International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations
(IFATCA) selected Istanbul to be the host country to their
annual IFATCA Conference for the year 2007.
The Annual Conference enjoys great interest from the national
aviation 
authorities.
The Opening Ceremony and the Final Plenary Session are
often attended by senior representatives from Government
or aviation administrations, as well as representatives
of the Member Associations, and other ATC organizations
which are not yet members of IFATCA but which have indicated
interest in joining.
Goals of IFATCA are the promotion of safety, regularity
in international air navigation, and the protection and
safeguarding of the interests of the Air Traffic Control
profession.
Catalonia-Turkey 1st Economic Forum was held in Istanbul
on Friday, April 15th.
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Barcelona Chamber of
Trade, Industry and Maritime Trade signed a cooperation
agreement during the forum.
Speaking in the forum, Pasqual Maragall, the President
of Generalitat, Government of Catalonia, said, "according
to Spanish constitution, Catalonia is an autonomous region
and it forms a federal and autonomous state."
"All parties and political powers in Spain support
Turkey 's accession to the EU," he added.
Maragall said, "Turkey is a country where democracy
and economy develop concretely."
Maragall noted, "macro-economic parameters of Turkey
and Catalonia are very good. It is time to develop our
commercial relations. We should speed up our relations."
Meanwhile, Antoni Castells i Oliveres, Minister of Economy
and Finance of Catalonia, said, "we came to Turkey
with businessmen. There is a great interest in Turkey .
We want to strengthen commercial and economic ties with
Turkey ."
On the other hand, Josep Huguet i Biosca, Minister of
Trade and Tourism of Catalonia, said, "Catalonia Promotion
Consortium's new plan is to encourage companies to open
abroad. Through this plan we will undertake important roles
in international area. It is normal that Catalan companies,
which want to make international openings, show interest
in Turkey that grows significantly."
Murat Yalcintas, Chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce,
said, "Customs Union and Spanish support to Turkey
's EU membership were reflected positively to commercial
and economic relations of both countries. Turkey supports
EU's view to form a free trade zone in Mediterranean basin
as of 2010."
Touching on commercial relations between Turkey and Spain,
Yalcintas said, "there is a 52 percent increase in
trade volume of two countries. Spain ranks the 6th with 4.2
percent share in Turkey's export amount and 9th with 3.3
percent share in import amount. Catalonia takes 28 percent
share in export with Spain and 25 percent share in import."
TUSIAD International held a round table discussion with
its Israeli counterpart Israel Industrialists Association
(MAI) in Istanbul on Thursday, April 14th.
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TUSIAD) Executive Board Chairman Omer Sabanci has remarked
that it is high time to place Turkey on the list of regions
where investment may be made.
In the meeting organized by Israel's Consulate
General in Istanbul, Sabanci indicated that Turkey has
made some impressive development in the business sector
in the past three years.
Vice Chairman of TUSIAD International;
Aldo Kaslowski stressed that Turkey and Israel have close
ties.
"The trade volume between Turkey and Israel has risen
to 2 billion U.S. dollars from an annual 200 million U.S.
dollars 10 years ago. The free trade agreement signed in
1997 greatly contributed to commercial ties," mentioned
Kaslowski.
According to Kaslowski, there is a very
good potential of business in the areas of tourism, construction,
information technologies. "We can have joint investments
in third countries."
Façonnable-Swissotel Veteran Tennis
Tournament is going to be organized between 04-15 May 2005
with the sponsorship of Dove, Gaggenau, Maurice Lacroix
- Switzerland, Wilson, Air France, Akkardan, Ihlas GYO,
Yolaç,
Swissotel Göcek Marina & Spa Resort at Swissotel
Maçka Tenis Club in Istanbul .
All of the contributors and guests are
invited to the "Wine
Night" on May 11th, 7.00pm .
Top
MTE-2005
Held In Istanbul
Mediterranean Tourism Fair (MTE-2005) was held in Istanbul
between 21-23 April. The fair is opened by Culture & Tourism
Minister Atilla Koc, Greek Minister of Tourism Demetris
Avramopoulos and Syrian Tourism Minister Sadallah Agha
al-Qalaa.
"Turkey and Greece shouldn't see each other as
rivals in tourism. We want to form a region based on
cooperation and stability through 'tourism diplomacy.'
Tourists don't want to go to regions where there are
problems," said Avramopoulos.
