everything in & between
ISSUE 1 / MAY 2010
www.intersociety.net
A Journey to the heart of “Inspire”: İstanbul 2010 15 IIS-COUNTRY PRESENTATION: BELGIUM
ISSN:1309-5986
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“Turkish music, I listen to of course. Always it is feasible even in the car. I put the Turkish folk music, because I like the rhythm of this music.”
10 IIS-INTERVIEW: Joan Clos MATHEU EU TERM PRESIDENT AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN TO ANKARA
FOREIGN MOTHER OF THE YEAR
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KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE DAY RECEPTION
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EXHIBITION OF MINITURE ROOMS
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IIS-INTERNATIONAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT
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IIS RAINBOW ISSUE 1 / MAY 2010
content
IIS
Owner on Behalf of International Interaction Society (IIS) Mesut GÜMÜŞDOĞRAYAN • Editor-in-Chief A. Murat Fatsa • Editor Jeff Livesay • Business & News Editor Yüksel Serdar Oğuz • Art & Design Editor İsmet Toğay • Photo Editor Ayhan Arafat • Designer Afşar Printing Center • Postal Address: Uğur Mumcu (Köroğlu) Caddesi Uğur Mumcu’nun Sokağı 44/1 G.O.P. 0600 Çankaya /Ankara / TURKEY • Phone: Tel: +90 312 436 10 96 Fax : +90 312 436 10 98 • Web Address: http://www.intersociety.net E-mail: rainbow@intersociety.net ISSN:1309-5986 • Printed at: Afşar Matbaacılık İVOGSAN 21. Cadde 599. Sok. No: 29 Ostim/ANKARA Tel: +90 312 394 39 22 - 23 Fax: +90 312 394 39 24 www.afsarmatbaacilik.com
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IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.” Alphonse de Lamartine
6. Foreign Mother of the Year 8. Kosovo Independence Day Reception 9. An Intimate Dinner With Irish Ammbassador to Turkey 10. EU Term President Ambaassador of Spain to Ankara 15. A Journey to the Heart of “Inspire”: İstanbul 2010 20. BELGIUM
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24. Exhibiton of Miniature Rooms 26. Ashura
28. IIS International Bowling Tournament 2010 29. IIS International Soccer League Pizza Party 30. IIS International Football League
ıssue
editorial editorial A. Murat FATSA murat.fatsa@intersociety.net
C
ulture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution. Cultures are like underground rivers that run through our lives and relationships, giving us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments, and ideas of self and other. Though cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing conflict and attempts to resolve conflict in imperceptible ways.” Michelle LeBaron Culture, which we learn from our family and environment and through which we interact with other people and societies, helps people and societies to understand each other as much as it differentiates them. Every society has different cultural entities including their language, traditions, behaviors, perceptions and beliefs. Culture gives them an identity which makes them unique and different from others. Although every society has a specific culture, there are certain elements of culture that are universal. Depending on the point of view, differentiating elements can cause conflicts or universal common elements can help to understand each other. Today, societies, universal powers and authorities are expected to find new ways to understand each other in order to solve the conflicts and learn more about other cultures and societies. Cultural seasons of the different cultures and different countries gives great opportunities to the people of that country lo learn more about their culture. For example 2010 is Japanese season in Turkey and Turkish season in France. One of the cultural organizations in Turkey is “Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture”, which provides several opportunities sharing its own unique values as the only city which spans two continents and has been the capital of three great empires. Within the 2010 European Capital of Culture Project several projects and contemporary events and festivals will be held and the city will be an open museum and festival area during the project.
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Culture, which we learn from our family and environment and through which we interact with other people and societies, helps people and societies to understand each other as much as it differentiates them.
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We are looking forward to see more seasons of different cultures in Turkey while organizing cultural seasons all around the world in order to give a chance to mutual understanding and conflict resolution. International Interaction Society (IIS) is getting a brand new start to its broadcast life with IIS Rainbow, which will cover more color, diversity, cultural richness inside within a wide range and perspective, with this issue. A new start means new enthusiasm, new objectives, putting a new brick to the bridge between societies and cobbling for the roads which will take the world to mutual respect and pluralism.
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Events
FOREIGN
Ülkü Arslan / IIS FMOY Drafting Committee Member ulku.arslan@intersociety.net
MOTHER YEAR
Photo Ayhan ARAFAT
The award will be presented by the owner of IIS Foreign Mother of the Year 2009, H.E. Melpomeni Korneti, with a ceremony that will be organized in a day and place which will be announced beforehand. The deadline for the nominee applications is 1st June 2010.
OF THE
The International Interaction Society (IIS), owing to the appreciating the concept of motherhood, has been organizing the IIS Foreign Mother of the Year award ceremony for three years to bring the respect and the interest, which the mothers deserve, to light. The first of IIS Foreign Mother of the Year award was given in 2007 to the ambassadoress Mrs. Athena Yennimata Kritikou, the wife of the Greek Ambassador to Turkey H.E. George Yennimatis, due to her activities in favor of orphan children. The second of this award was given with a ceremony held in the Embassy of Germany to Turkey with the participation of many domestic and foreign diplomats besides a lot of press members and guests in 2008 to the ambassadoress Mrs. Ursula Cuntz, wife of the German Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Eckart Cuntz, because of a collective fair with ÇEDAM in favor of orphan children again. And in 2009, H.E. Melpomeni Korneti, the Macedonian Ambassador to Turkey, as being a good example for mo-
There were many distinguished faces including H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf, The Minister Responsible from Women and Family (third from left), in IIS Foreign Mother of the Year 2009 Award Ceremony.
