ISTANBUL - Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said on Saturday that the 2010 European Capital of Culture would be a chance to promote Turkey and show Turkey`s modern face and great history together.
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural life and cultural development. Istanbul, together with a German and a Hungarian city, was selected as European Capital of Culture for 2010 by the EU Council.
Speaking at a ceremony to introduce Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Project, Toptan said Istanbul was at a place meeting Asia and Europe and a home to cultures of these two continents.
"This magnificent city, the capital of civilizations and the most distinguished example of global geography, would be the best address for European capital of Culture and even global capital of culture," Toptan said.
"The flag of civilization changed many hands over thousands of years in this geography. From Rome to Byzantine, world`s biggest empires, such as Ottomans, waved their flags on this soil. Each of them had different beauties and splendors. This city is the gold of Turkey, even the world," he said.
"People, who talk about the conflict of civilizations, should take a look at the silhouette of Istanbul to see how different religions live in peace in Istanbul," he added.
(TÇ-GC)