An important program upon Istanbul’s being the 2010 European Capital of Culture was held at the European Parliament in Brussels with the participation of Minister of State for EU Affairs and The Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış.

Speech held by Egemen Bağış at the panel "Contribution of Istanbul to the European Culture"...

Opening Speech of Egemen Bağış in the Cocktail...

The program held on 2 February 2010 was started by the participation of Minister of State for EU Affairs and The Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış, Istanbul 2010 ECOC Agency Chairman of Coordination Board and State Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Istanbul 2010 ECOC Agency Chairman of Executive Board Şekib Avdagiç and Chairman of Advisory Board of the Agency Hüsamettin Kavi; and with the briefing held for the foreign press members.

Subsequently a panel was realized under the title “Contribution of Istanbul to the European Culture” joined by Egemen Bağış with Helen Flautre the co-chairman of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee. Held at Altiero Spinelli Building of the European Parliament the panel was moderated by Johnny Diamond from BBC. Along with Bağış and Flautre, sociologist Nilüfer Göle and Raj Isar the President of the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (EFAH) also participated as speakers.

Making the opening remarks at the panel, Egemen Bağış spoke about the benefits to Turkey and Europe as Istanbul is nominated as the 2010 European Capital of Culture, underlining the importance of this great opportunity for both sides. Richard Howitt a British MEP from Labour Party pointed out indispensability of Istanbul by saying “Anyone who has not been to Istanbul yet should visit Istanbul first thing tomorrow.”

Sociologist Nilüfer Göle articulated that it is essential to understand Mimar Sinan, Orhan Pamuk and Fatih Akın in order to understand Istanbul in making a reference to the multi-cultured structure of Istanbul.

Raj Isar the President of the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (EFAH) who is also a professor at the Paris American University told that he knew Turkey very well and expressed his affection for both Atatürk and the Ottomans. Isar added that Turkey has enhanced its bonds with Europe in time.

Hayati Yazıcı, Şekib Avdagiç EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary commissioner Andrew Duff and Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Theatre and Performing Arts Director Beyhan Murphy made speeches during the cocktail reception, as the second part of the program, held in “Restaurant des Membres” in Altiero Spinelli Building where selected products of the Turkish cuisine were served.