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thers with a social project “From Streets to Macedonia” they developed for the children working in the streets, and received this award by the hand of H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf, The State Minister Responsible from Women and Family. Many domestic and foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors, press members and distinguished guests.
THE SELECTION OF THE NOMINEE
The nominee, which will be awarded with the “The Foreign Mother of The Year” by International Interaction Society, will be selected by the majority vote of selective comission among: • Foreign ladies settling in Turkey • Not awarded in this branch before • Merging in the activities which bring the qualities of motherhood and foreground or contributing such kind of organization It will be possible to submit a nomination proposal which includes the information about the nominee, to the selection commission by means of IIS association. The deadline for the applications is 1 June 2010.
SELECTIVE COMMISSION
• Selective commission begins its studies in a predetermined date. And each member of the commission works
by being entirely independent from the other members to reach a decision about the nominees introduced to them. • The members of selective commission can not be nominated to the award. • The award is given according to the objective criterias without considering any ideological, racial or religional differences. • The decision is taken with one more vote from the half of the members. • Including the president of the selective commission, each commission member has equal voting right as well.
PRESENTING OF AWARD
IIS Foreign Mother of the Year Award 2010 is going to be presented with a ceremony in which the embassies and international institutions as well as the bureacrauts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will attend. In this ceremony, the Foreign Mother of the Year which will be awarded to be prized by the Selective Commission is going to receive her award The Award will be presented by the owner of IIS Foreign Mother of the Year 2009, H.E. Melpomeni Korneti, with a ceremony that will be organized in a day and place which will be anounced beforehand. As the Award, it is planned to give a beautiful work which embraces Turkish motifs. IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 7
Photo Ayhan ARAFAT
The Minister Responsible from Women and Family, H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf (middle in the upper line), posed for the cameras with Macedonian Ambassador, Melpomeni Korneti (second from the right), IIS President, Mesut Gümüşdoğrayan (right), and the children.
Social News
Erdem Göndiken / Press Agent
egondiken@intersociety.net
KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE DAY RECEPTION
International Interaction Society (IIS) attended the reception which was given for the sake of Kosovo’s Independence Day on 21 February 2010 as the second anniversary of the declaration of Kosovo’s independence.
Melpomeni Korneti. IIS President Mesut Gümüşdoğrayan conversed with H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf and H.E. Eckart Cuntz for a while as well as H.E. Melpomeni Korneti. And is it is known, the owner of IIS Foreign Mother of The Year 2008 Award was the ambassadress, Mrs. Ursula Cuntz, who is the wife of Mr. Eckart Cuntz. The intimate dialogues of IIS President Mesut Gümüdoğrayan’s with the abovementioned respectable names were not overlooked during the reception. There would be exchange of ideas with the respectable Minister, H.E. Kavaf and H.E. Korneti for the upcoming award ceremony, Gümüşdoğrayan stated. In addition to that it was discussed about the possible Albania, or Kosovo Country Seminar in IIS.
Photo Ayhan ARAFAT
International Interaction Society (IIS) attended the reception which was given for the sake of Kosovo’s Independence Day on 21 February 2010 as the second anniversary of the declaration of Kosovo’s independence. The Ambassador of Kosovo to Turkey, H.E. Bekim SEJDIU, did the honors of reception in which many distinguished guests including especially the Minister Responsible From Women and Family, H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf, German Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Eckart Cuntz, Macedonian Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Melpomeni Korneti and Albanian Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Altin Kodra. As it is well remembered, H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf had given IIS Foreign Mother of the Year 2010 Award to Macedonian Ambassador to Turkey, H.E.
IIS President, Mr. Gümüşdoğrayan is in very intimate dialogue with The Minister of Women and Family, H.E. Selma Aliye Kavaf
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Events
Erdem Göndiken / Press Agent
egondiken@intersociety.net
Our Deputy Chairman Barbaros SARICI and Board Member of IIS Executive Board Birsen Göndiken and her husband hosted the Irish Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Tom Russell and Sheril D. Collins and his wife Ayşe D. Collins in a dinner in Göndiken family home. Birsen Göndiken prepared unique specialties of Ottoman cuisine that the guests tasted a number of food in a very warm atmosphere. Besides to the delicious meals, the conversation was very cheerful. The main issue of the conversation was the cultural bounds between Ottoman and Ireland folk coming from the past. As it is known, Ottoman Empire gave Irish folk a back in the Great Irish Famine in 1850s. Ottoman Empire showed his generosity and compassion during the time of the its ‘downfall’ through this help. Irish folk thanked by a letter to the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid fro the humanly and friendly help. Erdem Göndiken presented a coloured copy of the letter to Irish Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Tom Russell in the name of IIS as a memory. The warm conversation continued with the talks of business life and world politics until the late hours of the night. As IIS, we thank to our guests for being our guests and for the kind “thank you letter” for the dinner.
Photo Ayhan ARAFAT
The warm conversation after the dinner continued with the talks of business life and world politics until the late hours of the night.
AN INTIMATE DINNER WITH IRISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY
Erdem Göndiken presented a coloured copy of the letter to Irish Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Tom Russell, on behalf of IIS as a memory.
Birsen Göndiken prepared unique specialties of Ottoman cuisine that the guests tasted a number of food in a very warm atmosphere.
