Ecuador’s National Day was celebrated with a reception in Ankara hosted by Ecuadorian Ambassador Pedro Vintimilla Vega. Representatives of diplomatic missions, military officials, members of the business community and invited guests attended the event.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Vega sang the Turkish National Anthem as well as Ecuador’s National Anthem. Before the reception, he spoke exclusively to NEFES.
“I find the Turkish national anthem very beautiful”
Vega said he had been serving in Türkiye for approximately one and a half years and that the Turkish National Anthem was one of the things that had impressed him most. Explaining that he listened carefully to the Turkish National Anthem at the official ceremonies he attended and had gradually tried to memorise it, Vega said, “I find the Turkish National Anthem very beautiful. It is very impressive, very majestic, and it gives people a great sense of pride. The Turkish National Anthem is always played at receptions. I also try to repeat it every time. I am making an effort to learn its lyrics. Repeating it continuously is a good method for learning. Since I now live here, I think I have begun to feel and embrace the national anthem.”
The “Atatürk Model Hat” series
Vega also presented guests with part of the hat collection displayed at the embassy, including Ecuadorian hats worn by Atatürk during his travels around the country.
Vega said the toquilla hats worn by Atatürk, particularly during his tours around the country, are known as “Panama hats” but are produced in Ecuador and hold special significance for his country. Expressing the pride and honour they felt because Atatürk wore the hat, Vega said, “We feel great pride and honour because Atatürk wore this hat. Atatürk was always an extremely elegant man. For this reason, he chose the best possible hat, namely the hat known as the Ecuadorian hat both at that time and today.”
Explaining that they had prepared a special project based on this historical connection, the ambassador said, “In order to further strengthen the friendship between Ecuador and Türkiye and to honour the fact that Atatürk wore this hat, we prepared a special series consisting of the ‘Atatürk Model Hat’. Only 100 pieces of this series, designed while remaining as faithful as possible to the model worn by Atatürk, were produced.”
Nine out of every 10 bananas come from Ecuador
Ambassador Vega also addressed economic relations in his speech at the reception. Pointing out that Türkiye is an important market for Ecuador, the ambassador said, “Today, approximately nine out of every 10 bananas imported into Türkiye come from Ecuador.”
Vega said Ecuador was one of the homelands of cocoa and that archaeological research had revealed that the earliest evidence of cocoa use in the south-east of his country dated back approximately 5,300 years. He also said that Ecuador was now the world’s largest cocoa exporter.
Drawing attention to the worldwide reputation of Ecuadorian roses, Vega said the flowers displayed at the reception reflected his country’s natural wealth.
Ambassador Pedro Vintimilla Vega concluded his speech by recalling Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words, “Peace at home, peace in the world,” and said that this principle carried greater significance in today’s world than ever before.
