Finishing his diplomatic mission in Ukraine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Ukraine Erdogan ISCAN told The Day why he is going to remember our country and shared his plans for the future.
Mr. Iscan, you have worked in Ukraine for many years and have done much to make our countries get closer to each other. What will you remember about Ukraine?
“Above all, I have remembered numerous meetings with people: frankly, I have great respect for Ukrainian people, who have many times showed its adherence to democracy. Today Ukraine is having certain difficulties, but at the same time they have the will to overcome them. A very important indicator is the development of political dialogue and economic relations between our countries. This proves that my diplomatic activity has also been fruitful.
“Every year relations between our people have been developing in the cultural and economic aspects. We have held numerous cultural and business events in Ukraine and the Ukrainian side, in Turkey. The factor of international dialogue is very important at the moment. So, thanks to tourism Turks are learning more about Ukraine, and vice versa. During my term as in the ambassador’s office, the flow of Ukrainian tourists to Turkey has nearly tripled.”
What are you going to do next?
“I have been a state employee for 31 years now. I have worked in different European countries, including Ukraine. For the first time I was appointed ambassador to an Asian country, Korea.
I hope that in the future I will finish my mission in Korea and will perhaps work also in other geopolitical regions. After the completion of my diplomatic mission,
I would like to pass on my experience to the younger generation as a university teacher.”
What would you wish Ukrainians?
“I wish prosperity to Ukraine and welfare to its citizens, and also I wish them to be more tolerant toward each other and understand that unity is possible even amongst differences — recognize the right of people to be different, don’t judge them, try to understand and pick up those of their features that will help you improve.”