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Interview
Yüksel Serdar Oğuz / Business & News Editor
serdar.oguz@intersociety.net
Spanish Ambassador, H.E. Joan Clos, accepted IIS Rainbow team in his embassy Office for interview.
Joan Clos was born in Parets del Vallés (Barcelona) on 29 June 1949. He is married with two children. He graduated from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB) with a degree in medicine. He studied his speciality Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). He took over from Pasqual Maragall as Mayor of Barcelona in September 1997. In 1999 he was elected for a four year period and was re-elected in the local elections held on 25 May 2003. During his mandate, Barcelona hosted “The Forum of Culture 2004” a gathering that is having continuity with the “Forum of Culture in Monterrey 2007”, and will continue with “Valparaiso 2010”. In September 2006, he was appointed Spanish Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade in the Government of Mr. José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The “Spanish Tourism Strategic Plan 2008-2020”, in conjunction with the tourist industry, was also approved under his mandate. Mr. Clos was appointed Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of Turkey on July 2008.
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If you were asked to describe Turkey with three words, what would be them (Turkish, if possible)? First one is “hoşgeldiniz”, because Turkey is a very-welcoming country. I think it is very nice and Turkish people are very friendly. Probably that reflects the role Turkey has played for centuries as the platform of many different cultures. The other word I would say is “misafirperverlik” which is more or less in same direction, but it is more about you receive a well response like we have seen in the “Alliance of Civilizations” Turkey involved. And then of course, due to Turkey’s and Spain’s having similar characteristics derived from history, “tarih”. We have lots of common things in the long lasting history of two countries. It should be thought in relation with the good dialogue between Turkey and Spain based on this long lasting past history. It has been two years for you as the ambassador in Turkey? What was your idea about Turkey before coming? Did it change in a way?
Photo Nurettin KAYA
EU TERM PRESIDENT AMBBASSADOR OF SPAIN TO ANKARA
I had an idea of Turkey because when I was mayor of Barcelona, we had the sister city agreement with Istanbul. And so I visited Istanbul and Turkey as a whole several times. It was quite good knowledge at least about Eastern part of the country, mainly represented by the booming economics and industry of Istanbul area which is very impressive. And now, of course with a deeper sight on Turkey and Anatolia which enabled me to understand general tendency of Turkish people. Could you find any chance to visit different Anatolian cities? Yes, I have been in Trabzon, Bodrum in Muğla, Antalya, İzmir, Pamukkale in Denizli, Cappadocia in Nevşehir… I have been travelling quite a lot. And I have discovered another dimension of Turkey, which is very interesting, in Urfa (Şanlıurfa), in Mersin, in Kars. Now we are planning to go to Gaziantep. But I think that if you want to understand little bit about a culture and a country, you need to touch it. There is no just the matter of “being in a country”, but “living in the life” is the key to learn. Do you think there are some basic similarities between Turkey and Spain in terms of culture, art, food, daily life and so forth? There are historical similarities in the sense of belonging two different peninsulas and having at the end of the Mediterranean Sea. We, Spain and Turkey, have been both a former empire and had influence on very important and different parts of the world. In our case, America; and in your case, Middle East, Central Asia and Northern Africa. And this is something very significant that sounds well to represent some communality. But also there is the similarity which comes from the last thousand years let’s say. However in the last hundred years, we also have some other additional similarities in the sense that we had an agricultural economy like yours that moved quite rapidly to the industrial area. And you can find some parallelism in the phase of transformation of two countries towards industrialization and modernization. That is another different chapter of similarities between Spain and Turkey which, I think, could be seen. Even the accession process to European Union is something that we can compare in the sense that we were also a late comer to European Union. Our process was affected by the transition in our own country. And this is something that of course you can find similar things to share and that
The Ambassador thinks that Turkey’s EU Accession process is quite similar with the one that Spain had before.
Photo Nurettin KAYA
“I think that if you want to understand little bit about a culture and a country, you need to touch it. There is no just the matter of “being in a country”, but “living in the life” is the key to learn.”
can become a common experience. And food? What about the food? Food, also Mediterranean food of course. It is very interesting because we share something from the Mediterranean culture, in the kitchen for example, the presence of egg plants, bananas, tomatoes, oranges in almost everywhere. It is worth to pay attention that at the same time we share this common Mediterranean heritage and you can also see that in the agricultural way as I stated. Our fishing is quite similar. What kind of music do you like? Do you listen to any kind of Turkish music and who is your favorite Turkish singer? By the way, I must say that we share very direct musical relationship in the “Lavino”, a group of people came to Istanbul, they stayed here in Turkey and built up here their own culture, and you can speak all Spanish with them in Istanbul. They are old families which speak fifteenth century Spanish in Istanbul and this is fantastic. And the music of those songs I can understand and they are doing Turkish music indeed. Then of course there is another thing which is the most traditional Turkish music that I have seen some similarities and resonances with “Flamenco” and there are a lot of people trying to build bridges within the different types of music. We have organized even some experience in the same band which was a kind of fusion between Turkish and Flamenco music. I like “Bolero” and it is a kind of Latin music. But because I hear this kind of music in everywhere, it seems that Turkish people do welcome Latin music.
