Following a strong warning from a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee report threatening to revoke Istanbul's position on their heritage list because of a continuing failure to protect its heritage sites, experts have been gearing up to find ways to save the city from the danger of being removed from the World Heritage List.

A recent draft report, prepared by UNESCO inspectors, is currently under deliberation at the body's world cultural heritage committee. The report states that Turkey's failure in protecting Istanbul's rich heritage has put the city in the danger of being removed from the World Heritage List. The report has caused worry among experts, who believe concerned bodies and their authorities in Istanbul should waste no time preparing an urgent action plan to prevent the city's removal from the list.

Experts agree that great efforts are needed to keep İstanbul on the list, though it is not an impossible task.

The head of the Istanbul branch of the Chamber of City Planners, Erhan Demirdizen, stated that all related bodies -- including the government, the minister of culture and tourism, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities -- should take joint steps to fulfil Turkey's pledges to UNESCO.

"UNESCO does not expect Istanbul to fulfil all of its pledges. It expects us to make a start that complies with world standards to protect heritage sites in İstanbul. Should we quit the renovation project in Sulukule? I don't think so," said Demirdizen.

Dozens of houses in Sulukule, home to many of Istanbul's Roma people, have been demolished by the Fatih Municipality as part of a renovation project.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality plans to construct 620 new houses, a hotel and a culture and entertainment center in Sulukule. The neighbourhood renovation project and the relocation of its inhabitants have drawn the indignation of residents and activists as well as that of UNESCO.

The body indicated in its draft report that the renovation project unacceptably damages the physical and intangible values of the Sulukule neighborhood. The report also criticized the construction of an additional building for the Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet, a metro bridge near the Golden Horn and the traffic master plan for Istanbul. According to UNESCO, all these projects threaten the cultural heritage of the city.

Ahmet Turgut, the ex-chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of City Planners, asked why Turkey would need outside pressure to protect its historical sites. "Why do we need UNESCO to tell us to protect our historical richness? We should be aware of this obligation ourselves. Istanbul is preparing to become the European Capital of Culture in 2010. It is so rich in historical sites, incomparable to many other cities around the world. This is great synergy for Istanbul. The bodies assigned to save Istanbul from being removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List should do their best," Turgut remarked.

Istanbul's failure to fulfil its pledges to protect its heritage sites has also raised concerns over whether it will have a negative impact on the city's bid to acquire the title of European Capital of Culture in 2010.

Deputy Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of City Planners Pınar Özden urged concerned authorities to prepare an urgent action plan as the first step to persuade UNESCO not to revoke Istanbul's place on the list.

"It is degrading to receive such a warning from UNESCO. It is shameful to see that we have failed to protect our values. I don't know how much distance we will cover in one year. The best thing to do at the moment is to prepare an emergency action plan," she stated.

Professor İlber Ortaylı, a historian and director of Istanbul's Topkapı Palace Museum, is, however, not very hopeful that Istanbul will manage to stay on the world heritage list.

"We are talking about a mindset that believes that Istanbul will be a more beautiful city if it has skyscrapers. We have to work hard to save Istanbul. But I don't see a light of hope for this city," he noted.

Historian complains about rapid destruction of historical sites

Art historian Professor Semavi Eyice, best known for his studies on the Byzantine period, spoke to a Turkish daily earlier this week and complained of the rapid destruction of historical sites in Istanbul.

"Old Istanbul was much different from the current one. Each corner of old Istanbul, unharmed by fires, used to host a mescit (neighbourhood mosque), a coffee house and a historic fountain. All of these have been destroyed over time. If we see Istanbul as a city to be preserved, then we should have protected these sources of richness. There were 424 small mosques, around 150-200 Turkish baths and 300 madrasahs (Islamic seminaries) in Suriçi. Almost all of them have been demolished as part of efforts to modernize the city," remarked Eyice.

The historian also said he pins his hope on the return of "original Istanbulites" to the city for its salvation from further destruction. "It would be unrealistic if I try to forecast what Istanbul should do in the one-year-period UNESCO has allowed the city to take necessary measures to protect its heritage sites. I have only one thing to say: Original Istanbulites are not living here. If they return to Istanbul, this city might re-embrace its historic character," Eyice added.

12 July 2009

Source: http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=180668