Syrian Tourism Minister al-Qalaa said in his part that
Syria also expected tourists from Turkey. The number
of tourists visiting Syria exceeded 3 millions this year,
al-Qalaa said. He also called on Turkish tourism entrepreneurs
to invest in Syria. He added that Turkish Tourism Minister
Koc would pay a visit to Syria soon and they would discuss
regional cooperation opportunities together with Greek
and Jordanian ministers.
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said in his part that
they targeted to make Istanbul the cultural capital of
Europe by 2010.
Totally 150 tourism companies from Turkey, Greece,
Syria, Netherlands, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia and
Romania attend MTE-2005 which will stay open until April
23th.
Top
International Shopping Malls
Summit In Istanbul
The International Council of Shopping Centers held the
opening session of its Retail Real Estate World Summit
2005 on Wednesday, April 20 at the Ciragan Palace Hotel
in Istanbul.
Turkish Minister of Industry and Trade Ali Coskun has
remarked that Turkey is an "island of stability" which
offers investment opportunities for representatives of
shopping malls from the Balkans, Caucasus and Middle
East.
Participating at a meeting of the International Council
of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Coskun said that, with the
age of information, a new world order is taking shape
in which the atmosphere of competitiveness will be tougher.
"With the help of the World Trade Organization,
customs walls will be eliminated. As borders among nations
are being erased, new opportunities for global investments
will become reality," told Coskun.
Coskun indicated that Turkey has succeeded in creating
an economy based on the doctrines of laissez-faire and
competitiveness. "As a country that lives four seasons,
with immense touristic and agricultural potential, young
industry and well trained work force, Turkey is a land
that awaits investors from the Balkans, Caucasus and
Middle East ."
According to Coskun, Turkey has reformed its judicial system
based on international norms and has done its homework
in reaching the standards spelled out in the Copenhagen
criteria. "Within the next two years, Turkey would
have fulfilled its obligations under the Maastricht criteria."
Top
Champions League Final To Be
Played in Istanbul
Excitement is growing in Istanbul as European football
prepares for two significant milestones in May - the
50th European Champion Clubs' Cup final, and the first
major international final to be staged in Turkey.
The Champions League Final will take place at the Atatürk
Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on Wednesday 25th of May.
More than 40,000 overseas fans are expected to travel
for the match in the 80,000-capacity stadium. Senes Erzik,
UEFA's senior vice-president, can hardly wait for the
big day. "I am very excited about this. UEFA wants
to have a showpiece which cannot be forgotten for years.
Therefore everybody involved is working with great enthusiasm.
I believe it will add to Istanbul 's prestige and charm," he
said.
Preparations are well in hand with the Turkish Football
Association, the National Olympic Committee of Turkey,
the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the local organizing
committee and UEFA all striving to make the final run
as smoothly as possible in one of Europe's most passionate
footballing strongholds.
Turkey is putting the final touches to organizing an
event which it hopes will reinforce the country's recent
successes on the pitch.
On the other hand the Lüfti Kirdar Convention and
Exhibition Centre was the venue of the Champions League
trophy handover on April 22nd, as FC Porto representatives
passed the cup back to UEFA executive, Senes Erzik.
The ceremonial handover of the trophy first started
in Munich in 1997 and has been a major event on the footballing
calendar for the past 7 years. This year is the first
time it was televised, merely highlighting its importance.
Erzik is excited at the final being held in his home
city by saying: "This is a dream come true. I am
looking forward to the final."
"It will be one of the most important days of my
life. Football unites different races, languages, religions
and it lives with traditions."
With Turkey bidding to host the 2012 UEFA European Championship,
nothing is being left to chance. The Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality has budgeted €40m to finish the additional
stadium access roads, media and broadcasting facilities
are being upgraded to meet the highest international standards,
and UEFA has allocated almost 5,000 rooms at Istanbul 's
leading hotels for its guests and sponsors.
Top
Eurasia
Corporate Games in Istanbul
The most extensive sport activity for corporates in
Eurasia - Eurasia Corporate Games - will take place in
Istanbul between 3-5 June 2005.
To be organized by the SportGroup for the 3 rd time
in Istanbul, Eurasia Corporate Games, was organized
by 2907 participants from 103 companies last year.
