Türkiye, Guatemala plant trees to mark 148th anniversary of diplomatic ties

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye and Guatemala on Monday planted trees in the Turkish capital to honor 148 years of diplomatic relations between the two.

"Guatemala and Türkiye commemorate the 148th anniversary of diplomatic relations today by planting Sycamore trees which represents 'greatness, permanence, superiority and sovereignty'," Guatemala’s Embassy in Ankara posted on Twitter.

The tree-planting ceremony, held in Ankara’s Youth Park, was attended by Guatemalan Ambassador Jairo Estrada, Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General for Cultural Affairs Emriye Bagdagul Ormanci, Costa Rica’s ambassador, and Ankara municipal officials.

Speaking at the event, Estrada said that Turkish-Guatemalan diplomatic ties trace all the way back to the 19th century.

He added: "About 2 years ago, both countries defined the date on which we began our diplomatic relations, being July 18, 1874, when my country appointed Mr. Guillermo Kelly as minister plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire, with the aim of signing the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation."

He also said that Türkiye opened its Embassy in Guatemala in 2015 and Guatemala returned the gesture two years later, showing “the interest that exists and that is being strengthened to improve in all fields of this prosperous relationship.”

He said they decided to plant Sycamore trees (Cinar in Turkish), which represents "greatness, permanence, superiority and sovereignty."