On September 14, 2018, the mayor of Odessa met with the directors of the departments of consular services of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine and Turkey Sergey Pogoreltsev and Mr. Mehmet Samsar. The meting was also attended by newly appointed Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Odessa, Mr. Sadin Ayyildiz. Director of the Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey noted that from 2011 to 2013 he was at the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Ukraine and took part in the birth of the Istanbul Park in Odessa.

"Two cities are in harmony with each other. I am confident that the newly appointed consul will make a contribution to the development of relations between Odessa and Istanbul," said Mehmet Samsar.

The sides have discussed development of relations in the economic, cultural, humanitarian and tourist spheres.