TURKISH WEEK ACTIVITIES IN AUSTRIA ENDED
ALANYA MAYOR SIPAHIOGLU “WE RECEIVED ADMIRATION MORE THAN WE HAVE EXPECTED. THIS WILL ALSO AFFECT OUR TOURISM.
SCHWECHAT MAYOR FAZEKAS “EVERONE IN OUR CITY IS TALKING ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES. EACH SCHWECHATIAN MERELY BECAME ALANYA FAN.”Alanya and Schwechat Municipalities jointly arranged “Turkish Week” activities ended. Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioglu in his statement to AA reporter said that the activities had an important role to contribute to the closeness and sympathy of the two cities’ people. Sipahioglu stating that 5 years ago a sistercity protocol had been signed and an important collaboration had been achieved between the two cities and added that Turkish Week activities jointly agreed on and activated between two municipalities will have an important impact on the strengthening of the relations. Sipagioglu emphasizing that during Turkish Week all streets were decorated with Turkish flags, said “For the first time Schwechat streets were decorated with another country’s flags. This was of great importance for us. The confidence and sympathy shown for our country was very important in terms of communities coming closer at a time particularly the difficulties we are facing during the period of European Union process and where prejudice is dominant between people and the world peace is under debate. Sipahioglu stated that Schwechat people supported the decoration of the city with Turkish flags and the activities were observed with great admiration by Schwechat citizens and Turkish residents there. “We received more admiration than we have expected. This will also reflect to our tourism. But I personally do not only evaluate this as a matter of tourism or input. Fitting our image in Europe is important. We likewise placed an extremely modern, contemporary, artistry and hospitable country image. I believe that such activities should spread all over the world.” Sipahioglu also stating that Schwechat can be considered to be located in the middle of Wien, possessing Wien airport and the biggest oil refinery of Austria even of the world added “We will improve and strengthen the sistership relations with Schwechat where economy is very powerful and social side is grown. Many people from here will come to our city for vacation. The sistercity people who watched Alanya cinevision film admired Alanya a lot.” Schwechat Mayor Hannes Fazekas in his statement to AA reporter said that the activity performed together with Alanya received great admiration in city. He was also surprised and pleased by the interest shown by the citizens. The performance of Alanya delegation had a great role in that. We have a sistercity in Spain too. A few weeks ago we have made another collective activity with them but this activity had much more attraction. The presentations and programs of our brothers and sisters from Alanya were pretty effective. Especially we admired Turkish artists’ performance and Turkish hospitality a lot.” Fazekas adding that almost 500 Turks are residing in Schwechat without facing any adaptation problems. “Everybody is talking about these activities in our city and they are so pleased of such a performance. We would like to continue this and make it traditional. We would like to reinforce and improve such activities by also organizing a Schwechat Week in Alanya.” Fazekas stated “Austrian people watching the activities were filled with admiration for Alanya and Turkey. In fact there was an economic concern in that. We aimed our citizens to prefer Alanya for vacation and contribute to Turkish tourism but the event went beyond it. Our citizens acknowledged Turkey’s natural beauties as well as Turkish hospitality. I believe from now on, a majority of people from our city will prefer Alanya for vacation.” Fazekas in conclusion said that he liked the original jewelry exhibition of Pinar Kaptanoglu, the photograph exhibition of Ilhami Yetkin and Yallos exhibition of Filiz Ates and Kristianna Alaeddinoglu displayed in Municipality building and even tough the activities are over he wanted these exhibitions to continue for 15 days noting that the artists accepted this offer. Within the concept of Turkish Week activities in Schwechat Austria started on last Monday and ended today, thousands of brochures, handbills, booklets and signal flags were handed out to the tradesmen in bags. During the week these bags were given as a gift who did shopping. The streets were decorated with flags. Antalya State Opera and Ballet artists accompanied by Alanya Municipality gave 3 concerts and performed Turkish culture. The artists displayed folk dances along with folk songs. Turkish meals prepared by the cooks brought from Alanya were offered to Schwechat people. Several exhibitions were held at Municiplaity Building and Turkish art was exhibited. Due to the ending of activities Turkish flags decorating the streets were removed from this afternoon on.
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