Corporate Games has come
to provide a chance for every individual to involve actively
in a life-long sports programme regardless of their level
of talent. Not only the Games is supporting the process
of social and cultural integration, but it also is to
serve the goal of strengthening the conscious of "health
in the work environment" by means of broadening
the sportsmen and the secondary audiences.
Corporate Games creates employee confidence and loyalty
team spirit, reaches new clients, creates new business
and meeting new customers, provides real incentive programmes.
The games is
- Open to everyone from your work, family and friend
environment.
- An event for literally all corporate representatives
including managers, employees, vendors, suppliers etc.
There is no standard of elimination in any sports.
Top
Istanbul to
Have $250 Million Mall
A Shopping Center called Istinye Park with a unique
style and open air will be built in cooperation with
Dogus Holding and Orjin Group and will cost $250 million.
The founding partner of Orjin Group, Zafer Yildirim,
disclosed in the advertising meeting that almost every
brand name existing in Turkey will be in the mall.
The shopping center will be built by Orjin Group on
the land of Dogus Holding at Istinye and will include
300 stores and a 400 apartment housing section. Its architectural
plan will be designed by Design and Development Group,
designer of Akmerkez Mall.
The project will have a total of 349.000 square meters
of land with 264.000 square meters indoors. Between 18
and 20 million people are expected to visit the mall,
which will have 82.000 square meter rooms for rent and
4.000-car parking lot.
The stores will be designed like a city square where
all streets link together in the 'lifestyle center' section,
which drew an example of Abdi Ipekci Street . In the
'ground rotunda' entertainment section there will be
a 100-angled wide dome, a 12 screen theater, restaurants,
and a 2.500 square meter health center. A 'fashion zone'
will be built with a grass dome at the other side of
Istinye Park.
The Park is planned to open in April 2007.
Top
Latin Tunes Breeze into Istanbul
The prominent Latin music pianist, Michel Camilo came
together with jazz lovers on April 21 at the Is Sanat
Gallery.
The Grammy award winning Camilo has a broad fan base,
not only from the jazz world but also from all music
lovers. Camilo performed from hits from his latest album "Solo".
One of the most famous pianists in the world, Camilo is
a success story, he won two Grammies, one in 1983 and another
in 2000. Jazz lovers have been showing great interest since
the release of his first album, "Why not". His
works include "Suntan/In Trio", "Michel
Camilo", "On Fire", "On the Other Hand" and "Spain".
His latest album, 'Solo', is giving voice to Brazilian
music, jazz, and original melodies.
Top
Istanbul
To Host WTO Forum
Istanbul where embraces two continents with one arm
reaching out to Asia and other to Europe will once again
to host an important international event for World Tourism
Organization.
WTO
Forum titled "New Paradigms for City Tourism Management" will
be held at Hilton Istanbul Convention Center from 1 to
3 June 2005.
The Forum will consist following subjects;
1. Market Opportunities and Competitiveness for City Tourism
2. Value for Effort Concept
3. City Tourism Marketing
4. Management of a Complex System: Performance and Strategies
Handan Boyce, the General Manager of ICVB, representing
ICCA will make a presentation about MICE Tourism: Market
Requirements and Opportunities.
Governments and other parties invited by the WTO Secretary-General
in his communication of 1 April 2005.
The TURKISH AIRLINES will grant the following discounts
on its flights for participants in the meeting:
* 10 per cent discount in all its flights whose final
destination is Istanbul and on return flights. This discount
is valid on the routes served by this airline.
The booking code is BB028. This offer is only applicable
from 22 May to 13 June 2005 inclusive. Tickets must be
issued by an official Turkish Airlines Ticket Sale Office
upon presentation of the Participation Form duly completed.
For more information
http://www.world-tourism.org/events/turkey/forum.
htm
Top
Istanbul Ready
for 2005 UIA World Congress of Architecture
A unique city spanning two continents, Istanbul, the
shelter of the common heritage of Asian (Eastern) and
European (Western) civilisations, prepares to host the
XXIInd World Congress of the International Union of Architects
(UIA) from 3 to 7 July 2005.
The
UIA 2005 Istanbul Congress Scientific Committee has defined
the general theme of the Congress as Cities: Grand Bazaar
of Architectures. In July 2005, a symbolic Grand Bazaar
will be set up in Istanbul. As UIA President Jaime Lerner
stated earlier in his call for the international meeting
for celebrating cities, "every architect has
a dream about the city that s/he lives in." All architectural
ideas, dreams, and utopias will freely converge, correlate
and compete under the roof of this great and mythical
'agora' of the Eastern world.
