Lutsk forges cooperation with the Turkish City of Bandirma
Lutsk is actively working on developing partnership with cities around the world. Today our city has partners in eight countries, including Poland, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Belarus, the People's Republic of China, Georgia, Greece, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic. Mayor Mykola Romaniuk has repeatedly emphasized the importance of international cooperation in various fields.
Today guests from the Republic of Turkey, Bandirma Mayor Dursun Mirza and the representative of the Language Academy Jafer Koch, visited our city. The singer Tetiana Tsikhotska accompanied the guests. The aim of the visit was to establish cooperation between Bandirma and Lutsk. To implement this the delegation had a meeting with Lutsk Mayor Mykola Romaniuk, Deputy Mayor Taras Yakovlev, Head of International Cooperation and Project Activities Department Vira Kudriavtseva, Deputy Head of Tourism and City Promotion Department Bohdan Kalisz were present.
Mykola Romaniuk greeted the guests and wished them to enjoy their time in Lutsk. He described the accomplishments in the field of international relations, economy and cultural life of the region. He said that the City Council is extremely interested in expanding the geography of cooperation and finding new partners. "We are interested in cooperation in the cultural sphere. Ukraine, as Turkey, has a rich history and culture. We have much to share with each other and to learn from each other. Many gripping festivals take place in Lutsk. We would be happy if bands from your city participated in them and showed their traditional art. This would be incredibly informative for us," he said.
Lutsk Mayor drew attention to the importance of the youth exchange programs with a view to obtaining experience of other countries and cities. He is convinced that the future belongs to the youth as they will refine our country.
Mykola Romaniuk also mentioned that Lutsk is deeply interested in development and implementation of various projects and programs jointly with the city of Bandirma.
Lutsk Mayor drew attention to the paramount importance of assistance in establishment of business partnerships. According to Lutsk Mayor, it is necessary to help the Ukrainian and Turkish businessmen establish contact, for them to develop various projects themselves, and this would benefit the economy of both countries and cities.
In their turn, the guests from Turkey expressed gratitude to Mykola Romaniuk for the opportunity to meet. Dursun Mirza presented his city. According to him, there are about 150000 inhabitants in Bandirma. The city has the fourth largest seaport in Turkey. Industry and tourism are developing actively. He spoke of the cultural and natural attractions of the city.
Dursun Mirza said that he is interested in expanding the geography of international relations. Bandirma has four partner cities. and he hopes for establishment of close contacts in the spheres of culture, tourism and business with the fifth partner-city of Lutsk. Bandirma attracts substantial investments but the city is also interested in investing in economy of other cities.
In addition, Mr. Mirza said that our people should get to know each other better in order to dispel some stereotypes.
Dursun Mirza also invited Mykola Romaniuk to pay a visit to Bandirma and attend the 26th annual festival, taking place this year in late May. Mykola Romaniuk thanked him for the invitation and invited Dursun Mirza and artistic bands from his city to take part in the festivities on the occasion of Independence Day and the Day of Lutsk that will be held in August.
At the meeting the attention was also drawn to the situation in Eastern Ukraine. Mykola Romaniuk said that the war continues, and all people suffer from it. He thanked the Turkish people, government and personally to Bandirma Mayor Dursun Mirza, for supporting Ukraine in these tough times.
In his turn, Dursun Mirza said that war brings about only grief and anguish. Many people suffer from it.
The result of today's meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Lutsk and Bandirma.
