To honor a century of robust bilateral ties, Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, has declared 2024 as the Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year. This celebration marks the 100th anniversary of the Friendship Agreement between Turkey and Hungary, established in 1924, under the theme “Hundred Years of Friendship and Cooperation.”

The official announcement took place at a ceremony held at the ministry, attended by Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Viktor Matis, Hungary’s ambassador to Ankara.

Minister Ersoy underscored the historical significance of the relations between the two nations, pointing to the era of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, when relations thrived in a friendly manner. Ersoy emphasized the enduring warm ties: “With the vision of the Century of Turkey, the same friendly atmosphere continues in our political and diplomatic relations.”

Ersoy further explained, “To strengthen the cultural bonds between our nations, we have decided to celebrate the year 2024 as the ‘Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year: Hundred Years of Friendship and Cooperation,’ following the letter of intent signed with Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto, at the Turkey-Hungary High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in November 2021.”

The Cultural Year’s inauguration is scheduled for December 18 at Budapest’s Müpa Hungary Arts Palace, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Turkish-Hungarian Friendship Agreement signed on December 18, 1923. Turkey will host the closing program in December 2024.