“Even the accession process to European Union is something that we can compare in the sense that we were also a late comer to European Union. Our process was affected by the transition in our own country.” IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 11
Is it one of the effects of globalization? Could be, yes. But it is very interesting in aspect of globalization, because before the globalization, there was rock only. But now, it is another kind of globalization. And Turkish music, I listen to of course. Always it is feasible even in the car. I put the Turkish folk music, because I like the rhythm of this music. It is quite different rhythm than the one we have in Europe. But it shares something, as I said, with Flamenco. And if you follow it, you can also define some rhythms that are compatible or very similar to Flamenco. I like this pianist, Fazıl Say, the famous one. I have seen him several times both in Istanbul and here. There are also very well-known Turkish guitarists, which were here in Ankara quite recently. Photo Nurettin KAYA
“Turkish music, I listen to of course. Always it is feasible even in the car. I put the Turkish folk music, because I like the rhythm of this music.” You are dealing with aviation and sailing. Can you tell us how did you start them, and can you find opportunity to keep them doing also in Turkey? Yes they are my personal hobbies. Sailing… yes, but here in Ankara is far away. But I have promised myself to have some sailing for this spring in South wherever it becomes possible (laughing). And flying… I have flown here, and flown in Istanbul, I have flown to Cappadocia. There are two air clubs where I am doing it, one is in the European side of Turkey and the other is in the Asian side. I was twenty-three years old when I flew for the first time. And I liked it because I had opportunity to fly in twentieth century, which is the age of the invention of flying. Sailing, it was much later in advanced eighties. But also being near the Mediterranean Sea, coastal city like Barcelona, we organized the Olympic Games, we had the sailing in Barcelona. Finally I approached to sailing. Indeed I am not from the coast side, but inside, country side of Spain. And I could discover sailing somehow. What has been the most surprising thing for you in Turkey? Yes, language. Turkish. The dissimilarity, the difference, in other words. We have a very different structure of languages. You are ‘subject+object+verb’ kind of language, which is very surprising for us. And it is totally different in our case. I am very interested in linguistics. This is a very very important aspect of Turkey. Because when we explain Turkey to the rest of Europe, it is talked about the other aspects of Turkey. Like religion for example. But we do not stress or put enough value in explaining how important, nice and diverse your language is. What is your opinion about non-governmental organizations and their role in European societies and policies? And how about NGOs in Spain?
“To have a democracy is not just to have some rules and put those rules in law, it is also about to have a density in social capital and people’s participation in public life.”
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In Spain, the social life and NGOs are very dynamic. In the last twenty years, there has been a kind of explosion of social participation of NGOs in social life. This is very important, because that means our society has increased the level of richness, diversity and complexity. For example, in Barcelona alone, we have more than four thousand NGOs which involve voluntary work in any kind of field to defending the rights of different groups of ill people, with different minority illnesses which sometimes they are not well covered by the health system or whatever. But it means that people are able to be self expressive, they can
Photo Nurettin KAYA
express themselves and participate in social life. It forms the “social capital” of the society. And then, to have a democracy is not just to have some rules and put those rules in law, it is also about to have a density in social capital and people’s participation in public life. The democracy is not just voting once every five years or four years. It is something more than that. It can be reached of course as more democratic societies, more social participation and then more independent NGOs grow. When you consider the NGOs and their activities in Turkey, how do you comment on them? The day before, I was in the consultation process of ministralization of NGOs and they were more than three hundred NGOs and thousand people. It was in a Saturday afternoon which means that they are very willing to sacrifice themselves in order to participate. Then our evaluation is that life of NGOs is increasing in this country, and I think that in the future, as your economy is growing and what is seen that your welfare state is growing, I can absolutely predict that it is going to grow awesome. When we entered in European Union, we had income per capita about two thousand dollars per a habitant, we have now thirty thousand dollars and with this increase in wealth, of course also it has come together an increase, profoundization of democracy and social participation. Spain has been EU’s Term President since January 2010 until July 2010. What will be the basic priorities of Madrid in this process? And how will be the Spain’s approach for Turkey’s EU Accession through this term? It is quite clear, Spain is very favor of Turkey’s EU Accession. We have said all the time that we are clearly on the line of the countries in favor of full integration of Turkey. And we would like to see this process going on and advancing as fast as possible. In terms of our presidency, our main objective is to fight against unemployment in Europe which is very high at the moment and the crisis is affecting us very severely. And this is why we would like to see this presidency advancing on this issue. Then the other thing to put in work is Lisbon Treaty, which does change the European institutions and of course there are a lot of work to be done in order to increase the role of Europe in the world. Because I think that Europe can bring some of its soft power in order to produce more peaceful world. Those are the basic agendas we have placed base on the development of the European citizenship and development of human rights. I see here also a lot of things we can cooperate with the NGOs like yours (International Interaction Society - IIS) and here again we would like to say. People take to imagine European Union only about the economical values, but it is not just about economical
Spain is very favor of Turkey’s EU Accession. We have said all the time that we are clearly on the line of the countries in favor of full integration of Turkey, the Ambassador stresses.
