CAPITAL OF THE ROMAN, BYZANTINE AND OTTOMAN EMPIRES, ISTABUL IS NOW THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE TODAY

Visiting Vienna to attend "Istanbul, 2010 European Capital of Culture, in Vienna" night, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said "The theme of Vienna Economic Union's Ball is Istanbul's being the Cultural Capital of Europe, which is the most important evidence that the EU process can't be stopped."

Speaking at the complimentary meal held by Ecvet Tezcan, Turkish Ambassador in Vienna, Bagis said that many things have changed in Turkey and that it has become the 16th greatest economy of the world and the 6th greatest in Europe.

Pointing out that Turkey was the only country simultaneously mediating among world states, Bagis said Turkey has always been the bridge between the west and the east, and between the Muslim and Christian civilizations. Bagis said the country was experiencing a normalization process and a process regarding the stabilization of a country.

Coming together with the representatives of Turkish non-governmental organizations and Turkish businessmen at Turkey's Vienna Embassy, Bagis mentioned the EU negotiation process, economic developments and the reforms realized and addressed the non-governmental organizations: "We need your support to persuade the European society."

Bagis advised the representatives of non-governmental organizations to learn the language of the society they are living in and added "You may also be the citizens of the country you're living or you may participate in the ruling. We will help you during the process."

In the meeting, Bagis informed about the developments taking place in Turkey and said that they weren't claiming to solve all the problems but that they ‘rightly diagnosed the problem, which is half of the treatment.'

Stating that the developments didn't make everyone happy in Turkey, Bagis said those were labor pains for a more democratic Turkey.

Attending the ball which was held under the theme "Istanbul, 2010 Europe Capital of Culture, in Vienna" with his wife Beyhan Bagis, Egemen Bagis delivered a speech and said "Istanbul served as the capital city of three empires in history: And this year it is the cultural capital of Europe. In this context, more than 500 cultural activities will take place in Istanbul. Please come and be our guests."

Stating that he was pleased about the strengthening of the economic cooperation between Turkey and Austria, Bagis said that Turkey was the 16th greatest economy of the world and the 6th greatest of Europe and that they would be happy to see Austrian investors in Turkey.

Hosting the ball, Brigitte Jank, chairperson of Vienna Chamber of Commerce, said "a perfect cooperation" was realized between Turkey and Austria and that it would grow further in the future.

Pointing that the Viennese businessmen realized several projects in Turkey and that Turkish businessmen realized many in Vienna, Jank said that they chose the Istanbul theme for this year's ball since it was chosen as the cultural capital of Europe.

Hadise who represented Turkey at the Eurovision last year and Turkish tenor Erkan Aki also attended the ball.

Source: AA