We invited Zafer ATEŞ, Ambassador of Turkiye to Mongolia to the Embassy interview series.
-You have been in Mongolia for one year. Prior coming to Mongolia where did you work?
-I have been with the Turkish Foreign Ministry for 25 years. During this period, I have served at the Turkish missions in Hanoi/Vietnam, Canberra/Australia, Paris/France and Deventer/the Netherlands at different positions.
-How many Turkish students study in Mongolia? Do they have Government scholarship?
-To my knowledge, there are no Turkish students here in Mongolia. But, there are some scholars doing their post-graduate studies at the MUIS.
Türkiye and Mongolia are two friendly countries. The two nations have so many similarities and shared a common history and geography centuries ago.
The two countries established diplomatic relations back in 1969. Türkiye opened its Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in 1996 and one year later Mongolia inaugurated its Embassy in Ankara.
Since then, there has been a robust development in the bilateral relations. There is still room for further development of cooperation in every field.
-Turkish President offered to call Turkiye as it in Turkish. English world calls Turkey. What is a difference? What do you think about this offer?
-We call ourselves as “Türk” and our country as “Türkiye”. Türkiye simply means “the land/country of the Turks or the land/country where Turks live”. However, “Turkey” was a word forged by foreign countries and had no literal meaning for our nation and country. So, we have reverted back to our original name. Every nation has the right and the freedom to name itself as it wishes.
-Archeologists who worked in Mongolia and Turkiye had spread a wonderful news about their excavation results. Scientist found the remains of the summer residence of Hulegu khan of the Ilkhanate Empire from Chaldiran, Van. Where is the Chaldiran located? Who involved in the scientist team? Which organization lead this excavation study?
-Our bilateral relations are developing in every field and archeology is one of them. For the first time, a Mongolian archeological team carried out a research outside of Mongolia this year and the team was so successful in finding the ruins of the summer palace of Khuleg Khan in Çaldıran, Van. Van is a border city in eastern Türkiye.
This archeological study was the common project of the MUIS and İzmir Katip Çelebi University (İKÇÜ) Joint Turcology Research Institute. The team was headed by Mr. Ersel Çağlıtütüncügil, Head of the Archeology Department of İKÇÜ. There were scientists from Archeology Institute of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Science and Technology University of Mongolia.
-The monument complex which is considered to belong to Kutluk Ilterish Khagan, the founder of the second Gokturk Khaganate was discovered last August. Where did archeologists found the monument? Was the monument robbed or not? Can you explain us the historic importance of this discovery?
-Another successful archeological discovery this year was the monument complex in Nomgon, Arhangai, which is believed to belong to Ilterish Kutluk Khagan, who was the founder of the II. Gokturk Khaganate.
This discovery is so important, Until this discovery, it was the Tonyukuk Inscriptions which had the “Turk” and “Turkish nation” in written form in old Turkic alphabet for the first time in history. Tonyukuk Inscriptions are dated between 720-725. Ilterish Kutluk Khagan Inscriptions also contain these words and it is believed to be written 30-40 years earlier than Tonyukuk Inscriptions. So, this one is a very important discovery in the last 125 years after the discovery of Tonyukuk Inscriptions back in 1897.
Naturally, the studies will continue both in Nomgon and Çaldıran at these important archeological sites and additional findings will shed more light on the history of these periods.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has been operating in Mongolia since 1994. Its resident Programme Coordination Office became operational in 2004. TİKA has implemented almost 800 projects in Mongolia since its establishment and it will continue contributing to the development efforts of Mongolia. Most important TİKA projects are the construction of the Orkhon Valley / Hoshoo Tsaidam Museum and the 45 km road between Kharhorin and the museum. This year, TİKA is preparing for the construction of another museum for Tonyukuk Inscriptions in Bain Tsokto valley near Nalaikh. Mongolia is so rich in cultural/historical heritage and Türkiye will continue to support the efforts for the protection and promotion of this heritage.
-Mustafa Shentop, a speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye arrived in Mongolia in 2019. Since this time high-level visits did not happen. Is there any visits planned within this year?
-Last Presidential visit between the two countries was in 2004 by H.E. Mr. Bagabandi, former President of Mongolia. Last Foreign Ministerial visit took place in 2015 by H.E. Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye.
After the normalization of the situation vis-a-vis the C19 pandemic, exchanges of bilateral visits and meetings have already started. Our presidents had a very fruitful meeting last month in Semerkand on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.
Turkish Minister of Labour and Social Security, H.E. Mr. Bilgin, and President of the Turkish Constitutional Court, Mr. Arslan, visited Mongolia this year in June and August respectively.
last week, the Speaker of the Great Khural, H.E. Mr. Zandanshatar visited Türkiye. During this visit, a Türkiye-Mongolia Business Forum was organized in Ankara, as well.
We can expect some more visits in the coming period.
-Mongolian-Turkish business forum will be held next month in Istanbul. Two country presidents met during SCO summit in Uzbekistan and discussed to reach the bilateral trade into 100 million dollars. What actions need to be done to fulfill this goal?
