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The Union of Turkish Municipalities (TBB) and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem ïmamoğlu met with Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner in Germany to mark the 35th anniversary of the signing of the “Sister Cities” agreement between Istanbul and Berlin.
“I hope that through strong and healthy work, we hope to bring together all Turkish-German friendly cities and mayors, hosted by Istanbul and hand in hand with you, as the Mayor of Istanbul and President of the Turkish Municipalities Union, Ekrem Imamoglu,” Imamoglu said.
TBB and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Chairman Ekrem İmamoglu was invited to the German capital to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the signing of the “sister cities” agreement between the two cities by the Berlin City Council. İmamoglu was welcomed by Berlin Mayor Kai Wegener in front of the historic town hall, accompanied by IMM Secretary General Can Akın Çağlar. After a meeting of about 30 minutes in the President’s office, İmamoglu and Wegener appeared in front of members of the press in the reception area, attended by representatives of the Berlin-Istanbul Community, the Berlin Senate and the Berlin Parliament.
Berlin City Government signs the Book of Honor
Imamoglu, who signed the Berlin City Honor Roll, said:
“Dear Mayor Kai Wegener, I am very pleased to visit Berlin on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the friendship agreement between Turkey and Germany and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of sister city relations between Istanbul and Berlin. The close relations between Berlin and Istanbul, one of the cities with the largest Turkish population in Europe, have always made an important contribution to Turkish-German friendship. I am confident that in the coming period, in the urban era, through the steps we take together in the fields of urbanization, culture, art, tourism, sports, trade, etc., we will surely make the two cities and the two countries experience the most successful development in our current period of common cooperation. “I pay tribute to all the people of Berlin. “
He thanked
After Imamoglu signed the book of honor, the two presidents shared their thoughts with reporters. After Wegener spoke, Imamoglu said:
* I would like to thank dear President Kai Wegener for his warm hospitality and hospitality. I would like to express my satisfaction with his invitation to the final in Berlin and I would also like to thank him for choosing the name of the final “Turkey-Germany”.
* I have already said “May the best prevail in such a final”. I am very happy to be in Berlin. I met at a historical moment in the city of Berlin, which I love very much. I came here 5 years ago to celebrate the 30th anniversary, also the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
*Now, I came here to commemorate the 35th anniversary of our sister city relations with Berlin and the 100th anniversary of the signing of friendship and cooperation between Turkey and Germany in 1924. We shake hands with the respected president on behalf of the future. I believe that better days are waiting for us.
“A happy city needs a successful mayor”
* We live in the age of world cities, as a large part of the world’s population now lives in cities. Therefore, I see our cities as a guarantee of peace against war and also as the fighting spirit of democracy against anti-democratic attitudes or ideas. In this context, the cooperation that we can achieve together is not only Istanbul or Berlin, not only Turkey or Germany; I believe that it will send a very strong message to its surroundings and to the whole world, from Europe to the Middle East and the Caucasus.
* In order to have happy cities, you must have successful mayors. In this regard, I place great value on the connections that mayors build.
* In this sense, we also talked about it internally; I hope that through strong and healthy work – there are almost 100 sister city relations between cities in Turkey and Germany – hosted by Istanbul and together with you, as the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu and as the Chairman of the Union of Turkish Municipalities, Ekrem Imamoglu, we want to bring together, hand in hand, all Turkish-German sister cities and mayors.
*You expressed a positive opinion on this issue. I hope that in 2025 we will gather all sister cities to receive you in Istanbul and wish you a successful period with the energy of our joint efforts.
*I hope this is true for the people of Berlin and for the approximately 200,000 Turkish citizens who live here. I wish you success. I express my love and respect to the people of Berlin.
Wegener: We are determined
Wegener expressed satisfaction with the visit of Imamoglu and his accompanying delegation as follows:
“Berlin and Istanbul have been sister cities for 35 years, connected to each other by countless personal, cultural and business ties. Berlin is home to a very diverse Turkish community and there are many similarities and points of connection between our cities. With the recent re-election of Ekrem Imamoglu as Mayor of Istanbul, the sister city relationship between Berlin and Istanbul is now even stronger. Because history has taught us that we have to fight to win democracy and freedom. We are delighted to host Mr. Imamoglu today at the Kizil Municipal Palace. “We are determined to strengthen our cooperation and expand this important city partnership between us.”
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