Turkey's culture minister vows to change Expo’s history

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik. AA Photo

The Aegean province of İzmir will be primed to “rewrite” the history of the world exposition if it is granted the right to host the 2020 edition of the global event, Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik said Feb. 14.

“When İzmir receives the right to host Expo 2020, the history of Expo will be rewritten,” he said about the world’s premier business event.

Çelik attended a dinner hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) in honor of a delegation from the International Bureau of Exhibitions at the TOBB Twin Towers in Ankara. Speaking at the dinner, Çelik said İzmir was one of the world’s first psychotherapy centers.

“İzmir is a historical city with health centers and temples,” he said. “We want to host the EXPO in İzmir.”

Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) President Ferdinand Nagy, İzmir Gov. Cahit Kıraç and İzmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu also attended the dinner.