Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency has shared the 2010 program, events and the international contact plan with the foreign press in Istanbul.

The press conference and dinner held by Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency on 22 December 2009 received great interest and participation from prominent foreign press and media institutions and news agencies in Istanbul. Speaking at the meeting Hüsamettin Kavi the Chairman of Advisory Board of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture and Yılmaz Kurt the Secretary General of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, gave information about the European Capital of Culture vision, 2010 working program and the international contact plan.

During his speech, Hüsamettin Kavi the Chairman of Advisory Board of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture articulated the importance of Istanbul’s selection as the European Capital of Culture on Turkey’s travel to the European Union, and added that Istanbul people were looking forward to celebrating it with European friends all along 2010. He also concluded that what this whole project would bring out for Istanbul for beyond 2010 is much more important than the events to be realized in 2010.

Pointing out that culture industries in the world create new and remarkable dynamics for countries’ economies, Hüsamettin Kavi expressed his belief that Istanbul’s being European Capital of Culture would surely contribute to the culture industry of Turkey.

Yılmaz Kurt the Secretary General of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture told about the projects which would be put forward in 2010 by the Agency, and articulated that Istanbul had been hosting and interacting with people from diverse cultures for centuries. Yılmaz Kurt went on to say that the main target of the 2010 program is not merely arranging events but also creating perpetual works which will maintain their functioning in forthcoming years as well.

The meeting ended by the visual presentation of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Tourism and Promotion Director Özgül Özkan Yavuz to show some examples from the 2010 Agency program.