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THE “UNION OF HISTORICAL TOWNS” WAS CONVENED IN ‘BLUR PARADISE

26.12.2022

THE LAST REGIONAL MEETING WAS HOSTED BY BODRUM

The last meeting of 2022, which was held by the ‘Union of Historical Towns’ in various regions, was held in Blue Paradise Bodrum, hosted by Bodrum Municipality.

The Meeting, held in ‘Ramada Resort by Wyndham Bodrum Hotel’ started with the opening remark of Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum was attended by Bilgehan Bayar, the District Governer of Bodrum; executive board members of the ‘Union of Historical Towns’ and the ‘Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage’ (ÇEKÜL), the representatives of member municipalities, academicians, historians, political party representatives and the representatives of NGOs.

The Bodrum-Regional Meeting of the ‘Union of Historical Towns’ began with delivering the speech of Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the minister of culture and tourism after the stand in silence and singing national anthem. The Programme continued with opening remarks of Bilgehan Bayar, the District Governer of Bodrum and Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum.

“We Shall Lose With Uniformifity”

Mr. Mayor Ahmet Aras stated that the cultural heritage is the treasure narrating the common history of the society, strengthening the communication between its members and forging a strong bond between them.

After the opening remark, Mr. Mayor made a presentation about the projects carried out and planned to do so by Bodrum Municipality on protection of historical and cultural values.

Mr. Bayar, the District Governer of Bodrum on the other hand, stated that Anatolian lands have been a guesthouse since the foundation of the world, and said that many historical artifacts have been left today in these lands and that they are very valuable.

After the speeches, the book “Sharing the Life”, in which the protecting of common heritage by humanity was narrated, written by Metin Sözen, the president of ÇEKÜL (The Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage) was presented to Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum.

Having been moderated by Mithat Kıyıroğlu, advisory board member of the ‘Union of Historical Towns’ and Vice President of ÇEKÜL Foundation; the panel titled ‘Looking at the Natural and Cultural Heritages from Bodrum’ was attended by Prof. Dr. Adnan Diler, Assoc. Dr. Hatice Özyurt Özcan and Dr. Gökşin Ilıcalı. In the panel, Prof. Dr. Adnan Pedasa gave information on the Cultural Identity of Pedasa and the Leleg Peninsula, Assoc. Dr. Hatice Özyurt Özcan gave information on the ‘Late Antique Age’ city formation in Kissebükü. Dr. Gökşin Ilıcalı referred to Argos in Sandima: A Protection and Conserve the Historical Heritage-Project in Caria.

The closing remark and evaluation of the panel were delivered by Sezer Cihan, the Secretary General on behalf of the the ‘Union of Historical Towns’ (TKB).

Moreover, the ‘Touristic Bodrum Map’, which contains the precious natural and historical values of Bodrum, prepared by the Bodrum Municipality-‘Directorate of Press, Publications & Public Relations’. Within the scope of the organisation, the visuals of the projects were presented to the guests prepared by Bodrum Municipality in order to create awareness on preserving cultural and historical texture of Bodrum. The Work ‘Cultural Heritage’ prepared by Gülizar Çelebik and Canan Kork Çiftçi, academicians giving lectures at the Department of Handcrafts of ‘Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University’-Milas Vocational School, was exhibited at the foyer area of the hotel.

After the panel, the guests made a tour around the ancient walls, ‘The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology’ and Bodrum Maritime Museum with the guidance of Mehmet Çuhadar.

Established in 2000, the ‘Union of Historical Towns’ is carrying out studies on with a holistic approach and with the “public-local-civil-private collaboration”. Carrying our studies in cooperation with ÇEKÜL (the Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage), the union publishes studies with the data acquired from the outputs of the meetings. In this regard, the Union is an important NGO in that it brings together experts and the representatives of local governments by holding meetings in many cities of Anatolia.