By Gozde Bayar
ANKARA (AA) – Europe Day was marked Thursday in Ankara with a digital photo exhibition, “The Common Heritage We Build & Share.”
A reception was also held at the Cermodern which hosted the head of the delegation of the EU to Türkiye, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and his spouse; Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister and EU Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay; Mayor Mansur Yavas; top officials; embassy staff in Ankara and media members.
Meyer-Landrut welcomed guests with a feeling of bitterness because his duties would end this year.
“I know how privileged I have been for traveling across Türkiye. From East to West, North to South and discovering its numerous wonders in the last four years. From its delightful gastronomy, the industrial dynamism all across the country, the cradle of human civilization in Mesopotamia, the mesmerizing Mediterranean coast and the countless cups of tea and Turkish coffee,” said Landrut.
He urged people to “open their eyes to a spectacular cultural heritage” in Türkiye and said the EU is keen to help protect the shared heritage, which is not only a source of collective memory but an essential tool for historical and scientific studies.
On ties between the EU and Türkiye, he said relations are certainly not at the stage they would like.
“It's a complex, multifaceted relationship. However, Türkiye as a candidate country, our relationship dates decades. and has proven resilient in the face of countless and unprecedented crisis,” he said.
He added that in four years, they have continued to work in many areas of mutual interest, such as foreign policy, trade, investment, migration and connectivity.
Regarding the aggression in Ukraine and onslaught against Gaza, he said: "The unprovoked and unjustified Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is still raging. And the war in Gaza and the large-scale destabilization in the Middle East point to an era of insecurity and conflict in the region and beyond."
“On this occasion of Europe Day, celebration for peace and unity, let's remind ourselves how peace and security can be fragile. How we must work to preserve promote and defend on our continent and beyond. This responsibility lies with each and every one of us,” he added.
Bozay shared the message of Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz at the ceremony.
As Türkiye is a candidate country for the EU, Bozay said Türkiye has geographical, cultural, historical, commercial and political relations with Europe.
Stressing that Türkiye is a member of all organizations in Europe, he said Türkiye expected the EU to take “concrete steps,” and will be closely monitoring the speed and scope of the steps taken by the EU.
Yavas said Türkiye’s membership goal in the EU makes very important contributions to ensuring democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
“Türkiye has shown that it is ready for membership in the EU with the steps it has taken in this direction for a long time,” he added.
Türkiye applied for EU membership in 1987 and has been a candidate country since 1999.
Negotiations for full membership started in October 2005 but have stalled in recent years due to political hurdles erected by some members.
Europe Day, also known as Schuman Day, is observed May 9 each year to mark the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which proposed the formation of a European Coal and Steel Community, the precursor to the European Union.