BUCHAREST - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer attended on Friday the opening ceremony of an exhibition in National Art Museum on the occasion of 500th anniversary of the death of Stephan the Great.
Taking the floor at the ceremony, Sezer said Stephan had a distinguished place in political and military history of the 15th Century.
Sezer said a sword, belonged to Stephan the Great, which belongs to the official collection of Topkapi Palace Museum, was also displayed in the exhibition, stating that this event would help to strengthen ties between Turkish and Romanian nations.
Sezer said Stephan, which was known as bold and determined king in the Ottoman sources, was a leader of the joint history of the two countries.
Romanian President Ion Iliescu, who also addressed the opening ceremony, said they commemorated Stephan the Great, who was one of the most distinguished leaders of the Romanian history, on the 500th anniversary of his death.
Iliescu stated that relations between the two countries were rooted in history, and thanked to Sezer as he brought with him the sword that belonged to Stephan the Great.
The sword will be exhibited for three weeks in Romania before being returned to the museum in Turkey.
President Sezer, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, and Presidential Secretary General Kemal Nehrozoglu later left Romania for Turkey.
(AY-ULG) 09.07.2004