-In bilateral trade, we will exceed the 100 million dollars target this year. In order to further upgrade this figure, both sides should strive to find the ways and means to facilitate trade, especially in transport sector.
We should eliminate the barriers in front of transportation. We should start air cargo services and lift the limitations for the air transportation. Our air carriers should be able to fly every day in both directions. We should also create new alternatives in transport such as railways.
Commercial relations constitute an important dimension of the bilateral relations. Bilateral trade volume was at around 40 million USD in 2020 and it reached 74 million USD in 2021. It is foreseen that it will exceed 100 million USD this year. Our presidents welcomed this development during their recent meeting in Semerkand last month.
Last year, Türkiye and Mongolia organized the 9th Meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee on 15-16 November 2021 in Ankara. At this meeting, so many dimensions of the bilateral relations were discussed, concrete decisions were taken and some agreements were signed. In last June, Türkiye-Mongolia Business Forum was held in Istanbul with the participation of business people from both sides.
Turkish Airlines (THY) is performing direct flights between Ulaanbaatar and Istanbul three times a week. THY is ready to carry out even more flights. THY is in a niche position to further contribute to the economic activities of Mongolia by carrying more tourists, business people and investors.
-Many Mongolian tourists visited Turkiye for the last 2 years. Do have an exact number of Mongolian tourists?
-We welcome the fact that Mongolian friends are so keen to visit Türkiye. This year, around 26.000 Mongolians have visited Türkiye so far. Visa exemption up to 30 days creates a good opportunity for tourists. We are also encouraging our citizens to visit Mongolia.
People-to-people contacts are also important. More and more Mongolians are visiting Türkiye each year. This year, around 26.000 Mongolians have visited Türkiye so far.
In recent years, Turkish movies and drama series have become so popular in Mongolia. There is a very deep respect in Türkiye towards Mongolian people, Mongolia, its history and culture.
Turkish and Mongolian are two relative languages from the same family, namely Ural-Altay. The grammar and the syntax are very similar and there are so many common words in these two languages.
-Please give us a procedure information regarding to Orkhon-tourist complex. Mongolian Government wants to establish this complex in Orkhon valley in Ovorkhangai with Turkish Government help.
-Orkhon Valley Tourism Complex is a very important project for Mongolia’s tourism. At the 9th Meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting held in 2021 in Ankara, Turkish side offered to contribute to the feasibility study of this Project by providing experts.
I believe that a full-fledged feasibility study for this comprehensive project should be prepared first. After that, we can discuss about the details.
We invited Zafer ATEŞ, Ambassador of Turkiye to Mongolia to the Embassy interview series.
-You have been in Mongolia for one year. Prior coming to Mongolia where did you work?
-I have been with the Turkish Foreign Ministry for 25 years. During this period, I have served at the Turkish missions in Hanoi/Vietnam, Canberra/Australia, Paris/France and Deventer/the Netherlands at different positions.
-How many Turkish students study in Mongolia? Do they have Government scholarship?
-To my knowledge, there are no Turkish students here in Mongolia. But, there are some scholars doing their post-graduate studies at the MUIS.
Türkiye and Mongolia are two friendly countries. The two nations have so many similarities and shared a common history and geography centuries ago.
The two countries established diplomatic relations back in 1969. Türkiye opened its Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in 1996 and one year later Mongolia inaugurated its Embassy in Ankara.
Since then, there has been a robust development in the bilateral relations. There is still room for further development of cooperation in every field.
-Turkish President offered to call Turkiye as it in Turkish. English world calls Turkey. What is a difference? What do you think about this offer?
-We call ourselves as “Türk” and our country as “Türkiye”. Türkiye simply means “the land/country of the Turks or the land/country where Turks live”. However, “Turkey” was a word forged by foreign countries and had no literal meaning for our nation and country. So, we have reverted back to our original name. Every nation has the right and the freedom to name itself as it wishes.
-Archeologists who worked in Mongolia and Turkiye had spread a wonderful news about their excavation results. Scientist found the remains of the summer residence of Hulegu khan of the Ilkhanate Empire from Chaldiran, Van. Where is the Chaldiran located? Who involved in the scientist team? Which organization lead this excavation study?
-Our bilateral relations are developing in every field and archeology is one of them. For the first time, a Mongolian archeological team carried out a research outside of Mongolia this year and the team was so successful in finding the ruins of the summer palace of Khuleg Khan in Çaldıran, Van. Van is a border city in eastern Türkiye.
This archeological study was the common project of the MUIS and İzmir Katip Çelebi University (İKÇÜ) Joint Turcology Research Institute. The team was headed by Mr. Ersel Çağlıtütüncügil, Head of the Archeology Department of İKÇÜ. There were scientists from Archeology Institute of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Science and Technology University of Mongolia.
-The monument complex which is considered to belong to Kutluk Ilterish Khagan, the founder of the second Gokturk Khaganate was discovered last August. Where did archeologists found the monument? Was the monument robbed or not? Can you explain us the historic importance of this discovery?