values, it is also about social and democratic values. We would like to stress that because we do not talk about business, then people take to see European exercise as a kind of something for the rich people or something for the business community and not affecting the people. And European Union is verily opposite. It was created in order to save European crisis which brought us wars during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. And although we use the economical platform in order to increase our relationship, the main objective is to reach a peaceful commonwealth in Europe. After Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero’s and Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan’s mutual and remarkable efforts, “Alliance of Civilizations” started in Istanbul under United Nations title. And how about the process now? How does it affect the relations between Turkey and Spain, and also the other countries? I think that after the 9/11 catastrophe in New York, it was compromised on the need to stop this kind of fatal attempts towards conflict. And to build bridges between different parts of the world, and different cultures, this is something that fortunately Spain and Turkey considered seriously. That by now, it has become a big success, because there are more than hundred countries already on the board of this initiative. And I think this is not a shortterm initiative, it is long-term and very serious exercise to avoid all the phobias that can be developed in the cultural
“our evaluation is that life of NGOs is increasing in this country, and I think that in the future, as your economy is growing and what is seen that your welfare state is growing, I can absolutely predict that it is going to grow awesome.” IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 13
relationships all around the world. If we want to build a more peaceful world, we need the increase the dialogue, not to build walls but to demolish walls and build bridges. And I think that “Alliance of Civilizations” is a good example of this approach. Istanbul is the European Capital of Culture in 2010. Do we have a chance to see some activities of Spain in Istanbul 2010? We have had some of them in music with the Presidential orchestra playing Spanish music. And now, we are willing to see the opening of a play written by Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, something that happens in Istanbul in the Sultans Court. And that will be very interesting, we are all expecting the opening of this. Because it would be a very useful dialogue between two cultures. The script of the play is very interesting, Sultan gets in love with a Spanish lady, which is a Christian, and then we see what happens in the play. I am not going to tell them, but it is very nice. Recently, Turkish Airlines has been the sponsor of FC Barcelona, one of the most famous teams of the world. And you were the Mayor of Barcelona before, and you are a good fan of Barcelona so. What can you tell us about that?
Which characteristics of Turkey do you like, and will miss most, when your term of office finishes and you return to Spain? I have been interested by some grand cities of Anatolia. It shares the similar characteristics with the central part of Spain, which is also a kind of plateau reaching to six hundred meters, and horizontal geography. For example Spain is called as the conquerors of South America, and they came from the inside of the Spain. That’s why the geographical magnitude was so open and wide that when they reached America, though America was a huge continent, they felt like being somehow on a familiar soil. And very to me, being from a coastal city of the Mediterranean, these grand cities of Anatolia are displaying, what you can see, the feeds of agriculture and it feels fantastic. And then, of course you have also very, I was impressed in Kars and in the East with importance of your mountains. You have mountains five thousand meters of altitude and for us it is very impressive. This generosity of your geography is something interests me. Not only that I will miss the coast line is also very impressive and the characteristics of Turkish people, they are very friendly.
Photo Nurettin KAYA
It is surely very important that Turkish Airlines’ supporting a worldwide team. It shows how developed Turkish economy and transportation is now. By the way Turkish Airlines has two direct flights to Barcelona every day and
I think that they are already planning even to increase it. This is nice, because it is a good practical way to strengthen our relationship. We were talking in the beginning that we need more communication between our cultures. And in nowadays we have direct flight, the only thing that I regret is we do not have with Ankara (laughing), but we hope that it will be possible even with Ankara.
“If we want to build a more peaceful world, we need the increase the dialogue, not to build walls but to demolish walls and build bridges. And I think that “Alliance of Civilizations” is a good example of this approach.” IIS Rainbow, Business and News Editor, Yüksel Serdar Oğuz offered a ceramic plate to the Ambassador, H.E. Joan Clos, at the end of the interview.
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Yüksel Serdar Oğuz / Business & News Editor
serdar.oguz@intersociety.net
Cover News
A Journey to the heart of “Inspire”: İstanbul 2010 “If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.” Alphonse de Lamartine The big excitement has started and İstanbul, which has been accepted for ages as cradle of civilizations and one of the most captivating cities of all times, turned into a utterly different atmosphere with the starting of İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. For the one who wants to witness the fascinating coalescence of the centuries of history, blinding architecture, different nations of people, and a life flowing at full steam, along with bosphorus, sea and sk, İstanbul is undoubtedly the one of the unique places in the world. As the city of inspire for many artists, writers and lovers, İstanbul is more bright than anytime now. There are concerts, exhibitions, meetings, panels and seminars, festivals, shows and so forth everywhere on and on.
