by Gonca Jale Peker

“CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE” ISTANBUL!

Istanbul will be the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010. . .

Istanbul…The city where I live, will be the Cultural Capital of Europe! I was very glad when I heard that the nomination had been accepted. I believe that Istanbul will represent it the best…

This amazing city, which fascinates people from all around the world, will be better known and will continue touching people after being the Cultural Capital of Europe. I feel so happy that people who don’t have any idea about Istanbul, will know more about its history, its different lifestyles, its culture and more…I believe that with this nomination and the experience of Istanbul, a great process in the international arena will be shown and it will affect positively the candidacy of Turkey on its way to.

The Candidacy of Istanbul on being “the Cultural Capital of Europe” has already started on last April with the nomination of the jury’s assembly for the EU Parliament, EU Commission, EU Council and other regional committees in Brussels. In this process, Istanbul competed with Kiev, capital city of Ukraine. The EU Council has already accepted the role of Istanbul as the Cultural Capital of Europe, on the 13th November, in Brussels.

The historic of Istanbul is situated on a peninsula flanked by the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn on three sides. The city connects the Asian and the European Continents, so its geographical situation is very significant for the city. In my particular case, the place where I live is located on the Asian side, but my University, on contrary, is on the European side. Everyday I cross the bridge by car, which I consider I really interesting situation for an outsider, but for me it is already a part of my daily routine.

I think that one of the most important features of Istanbul is its history once it has a really long and fulfilled past; over 2500 years of history! It hosted three big empires, the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman, and it also became the capital city of each one of them throughout the ages.

The world was ruled from Istanbul for more than 1,600 years, for over 120 emperors and sultans. No other city in the world can claim such a distinction. Istanbul has already been the meeting point of many civilizations, cultures and also three big different religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islamism.

Still, it is possible to see traces of the past in Istanbul. You can see a church, a synagogue and a mosque next to each other in the same street! It is really amazing and nice to see the integration and the share of all different religious places and cultures in the same territory.

Nuri Colakoglu, the chairman of the Executive Committee for Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Initiative (and also vice-president of Dogan Media Group) says that : ”Such a long experience enabled Istanbul to design a sui generis concept of cosmopolitanism. This design protected not just those who lived in a specific territory but also the identities of scattered populations who did not even share a common language”. Being the Cultural Capital, the city will serve as a showcase of living together, once Istanbul is the best example of multiculturalism.

The slogan for the position of Istanbul in 2010 will be “Istanbul, the city of the four elements”. These four elements are: Earth, Air, Water and Fire.

Istanbul wants to have a worldwide contribution with new projects on culture and art concerning its vibrant legacy throughout the history. The logical explanation for this slogan arises from the fact that, while Istanbul will be doing this, it’s name will be indispensable like earth, air, water and fire!

The idea of Being the Cultural Capital of Europe was introduced by the Greek Cultural Minister, Melina Mercouri, in 1985. With the acceptance of this idea by the Ministry of EU Council in that same year, and this application has started to run between 1985 and 2000, among the member countries of EU. With the beginning of the millennium, the idea has changed and the title of Being the Cultural Capital of Europe has started to be given to many cities and also to other candidate countries among the EU.

Till 2010, Cultural Capitals of Europe will be:

Luxembourg, Sibiu- Romania for 2007

Liverpool- England for 2008

Linz- Austria for 2009