-Another successful archeological discovery this year was the monument complex in Nomgon, Arhangai, which is believed to belong to Ilterish Kutluk Khagan, who was the founder of the II. Gokturk Khaganate.
This discovery is so important, Until this discovery, it was the Tonyukuk Inscriptions which had the “Turk” and “Turkish nation” in written form in old Turkic alphabet for the first time in history. Tonyukuk Inscriptions are dated between 720-725. Ilterish Kutluk Khagan Inscriptions also contain these words and it is believed to be written 30-40 years earlier than Tonyukuk Inscriptions. So, this one is a very important discovery in the last 125 years after the discovery of Tonyukuk Inscriptions back in 1897.
Naturally, the studies will continue both in Nomgon and Çaldıran at these important archeological sites and additional findings will shed more light on the history of these periods.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has been operating in Mongolia since 1994. Its resident Programme Coordination Office became operational in 2004. TİKA has implemented almost 800 projects in Mongolia since its establishment and it will continue contributing to the development efforts of Mongolia. Most important TİKA projects are the construction of the Orkhon Valley / Hoshoo Tsaidam Museum and the 45 km road between Kharhorin and the museum. This year, TİKA is preparing for the construction of another museum for Tonyukuk Inscriptions in Bain Tsokto valley near Nalaikh. Mongolia is so rich in cultural/historical heritage and Türkiye will continue to support the efforts for the protection and promotion of this heritage.
-Mustafa Shentop, a speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye arrived in Mongolia in 2019. Since this time high-level visits did not happen. Is there any visits planned within this year?
-Last Presidential visit between the two countries was in 2004 by H.E. Mr. Bagabandi, former President of Mongolia. Last Foreign Ministerial visit took place in 2015 by H.E. Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye.
After the normalization of the situation vis-a-vis the C19 pandemic, exchanges of bilateral visits and meetings have already started. Our presidents had a very fruitful meeting last month in Semerkand on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.
Turkish Minister of Labour and Social Security, H.E. Mr. Bilgin, and President of the Turkish Constitutional Court, Mr. Arslan, visited Mongolia this year in June and August respectively.
last week, the Speaker of the Great Khural, H.E. Mr. Zandanshatar visited Türkiye. During this visit, a Türkiye-Mongolia Business Forum was organized in Ankara, as well.
We can expect some more visits in the coming period.
-Mongolian-Turkish business forum will be held next month in Istanbul. Two country presidents met during SCO summit in Uzbekistan and discussed to reach the bilateral trade into 100 million dollars. What actions need to be done to fulfill this goal?
-In bilateral trade, we will exceed the 100 million dollars target this year. In order to further upgrade this figure, both sides should strive to find the ways and means to facilitate trade, especially in transport sector.
We should eliminate the barriers in front of transportation. We should start air cargo services and lift the limitations for the air transportation. Our air carriers should be able to fly every day in both directions. We should also create new alternatives in transport such as railways.
Commercial relations constitute an important dimension of the bilateral relations. Bilateral trade volume was at around 40 million USD in 2020 and it reached 74 million USD in 2021. It is foreseen that it will exceed 100 million USD this year. Our presidents welcomed this development during their recent meeting in Semerkand last month.
Last year, Türkiye and Mongolia organized the 9th Meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee on 15-16 November 2021 in Ankara. At this meeting, so many dimensions of the bilateral relations were discussed, concrete decisions were taken and some agreements were signed. In last June, Türkiye-Mongolia Business Forum was held in Istanbul with the participation of business people from both sides.
Turkish Airlines (THY) is performing direct flights between Ulaanbaatar and Istanbul three times a week. THY is ready to carry out even more flights. THY is in a niche position to further contribute to the economic activities of Mongolia by carrying more tourists, business people and investors.
-Many Mongolian tourists visited Turkiye for the last 2 years. Do have an exact number of Mongolian tourists?
-We welcome the fact that Mongolian friends are so keen to visit Türkiye. This year, around 26.000 Mongolians have visited Türkiye so far. Visa exemption up to 30 days creates a good opportunity for tourists. We are also encouraging our citizens to visit Mongolia.
People-to-people contacts are also important. More and more Mongolians are visiting Türkiye each year. This year, around 26.000 Mongolians have visited Türkiye so far.
In recent years, Turkish movies and drama series have become so popular in Mongolia. There is a very deep respect in Türkiye towards Mongolian people, Mongolia, its history and culture.
Turkish and Mongolian are two relative languages from the same family, namely Ural-Altay. The grammar and the syntax are very similar and there are so many common words in these two languages.
-Please give us a procedure information regarding to Orkhon-tourist complex. Mongolian Government wants to establish this complex in Orkhon valley in Ovorkhangai with Turkish Government help.
-Orkhon Valley Tourism Complex is a very important project for Mongolia’s tourism. At the 9th Meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting held in 2021 in Ankara, Turkish side offered to contribute to the feasibility study of this Project by providing experts.
I believe that a full-fledged feasibility study for this comprehensive project should be prepared first. After that, we can discuss about the details.