 17 August in Marmara and 13 November in Duzce, it was again Japan that first came to the rescue of Turkey . Japanese official authorities as well as NGO's, private institutions and the general public not only sent generous financial help and donations to those who suffered from the tremours, but also built housing facilities, extended medical assistance and provided scholarships to orphans. Once again the Turkish people will never forget the helping hand given to them by Japan.

Thanks to God, not all the mile-stones in the history of Turkish-Japanese relations are based on the friendship and assistance mutually extended during tragedies and wars. There are also many concrete achievements recorded in the line of bilateral cooperation.

In 1988, the second bridge over the Bosphorus Strait was built with the financial and technical assistance of the Japanese Government and Japanese construction companies. This project of over half a billion dollars in value was realized from the Japanese side by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Ninon Kokan. Today the “Fatih Bridge", which takes its name from the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, conqueror of Istanbul, is yet another living example of what Turkey and Japan can achieve when they work together and cooperate.

In the same vein, Japan is one of Turkey 's most important financial and economic partners. Many big industrial and financial projects are carried out in cooperation between our two countries. Several significant Japanese companies are represented and have lucrative investments in Turkey. Our ambition is to further increase the economic, commercial and industrial partnership to make the most of the existing, yet un-tapped potentials.

In the cultural field as well, relations between Turkey and Japan are rapidly developing. Japan is a country very well known in Turkey. Despite the geographical distance, Japan's history and culture are no longer strange to Turks. The achievements of Japan in the last century are followed with appreciation and respect in Turkey. Turkey, today, is willing to further increase the cooperation between the commercial and business circles of Turkey and Japan in the best interests of both countries.

A team of Japanese archeologists have been excavating the archaeological sites in Kamankale Hoyuk in Turkey since the mid 1980's. This project, headed by Dr. Sachihiro Omura, is a very important one not only for Turkey, as it goes down to the roots of 8,000 years of Anatolian history, but also for mankind in general, because it brings to light the past of one of the first human settlements in the world. His Imperial Highness, Prince Mikasa, is the honorary patron of this excavation, and together, with His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito, is very active in supervising and assisting the project, very much to the gratitude of Turkey. In addition to the Japanese Garden which already exists next to the excavation site, the Turkish and Japanese Governments also agreed on building a Museum in Kaman Kalehoyuk where objects un-earthed by Dr. Omura's team will be put on display. This initiative will be yet another standing example of the cooperation between Turkey and Japan.

On a very different plane, during the 2002 Football World Cup Finals held jointly by Japan and Korea, the Turkish and Japanese national football teams faced each other for the first time in the Sendai Stadium on 18 June 2002. Turkey won 1-0 to eventually become the third best team in the world. Football is the most popular sport in Turkey, and the achievements of our team are a source of national pride. However, the 2002 Finals will best be remembered in Turkey with the friendship and solidarity extended to our team while they were in Japan with the sportsmanship displayed by Japanese players and supporters, as well as the rapid development of football in Japan, which already deserves the rightful admiration of the world.

The Year 2003 is another mile-stone between Turkey and Japan, for it is celebrated as the "Year of Turkey in Japan". This decision was taken during the visit of the Turkish Minister in 2000. During the "Year," over 150 events of cultural and economic nature are being held all-over Japan to introduce the different facets of Turkey, both in their traditional and modem aspects. Hopefully, with the momentum created by the "Year,” Turkey and Japan will get even closer, and the interaction between our peoples will be on a wider scale.

Among the several events of interest of the "2003 Year of Turkey in Japan,” the Exhibition entitled "History of Friendship Between Turkey and Japan" is a particularly important one for us as it depicts the beginning of the establishment of the official relations between our countries in the modern era. On this occasion, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the management of Wako-Ginza and particularly to Chairman Reijiro Hattori, who has been supportive of this project. His deep knowledge and interest in history have been the driving force behind it and enhanced our will and motivation for making as good a job of it as possible.

Ambassador of Republic of Turkey to Japan
Solmaz Unaydin