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“Some cities embrace you right away… some on approach them incautiously. Surely Istanbul is on
İstanbul, the Capital of Diverse Cultures
Connecting not only Asia to Europe, but also the East to the West, the old to the new, the traditional to the modern, magic to knowledge, magnificence to humility, dogma to pragmatism and local to universal, this legendary city, where contemporary artists from all corners of the world have chosen to live in, İstanbul will have the honour in 2010 of serving as the European Capital of Culture in 2010. İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture is a great participatory project that will display the city’s full potential in art and culture in all its splendour, watched by İstanbulites from all layers of society. Enthusiasts of İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, in other words, individuals from all over İstanbul or members of all sorts of establishments from nongovernmental organisations to municipalities and official organisations, present their ideas or projects to the İstanbul 2010 Agency for evaluation and financial support. The participatory structure of İstanbul 2010, its most important attribute, is not limited to the residents of İstanbul. This city opens her possibilities and her spirit 16 IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
nly expose themselves slowly, as you ne of the latter.” Umberto Eco
to all the lovers of art and culture from Europe and the rest of the world. Many İstanbul-oriented European and international projects will be put into effect and will take their places in the 2010 agenda. In order to project the full spirit of the İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Art and Culture through all possible means, new art and culture centres are being constructed, and festivities are being organised. Many projects have already been given a start to revitalise the universal cultural heritage and to strengthen the artistic and cultural infrastructure of the city, with the goal of obtaining maximum attendance and giving way to a huge urban transformation centred on arts and culture. The magnificent mobility caused by such joy and creativity will reach its peak in 2010 through universal attendance. The power of culture and art that unite civilisations will be lived to the fullest in İstanbul in 2010 together with Europe and the entire world. The reflection of İstanbul’s unique cultural heritage and creative cultural capacity onto tourism will strengthen and enrich the existing domestic and international perceptions of İstanbul. The improvement of the urban infrastructure required by tourism and the efforts made
to increase the quality of service, will also help establish İstanbul as a major destination for culture tourism. The effective promotion of İstanbul in international markets through her historical as well as cultural and artistic potentials will help direct culture-oriented visitors to her. The extension of their stay in İstanbul will contribute to the promotion of İstanbul, as well as provide more income through various commercial activities. As a result, increased tourism will also improve this city’s economy. “Some cities embrace you right away… some only expose themselves slowly, as you approach them incautiously. Surely Istanbul is one of the latter.” Umberto Eco Atlas Magazine Special Edition for İstanbul, 1999
The City of “Four Elements”
During the preparation stage of the Istanbul European Capital of Culture 2010 project, Istanbul’s cultural fusion was expressed in the phrase “The City of Four Elements”. The concept of the “Four Elements” is an ancient philosophical theory developed by Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes, three thinkers who lived in the city of Miletus in Western Anatolia in the 6-7th IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 17
centuries BC. The theory maintains that everything in the universe is composed of different combinations of earth, air, water and fire. The theory was given its final form by Aristotle, who spent the last years of his life in Western Anatolia, and formed the foundations for science and philosophy -Christianity in the West, Islam in the East -- until the Renaissance+ The concept of “Four Elements” is now being used as the main conce
Culture sharing helps citizens to understand and to get to know each other better. To spread culture to daily life and to all layers of community becomes increasingly more important. To upgrade citizenship consciousness to the desired level and to establish cultural exchange help achieve urban development. Administrations and non-governmental organisations must take an active part in achieving this end with the benefit of professional sources of information and experience. In this way, world culture will grow richer through the contribution made by each European Capital of Culture in its turn. İstanbul as the 2010 European Capital of Culture will enable Europeans to discover the roots of their own cultures in this city, constituting another big step towards mutual understanding.
Why was İstanbul Selected the European Capital of Culture? With her geographical situation and cultural heritage of millenniums, İstanbul occupies a distinguished position among world metropoles. The creative energy generated by her young and active population makes İstanbul, a mirror of Turkey, one of the most dynamic cities of the world. Cultural awareness in Istanbul improved particularly during the last twenty years and is reflected on the cultural life of the city. With each passing day, Istanbul assumes more the role of a centre for arts and culture that attracts not only its residents, but also people from all over the world. The 21st century will be the century of cities, where they 18 IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
will form a global culture by revitalising their identities, by conveying their cultures to the future and by sharing their potential. Culture sharing helps citizens to understand and to get to know each other better. To spread culture to daily life and to all layers of community becomes increasingly more important. To upgrade citizenship consciousness to the desired level and to establish cultural exchange help achieve urban development. Administrations and non-governmental organisations must take an active part in achieving this end with the benefit of professional sources of information and experience. In this way, world culture will grow richer through the contribution made by each European Capital of Culture in its turn.
İstanbul as the 2010 European Capital of Culture will enable Europeans to discover the roots of their own cultures in this city, constituting another big step towards mutual understanding. The success of İstanbul as the European Capital of Culture will depend on the support and participation of its residents in this project with the largest possible attendance. What will happen in the year 2010 in Istanbul? • From 2006 onwards the name of Istanbul will be associated with culture and arts all over the world. • As Turkey moves ahead with the process of its candidacy for the European Union, the projects to be realized will demonstrate that Istanbul, the symbol of the country, has been interacting with European culture for hundreds of years. • International projects will introduce Turkish culture to European countries and will help European and Turkish artists to share their aspirations. • Artists and creators of İstanbul will get the opportunity to go international.
