ANKARA - Following are the highlights from today`s Turkish daily Zaman. The Anadolu Agency is not responsible of opinions expressed or the context of the editorials and does not vouch for their accuracy.
An important initiative was launched to share Turkey`s historical background with the world. Priceless works of art at Rare Artifacts Library will be digitilized in cooperation with Istanbul University and Teknosa. Five experts will work for three years and prepare digital copies of manuscript and printed books, historical photos, maps, musical notes, magazines and newspapers. All artifacts will be introduced to the world in 2010. First step was taken yesterday with signatures of Sabanci Holding Executive Board Chairperson Guler Sabanci and Istanbul University Rector Prof. Mesut Parlak to initiate the project "Time-Resistant Artifacts", the estimated cost of which is around 300,000 Euro. During the signing ceremony, Polka Mazurka of Behice Sultan --selected from notes at Rare Artifacts Library -- was vocalized with a piano for the first time. There are 18,606 manuscripts, 25,375 printed books, 1,350 maps, 212 musical notes, 55 volumes of newspaper, 345 volumes of magazine, 4,300 rare artifacts sent from Europe, 3,808 books from collection of prof. Ibn`ul Emin Mahmut Kemal Inal, 568 calligraphy and plaques as well as first products of Yildiz Porcelain Factory at Rare Artifacts Library.