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www.zaman.com The Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture (ECOC) Initiative Committee was at last successful in their long efforts. A seven-member European Union jury nominated Istanbul as the European Capital of Culture.
The jury, including members of European Parliament and the EU Commission and Council, unanimously chose Istanbul over the Ukraine’s Kiev, its biggest rival in the contest.
The decision will play a great role in Istanbul's gaining publicity and tourism, and will be made official after the final decision of the member states' culture ministers.
Chairman of the jury, Jeremy Isaacs, said Istanbul exerted great efforts to win the title. "We were attracted not by the local administration or government, but by the people living in Istanbul who took over the responsibility. Residents in Istanbul formed non-profit groups and organizations to put forth their arguments. They showed us the different aspects. They were looking ahead together with dialogue."
The decision will be announced today by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The EP selection committee which named Istanbul as the European Capital of Culture for 2010 in the non-EU member category chose Hungary's Pecs and Germany's Essen to be European Capitals of Culture for 2010 from among the EU cities.
Istanbul governor Muammer Guler said, "Istanbul will experience a tourist boom and all its cultural goods will be presented to the world."
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas said the Jury's decision is right and satisfying.
Istanbul realized the title through six years of political, diplomatic and cultural efforts.
The Turkish city, bridging Asia and Europe, began to preparations to be the capital of culture after the EU parliament awarded non-EU member countries the chance in 1999.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Istanbul Governorship and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality supported the project pioneered by non-governmental organizations.
The comprehensive projects prepared by these joint forces played a pivotal role in Istanbul's being named as European Capital of Culture.
Aristotelian idea on the four basic elements of cosmos -soil, water, air and fire- inspired the presentations made by folders of material, visual materials and large-volume books.
Soil, in this analogy, represents Istanbul's historical buildings and the city’s cultural richness; water the Bosporus, air the minarets and belfries, and fire the youth and modern arts.
The historical and cultural characteristics reportedly played a large role in the decision.
Istanbul will experience control over the fields of culture and arts in parallel with the Turkish progress with the European Union over its talks.
From 2006 up to 2010, European Union agents will keep an eye on the urban performance in Istanbul, while advertising an exchange of opinions and working towards the successful completion of projects.
After a September summit of the European Ministers of Culture here, a series of worldwide cultural and arts programs will be launched for the introduction of Istanbul.
Assistance from the European Union for further projects will be accompanied by €160 million in aid to Istanbul. Projects will convey the centuries of mutual interaction in Istanbul as an emblem of Turkey with the European culture. They will also be intended to improvement the images both of Istanbul and Turkey.
The cultural heritage here will entertain uninterrupted as the center of attraction for the whole world.
Istanbul will see lasting attainments in urban transformation, urbanization and in environmental as well as social areas. New museums will be built for the enhanced safety as well as display of cultural entities. Historical sites will be revamped, and such sites will gain new purposes.
Different disciplines of art will be welcomed by the people of Istanbul. New positions will be created for those interested in communication, organization, and education projects.
Investments in infrastructure and impressive culture and art projects will aid the introduction of Istanbul to the league of world cities. One hundred different projects will be meant for the organization of 400 to 600 international cultural and arts programs. Istanbul is expected to attract seven to 10 million tourists in 2010.
The visitors, both foreign and local, will have the chance to view Istanbul as a cornucopia of cultural objects; such as mosques, churches, palaces and museums. Istanbul will appeal to news reporters as well as to those of culture and art from across the world, a move expected to improve efforts to advertise Istanbul as a trade mark. In sum, Istanbul will be subject to global exploration. | 
