ODESA, SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2013, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE ― The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Turkish Republic to Ukraine Mr. Mehmet Samsar believes that Odesa is “Ukrainian Istanbul”, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

Mr. Mehmet Samsar noted today, 3 September, during the foundation of the stone.

“Odesa is a city of science and culture on the Black Sea. Odesa has made a large contribution to world literature, science, architecture, history and cinema. Potemkinskaya Stairs, poetry of Pushkin and Akhmatova, discoveries of academician Mechnikov made Odesa one of the most unique cities in the world. For me, Odesa is Ukrainian Istanbul. Istanbul is the best sister city for Odesa... Today, we are laying the foundation for a very important project, which will symbolize two cities... We would like to see the Odesa Park in Istanbul as well,” he said.

The employee of the Municipality of Istanbul Birsen Zontur, in turn, added: “We excited to organize such projects, to open these parks with you. As Odesa is a beautiful city, we want to create a park that would be worthy of Odesa.”