• From 2006 onwards, İstanbul will welcome distinguished media representatives and a great number of culture and art people from all over Europe as well as the world, adding to her reputation as a global cultural centre. • The city’s cultural heritage will be managed in a sustainable manner, becoming an even stronger magnet than before. Istanbul will achieve lasting gains in the fields of urban renewal, urban living and environmental and social development. • New museums will be established to protect and display our cultural assets and historical buildings will be renovated, given new roles and opened to the public. • People of Istanbul will embrace new artistic disciplines. Young talented people will have the opportunity to become
more closely involved in artistic creativity. • Jobs will be created for a large number of people ranging from communications to organization, education, design, management and creative fields. • Those who come to Istanbul for cultural and artistic projects will visit the city’s cultural riches, mosques, churches, palaces and museums. • Cultural tourism will be invigorated and develop. (Educated, cultured tourists spend three times as much as normal tourists. This means that, as a European Capital of Culture, Istanbul will have a great tourism potential.) • Many people from the world of culture and the arts, together with members of the print and visual media, will come to Istanbul from Europe and different countries all around the world. This will make a positive contribution to the promotion and branding of Istanbul. Being selected as a European Capital of Culture will give a boost to the city’s economic relations with Europe as well as contributing to its cultural relations. With the renovation that will take place, the administrators and administered will join together, hand in hand, sharing their knowledge and experience, to
develop a long-term sustainable model for the future. The Main Working Areas in İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture will be Urban Projects & Heritage, Culture and the Arts, and Tourism and Promotion. “Within the context of Istanbul 2010 operations, we will have to reintroduce the richest European city – in terms of culture and civilization – to Europe. In a sense, what we have is a ’recovery project’ for Istanbul” says Minister of State and Chairman of the Istanbul 2010 ECOC Agency Coordination Board, Mr. Hayati Yazıcı while he is explaining how İstanbul take benefit from the underakings of the ECOC Project. And he continues “In 2010, Istanbul will be the meeting point for those who want to see the best examples of culture and art, architecture and urban culture, and to experience the liveliness and multiple colors of a metropolis. Visual arts, literature, cinema, theater and performing arts, music and opera projects will come to Istanbul. These projects will bring European-famous esteemed artists to our city to collaborate with Turkish artists. Alongside the cultural heritage and urban implementations, and together with the tourism and promotion campaigns, putting cultural and art projects at European levels into practice will support the Istanbul 2010 project as a whole, the development of our cultural and arts productions, and the repositioning of Istanbul as a centre of attraction. These works will have a positive influence on Istanbul’s standing in global cultural tourism.” The minister adds that “A sense of belonging is not restricted to one’s place of birth. If you love a particular place, you enjoy walking along its streets or smelling the sea breeze, for instance, or miss it while you are away and cannot wait to get back to it, then you have become a local.” “This year, the rays of friendship and cultural bridges between us and European countries will become stronger. Thus, present dialogues will settle on firmer foundations. By presenting the projects and activities to be realized and implemented in 2010, the program book of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture you are now holding forms the foundations of this bridge.” the minister finishes his words. And let us finish with the words of Sekib Avdagiç, The President of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Executive Board We shall add a book on Istanbul to our reading list. On our best friend’s birthday, we shall give as a gift an Istanbul movie that we have shot ourselves, not a piece of clothing. On the weekend we shall not think that we are too tired to dive into the Sultanahmet traffic jam, we shall leave the car and walk the road, and visit the matchless heritage in Topkapı Palace once more, years after. References: • İstanbul 2010 Magazine, Winter 2010, Issue 1 • İstanbul 2010, European Capital of Culture Memorandum • www.istanbul2010.org
IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 19
Country Report
Nurettin Kaya / Public Affairs nurettin.kaya@intersociety.net
BELGIUM
BELGIUM HISTORY
Roman Emperor Julius Caesar defeated the local tribes in 57– 50 B.C. and built Gallia Belgica. In the 5th century A.D Franks; in the 8th century, Charlemagne’s empire; and in the 12th the century bishopric of Liege which included Flanders took over the lands. Then, The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ruled lands in the 1540s. After that, The Eighty Years’ War (1568– 1648) separated the Low Countries as Belgica Foederata and Belgica Regia. And the southern part of Belgium was successively ruled by Spain until 1713 and Austria until the French Revolution. France occupied and annexed Belgium until the fall of the First French Empire in 1815. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 reunited the Low Countries under the rule of the king of Holland. In 1830, Belgium fought against Dutch rule and gained independence, which was approved by Europe at the London Conference of 1830–1831. With the ascension of Leopold to the throne on July 21, 1831, Belgium turned out to be a constitutional and parliamentary monarchy. In 1914 Germany invaded Belgium and in 1934 it was again invaded by the Nazi Germany and it was liberated by the Allies in 1945. Now, Belgium is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. There are two bodies in the parliament: Senate and a Chamber of Representatives. Despite having limited hereditary rights and some privileges; The King (currently Albert II) is the head of state. Global Role After the World War II, Belgium became one of the founders of NATO whose main headquarters are in Brussels. In addition to this; Belgium is one of the six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and of the European Atomic Energy Community and European Economic Community, established in 1957. The major offices and institutions of European Union, European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union are located in Brussels. Besides playing active role in unification of Europe, European integration, Belgium contributes greatly in establishing peace and integrity between nations all over the world. According to an analysis provided by the Union of International Association (UIA), Belgium holds 3063 International Organizations, 2672 main offices, and 837 NGOs. 20 IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
Founding member of EU, NATO Political system: Constitutional Monarchy Prime Minister : Yves Leterme Capital city: Brussels Total area: 30 528 km² Population: 10.7 million Currency: Euro The official EU languages: German, French, Dutch
With the ascension of Leopold to the throne on July 21, 1831, Belgium turned out to be a constitutional and parliamentary monarchy. In 1914 Germany invaded Belgium and in 1934 it was again invaded by the Nazi Germany and it was liberated by the Allies in 1945. Now, Belgium is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. There are two bodies in the parliament: Senate and a Chamber of Representatives. Despite having limited hereditary rights and some privileges; The King (currently Albert II) is the head of state.
EU Member States’ Flags
Geography Geographically centrally located in Europe, Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west, the central plateau and uplands in the south-east. Sand dunes and polders cover coastal plain. The heavily forested hills and a variety of plateaus are observed in the central part of Belgium. In generally speaking, the climate is maritime temperate. The average temperature is lowest in January at 3 °C (37.4 °F) and highest in July at 18 °C (64.4 °F).
