Turk, Dutch municipalities sign protocol to cooperate
AMSTERDAM-Doğan News Agency
Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül (L) and Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard Vanderlaan signed the protocol in Amsterdam to organize social events in both countries. DHA photo
A cooperation protocol has been signed between Amsterdam and Istanbul’s Şişli Municipality in honor of the 400th anniversary of relations between Turkey and the Netherlands.In accordance with the protocol, the two municipalities will organize joint cultural events and festivals in 2012 and 2013.
For the protocol, Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül came together with Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard Vanderlaan and exchanged information about the works of local administrations. Later on, they signed the protocol.
According to the agreement, both municipalities will collaborate in public service, cultural, sporting and social projects.
Sarıgül said Şişli Municipality was closely following the work of Amsterdam Municipality on the protection of historic cities. “We want to benefit from their experiences on the issue of the protection of city identity, rural design applications and modern city planning. Istanbul and Amsterdam are similar to each other in terms of their historic tissue. Mutually, we will work hard for the promotion of both cities.”
Şişli also took inspiration from famed Amsterdam football side Ajax in constructing sporting facilities for the Istanbul district, Sarıgül said, inviting Vanderlaan to the center’s planned October opening.
“Some 80,000 Turks are living in Amsterdam. This is why Turkey is very important to us. We want to collaborate particularly in tourism and promotional activities. It will be an honor to me to attend the opening of the facility in October,” Vanderlaan said.
