ISTANBUL - The new building of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul was opened on Thursday with a ceremony attended by Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson.
Speaking in the ceremony, Guler said that the United States had been represented in Turkey for 173 years and that U.S. representatives who had worked so far had positive contributions to social and cultural life in Istanbul.
Guler stated that the new building would help continuation of those good services and added, ''despite radical changes in the world, Turkish-U.S. relations have not lost their main values. These main values are respect to democracy, human rights and freedom and fight against international terrorism irrespective of its source.''
Pearson said that Istanbul was the center of civilization, trade, understanding and change.
Not only the number of U.S. personnel in Istanbul but also the dimensions of that building pointed to the importance of Istanbul for the United States, Pearson noted.
Pearson said that the U.S. people were looking at the future and they would making a commitment about Istanbul's future by moving to that new building.
Stating that Istanbul was a world city, Pearson said that it was changing and developing every day.
Pearson added that Istanbul, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, was attracting their interest.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Pearson hoped that the new building would contribute to further improvement of friendship between Turkish and U.S. people.
(BRC-AÖ) 12.06.2003