ISTANBUL - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited on Saturday with Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar and Istanbul mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna the exhibition namely ''Real Colours:Meditation for American Spirit,'' held in memory of Sept. 11 attacks at Topkapý Palace.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the exhibition, Tasar said that the exhibition which is composed of pictures of American paintings was firstly opened in Washington D.C., then in New York and in Turkey.
Tasar said that ''this exhibition has become the symbol of the friendship between the two peoples of Turkey and the U.S. and the fact that Turkey shares the pain of the American people. I consider the 11 Sept. attack as an attack launched not only against the U.S., but the whole humanity, world peace and democracy.''
Tasar said that his ministry wants to host in Turkey a group of 50 people who are relatives of those who died in the terrorist attack in order to lessen their pain. Stressing that New York mayor is a friend of Turks and he works as if he is an envoy to promote Turkey, Tasar said that they will present a medal for their contributions to tourism to both New York mayor Bloomberg and Atlantic Music Company's Executive Board President Ahmet Ertegun who promotes Turkey abroad successfully for years in the dinner to be hosted the same evening in Koc Museum.
Tasar said that the world tourism suffered significantly due to the Sept. 11 attack, but the Turkish tourism grew by 12.4 percent.
Bloomberg said that he would like to thank to Turkey for its support after September 11 attacks in the United States and added that the then Foreign Minister Ismail Cem visited New York following the incident.
Stating that opening the exhibition in memory of September 11 in Topkapi Palace was very important not only for remembering the losses by looking at the past but also for establishing a better world by looking at the future, Bloomberg said that the September 11 attacks took place in the United States but they were against all people who wanted to live in a free world.
Bloomberg said that he came to Istanbul for the first time and was impressed with the beauty of this city and stressed that Istanbul was a real world city.
Gurtuna said that Turkish people who suffered from terrorism understood and shared U.S. people's deep sorrow and added that the world peace was a dream of everyone.
Bloomberg, his daughter Emma Bloomberg, Tasar, Gurtuna and Istanbul Security Director Hasan Ozdemir visited Topkapi Palace.
Bloomberg and the accompanying delegation later went to Four Season Hotel where Gurtuna will host a luncheon in honor of them.