ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay indicated that an inventory of cultural and historical artifacts in the Turkic lands was created and said, "we are trying to restore these as best as we can and display them to visitors and younger generations."
Atalay delivered a speech at the "Turkic world architecture and city planning assembly" organized jointly by Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ankara and said, "in fact architecture houses the essence of civilization. Architectural structures and cities have an identity. This identity is the identity of the culture it had flourished in."
Stressing that architecture should not only aim at creating aesthetic structures but also meet the needs (of the society), Atalay said, "the right to live in a healthy and secure environment is considered one of the most fundamental human rights. Our policy as the Republic of Turkey aims at creating contemporary living spaces that integrate the shopping centers, health facilities, sports centers, and environmental spaces in its body.
Our policies have enabled the construction of more than 200,000 accommodations and our people have reached the opportunity to purchase housing with very affordable prices."
Briefing the audience on the perspective of the government on the common cultural and historical artifacts that are located in the Turkic lands, Atalay said the Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TIKA) was restoring many artifacts that were located in Turkic lands and noted Zincirli Madrasah and Ottoman Bath in Crimea were among them.