560th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONQUEST OF ISTANBUL

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis delivered a written message on the occasion of the 560th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul.

In his message, Minister for EU Affairs Bagis noted the following:

On the 560th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, we commemorate with grace and gratitude our beloved martyrs and the great commander Fatih Sultan Mehmet who bequeaths this unique and precious city to us.

The conquest of Istanbul is a milestone that changes the flow of history, ends an era and opens a new one.

While he was telling the conquest of Istanbul to his companions, our Prophet Muhammad heralded: “Surely, Istanbul will be conquered by my community; how blessed the commander who will conquer it, and how blessed the army who will conquer it.”

We remember with grace the blessed commander and his blessed army who conquered Istanbul and we are trying to protect their precious heritage sensitively.

The fact that Istanbul was elected as the European Capital of Culture in 2010 and as European Capital of Sports in 2012, that it is already one of the rising centers of the world, and it is called as the home of justice and conscience consolidates our nation’s faith in its way to the future with a larger self-confidence on the 560th anniversary of the conquest. We hope and expect that these messages of Istanbul will strengthen the Olympic spirit and in 2020 Istanbul will host the Olympiads as it deserves.

Actually Istanbul, which was accepted as the European Capital of Culture in 2010, has been the center of culture and tolerance of the world since 1453. Istanbul will not lose its qualification of being the center of culture of Europe and being the center of peace of the world, as it exists.

In the Galatia Pact which was published by Fatih Sultan Mehmet right after the conquest, the communities in Istanbul were given the guarantee of speaking their own languages, being educated in their own languages, exercising their own religions and beliefs freely, sustentation of their cultures and customs, and maintaining their historical existence in peace and trust.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet, thanks to his manner of rule based on justice and tolerance, made Istanbul the center of science and culture in which different religions and traditions are united with peace.

That’s why; it will be unfair to Istanbul, to see it as just one of the cities. As well as being a city that changes the flow of history, Istanbul is also an identity which drives that flow to peace and humanity.

Istanbul is a unique source of inspiration for peace, brotherhood and toleration; and it is a city which has profoundness and meaning.

Istanbul is the common ground for all of us and it is also the identification card of Turkey.

That is to say, while he was emphasizing the central position of Turkey, Napoleon Bonaparte said “If the Earth was a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”. Also French writer and politician Alphonse de Lamartine surrendered to the messages of Istanbul and said: “If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.”

While master Necip Fazil was saying: “There is no lover like mother, there is no land like Istanbul.”, Orhan Veli was listening to Istanbul, his eyes closed. According to Yahya Kemal, “Loving even a district of Istanbul is worth a lifetime.”; on the other hand, for Sezai Karakoc, Istanbul “is a city which is far beyond the sky and the ground.”.

Everyone is in love with a different feature of Istanbul and everyone is engaged to it by a different reason.

That’s why it is more important to internalize it, to be united with its spirit and to read the messages of it, than to tell about Istanbul.

Within this framework, since the mayorship term of our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the messages of Istanbul have become louder and the twisted mind which makes Istanbul face with situations that are inappropriate for the heritage of our ancestors has ended.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s words “The virtue is to build a city and to make your heart a slave for your people.” have been invigorated with our Prime Minister. Therefore, while Istanbul is being constructed, a sense of mayorship and serving which has won Istanbul residents’ hearts has dominated.

Also today, Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s immense perspective and our Prime Minister’s love of Istanbul are leading to new vision projects for Istanbul and new crazy projects.

On the other hand, as the most oriental city of the west and the most occidental city of the east, only Istanbul is enough to show the importance of Turkey for EU and how much Turkey will enrich values of the Europe.

Istanbul is a European city; Istanbul is a city of Europe. Istanbul is a city which has shaped European culture, as well as internalizing European culture.

Even, only Istanbul is the indicator of that Turkey is a European country and it is certainly a member of the EU.

Europe without Istanbul is always deficient and it will be so.