ISTANBUL - Romanian President Ion Iliescu visited on Friday Sisli municipality together with State Minister Mustafa Sarýgul on Friday.
Speaking after their meeting which was close to the press, Iliescu said that there always had been friendly and warm relations between Romanian and Turkish people. Iliescu said that two peoples were similar to each other in many aspects, adding that the relations between the two countries in all fields were very productive due to that similarity and an example of that was seen in sports.
He expressed the sympathy of Romanian people to people living in Istanbul regarding the violent terrorist attacks which claimed the lives of people.
Referring to the building of the bust of Romanian statesman, philosopher and writer Dimitrie Cantemir who lived in Istanbul during the era of Ottoman era, Iliescu said that he was very pleased with the opening of the bust in a park of Sisli. He said that Cantemir was the symbol of the traditional relations between Turkey and Romania and he promoted both Romanian and also Ottoman history to the world with the books he wrote.
Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul said that Iliescu was a statesman who defended peace and freedoms in his country and the world.
Stating that relations between Turkey and Romania were rooted in history as the two countries were located in the same region, Sarigul said that Romanian scientist and writer Dimitrie Cantemir was also an example for those relations.
Iliescu, Tuzmen and Sarigul later attended the ceremony in Macka Park whose name was changed to ''Dimitrie Cantemir'' Park.
(ÖÞ-EÖ-AÖ) 05.12.2003