OUTPUTS OF THE UCLG-MEWA CULTURE WORKING GROUP MEETING 20.01.2014

Culture Working Group, which was established in accordance with the resolution taken during the Executive Bureau and Council Joint Meeting of United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section, convened on 19 December 2013 at 15:30. 17 representatives, representing Beylikdüzü Municipality (Istanbul), Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Çanakkale Municipality, Çankaya Municipality (Ankara), Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Association of Southeastern Anatolian Municipalities, Nevşehir Municipality, Seferihisar Municipality (İzmir) and Ümraniye Municipality (Istanbul) participated in the meeting.

The meeting was launched with the opening statements of Mr. Mehmet DUMAN, UCLG-MEWA Secretary General and Dr. İhsan İKİZER, UCLG-MEWA General Coordinator. Then, Mr. Alper ÇEKER, UCLG-MEWA Media Coordinator read the agenda of the meeting.

Despite the fact that several municipalities from the countries in the region, in addition to Turkey declared that they would participate in the meeting, they failed to do so, due to various reasons. The organizational chart was defined in the first session. Representatives from various municipalities made reference to the difficulties encountered by local authorities in terms of organizing culture-art events. 

As a result of the votes cast, it was decided that Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality would be the president, and Association of Southeastern Anatolian Municipalities, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Nevşehir Municipality and Seferihisar Municipality (İzmir) would the co-presidents of the Culture Working Group. Vice Mayor of Tehran was not able to participate in the meeting as his schedule did not permit, despite the fact that he declared that he wanted to participate; nevertheless, he stated that they are willing to be a co-president of the working group.  

In the first session, it was decided that the members shall provide information regarding the ongoing or planned projects on the cultural assets facing extinction, within their own localities until 20 January 2014, and that the second meeting of the Culture Working Group shall be held in March 2014 in Gaziantep, Turkey, hosted by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. Secretariat activities of the group shall be executed by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. It is expected that Tehran Municipality will also participate in this meeting and submit its candidacy for co-presidency.

A consensus was reached in the Culture Working Group on informing all the UCLG-MEWA members regarding the resolutions taken, and ensuring that the eager local authorities participate in the group in the future. 

All the contact information of the participants have been sent to the members. Municipalities with intention to become members may fill in and send the form which can be found in UCLG-MEWA website.

Contact Person: Alper Çeker, UCLG-MEWA Media Coordinator

Tel: +90 212-511 1010

E-mail: a.ceker@uclg-mewa.org