www.zaman.com The Cultural Capital of Europe for 2010 will be determined in March.
The European Parliament (EP), who approved Istanbul's candidacy, is reported to be eyeing the city favorably.
The Istanbul 2010 Initiative Group that officially applied for candidacy in December is lobbying at the center of the EU.
The delegation which focuses on providing press packets and briefings to parliamentarians and the media was at the European Parliament yesterday.
Turkey-European Union Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-chair Joost Lagendijk, Justice and Development Party Istanbul Deputy Egemen Bagis and Istanbul 2010 Initiative Group Chairman Nuri Colakoglu held a joint news conference yesterday.
Lagendijk started his remarks by saying that he is an admirer of Istanbul. "If a list of beautiful European cities was to be made, Istanbul would be in first place. You must absolutely see the Bosphorus and tour Istiklal Street." Istanbul, where different cultures have been harmoniously living together for thousands of years, has an important mission; he underlined, and that the city bridging continents is already considered European.
The European Parliament will establish the 2010 Cultural Capital of Europe next month; in the meantime works have been accelerated through dual talks.
Istanbul's biggest rival is Ukraine's capital Kiev.
When applications are considered; however, Kiev does not appear to have much of a chance. Istanbul applied for candidacy with files of materials, visual documents and a voluminous book, whereas Kiev was satisfied with a two-page text only.
In fact, most Ukrainian politicians are aware of the fact that they do not stand much of a chance face to face with Istanbul.
Therefore, they say "Let Istanbul's candidacy be accepted; but offer us another alternative." |