"Cities is our theme. Bazaar of ideas, expressions and
presentations are our medium. Freedom, plurality and
respect are our mottoes. Encouragement, enabling and
participation are our methods. Istanbul is your city" stated
Suha Özkan,
President of UIA 2005 Congress.
Being in Istanbul in July 2005 means having the privilege
of discussing the encounter of today's architecture and
history by "seeing" these problems in the full meaning
of the word. For the very same reason, "being in Turkey" means
sharing a thousand years of architectural and urban history
and witnessing the future being designed, while the values
of the past are preserved.
The Chamber of Architects of Turkey is preparing to
host the world's architects in this historical milieu
and now invites colleagues from all over the world to
Istanbul . We are looking forward to your becoming one
of our guests, to give back to cities the value they
deserve, and to question the split between architecture
and city, with the goal of strengthening the historical
unity of architecture and cities in the 21st century.
For more information about the 2005 UIA World Congress
of Architecture, please visit http://www.uia2005istanbul.org/
Top
5th
International Istanbul Dance Festival Took Place
In Istanbul
5th International Istanbul Dance Festival took place
at CRR (Cemal Resit Rey) Concert Hall between April 28th
and May 4th.
Dance groups from France, Bulgaria, USA, Spain and
Russia and Istanbul State Opera and Ballet are participated
the Festival and performed the best examples of modern
and classical ballet to Istanbulites.
Vanishing Point - Compagnie Philippe Genty, A Night in
Paris - Burgaz Opera and Philharmonic Association, Dance
Chicago / M.A.D.D Rhythms - Stars of Dance Chicago, Carmina
Burana -
Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, Nightsongs / Caduta Libera / Tuhmi, an irreversible
Action -
Nafas Dance Company, Chopiniana / Italian Capriccio / Spartacus (scenes) -
St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theater were the performances during the
festival.
Top
Hidrellez Spring Festival
"Hidrellez", is one of the seasonal festivals
of Istanbul which is celebrated as the first day of the "early
summer". It is also "day of Hizir", the
day on which prophets Hizir and Ilyas met with each other
on earth. The words Hizir and Ilyas have since fused
together pronounced as Hidrellez. Hidrellez Day falls
on May 5.
Hidrellez Festival, that is still celebrated with grand
ceremonies in Anatolia, has been celebrated since ancient
times. Although it is celebrated under different names
and in different times, it is possible to see the motifs
of Hidrellez in many places. The arrival of spring and
awakening of nature have been perceived man as a phenomenon
to be celebrated. In fact, Hidrellez, as a spring festival,
has a universal character.
"The Hidrellez at Ahirkapi" activities begin on Ahirkapi Street and
spread to the adjacent streets. All the traditional spring foods and drinks -both
the traditional ones and the brewery- are sold through the street-buffets, while
the local musicians perform Turkish, Roman and Balkan music.
The Ahirkapi Great Roman Orchestra which is consisting
of the neighboring musician groups of Ahirkapi community
performs street concerts along with the guest performers...
Küçük Hasan from Lüleburgaz a zurna
genius and the drum master Tamer Kum and his group come
every year.
Towards midnight the traditional fires will be jumped over
and the wishes will be attached on the traditional Nahil´s.
Nahil is a symbolic "wish-tree" and an ornament
from Ottoman culture. The ones at the Ahirkapi Street were
first designed and used during an "Earth Day" celebration
on April 22, 2002 . Since then they are being used as the "wish
tree" of the Hidrellez spring festivals which is organized
by the civic community and supported by local Eminönü Municipality.
Top
IFATCA,
which has been representing Air Traffic Controllers for
more than 40 years and has more than 50,000 members in
over 125 countries, will be organized with the hard work
of Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau and Türkiye
Air Traffic Controllers Association.
The tournament will be organized both single's and doubles
at Men's and Women's and Mixed Double's categories. Prizes
of sponsors are; Maurice Lacroix - Watch, Airfrance - Ticket,
Foçonnable - Gift Cheque, Swissotel The Bosphorus,
Istanbul - Dinner, Swissotel The Bosphorus, Istanbul - Brunch,
Swissotel Göcek - Weekend Stay at Göcek, Yalaç Kuyumculuk - Jewels.