Brussels
Regions After the high tensions between language communities between regions; the current constitution defined three regions based on language communities. The Regions of Belgium first one is the Flemish Region, which is subdivided into five provinces. The second one is the Walloon Region, subdivided into five provinces. And the third one is the Brussels-Capital Region. There has been severe competition between the Communities in the areas of language, culture and education. This competition contributed to the infrastructure, town planning, the environment, employment, and finally development.
Brussels Brussels is one of the three regions in the Belgian federal state and it has a special place because of being the capital of the Belgian federal state. Brussels has its own executive and has specific powers in its region. With a 520 km² area, it has 1,350,000 inhabitants. It is home to many international offices, organizations, fairs, conferences and conventions. IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 21
Antwerp
A capture form Procession of the Holy Blood, considered as the biggest festival in Belgium. The festival is protected by the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Antwerp Famous for its diamond and harbor, Antwerp is the second biggest city in Belgium. With its historical buildings, museums, wide shopping streets, it is a relaxing place to visit. Situated on Dutch border with 592 km² area, Antwerp has 913,000 people.
foreigners, which was 3 % at the start of the 20th century, has risen to 8 % in recent years. As can easily be understood, Belgium is heterogeneous country where people from different nationalities can interact with each other through different ways, especially business and social activities The diverse, colorful and rich culture provide the atmosphere for interaction, communication, and building friendship.
A multicultural society, Art and Culture Being in the central Europe, having open borders, holding international organizations and having intense economic activity made Belgium a multicultural society. Starting from the 20th century, people from many countries moved to Belgium. The people from the border countries like Dutch, German, Luxembourg and French preferred to stay in border regions, while Spaniards, Greeks, Moroccans and Turks preferred to live in industrial cities. Statistically, the rate of
Economy Belgium has a modern and competitive economy. Belgium’s economy depends on services, transportation, trade, industry, coal mining, and steel production. Belgium exports machinery equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, and processed foods. The main imports are machinery, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, and petroleum products. The highest proportion of trade is done with Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain. Furthermore, we cannot disregard the spending of the international organizations and its impact on the economy. The Festivals Belgium is a country with a rich cultural heritage. The diversity of organizations, events, and festivals are the outcome of being a multicultural country. The Procession of the Holy Blood is considered to be the biggest event. It is a large religious day, dating back to the Middle Ages, which associated with Ascension Day in Bruges, Belgium. The festival is filled with a parade of historical scenes, biblical stories, choirs, and dance groups. The event is protected by the UNESCO
World Heritage List. 22 IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
Maurice Maeterlinck
Belgium Cuisine The Brussels waffle
The Brussels waffle is comprised of dough, yeast, eggs, and melted butter. As a result of the yeast and eggs, the dough is light and fluffy. After it is cooked, the waffle can be dressed in fresh fruit, syrup, powdered sugar, butter, or chocolate. Brussels waffles are very popular in Belgium, and are often served as dessert. Bakeries and street vendors sell it.
Literature
Maurice Maeterlinck was a Belgian playwright, poet and essayist who wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. The main themes in his work are death and the meaning of life. His plays form an important part of the Symbolist movement. His works include Intruder (1890), The Blind (1890), Interior (1895) and The Blue Bird (1908). He married a number of times. He had depression and he died of heart attack.
Art Moules et Frites
Belgians are famous for their passion for mussels and chips. Mussels, garlic clove, butter, parsley, salt and freshly ground pepper are the ingredients of the mussels. The Belgians eat their chips with mayonnaise or frites sauce. You can find Moules et Frites in town squares or alongside busy highways, even in McDonalds in Belgium.
Belgian chocolate
Having reputation for quality, most Belgian chocolate is still made by hand in small shops. Belgian chocolate pralines could be filled with a variety of flavored nougats or creams, such as coffee, hazelnut, fruit or more chocolate.
Jan van Eyck was a Flemish painter and considered to be one of the best Northern European painters of the 15th century. He lived between 1395 and July 9, 1441. Eyck entered the service of the powerful and influential Valois prince, Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. He developed the newly developed technique of oil painting. His naturalistic panel paintings, mostly portraits and religious subjects, made extensive use of disguised religious
Being the first fortifications from the 8th century, Castle of Bouillon represents the history of feudalism in Belgium. Castle of Jehay
Waterzooi
Waterzooi is a classic stew of Flanders. The original form is made of fish. Fish or roasted chickens, fresh ground white pepper, unsalted butter fresh parsley leaves carrots celery ribs onions leeks are the main ingredients of Waterzooi.
Sports
Football, cycling, tennis, athletics competition, motocross and motor-racing are the most popular games in Belgium. Belgian Eddy Merckx famed as the greatest cyclist of all time. Moreover, Belgium is currently bidding with the Netherlands to host the 2018 World Cup. IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 23
Culture
Ieva Macule / Socio-Cultural News
ieva.macule@intersociety.net
EXHIBITON OF MINIATURE ROOMS Rahmi Koç Museum which is located in Ulus is an old hostelry reconsructed to exhibit some personal belongings of Rahmi Koç and some other donated materials. On the building’s ground floor, there is a restaurant serving from both Ottoman and French cuisine. The rest of place on that floor and in the upstairs is the museum itself but the basement is used to exhibit Henry Kupjack’s Miniature Rooms which I had a chance to visit and explore for our readers. Below there is the related information about the exhibition which is worth for seeing until 20 June 2010. HENRY KUPJACK’S MINIATURE ROOMS Henry Kupjack creates tiny, fascinating worlds, complete in every detail. Many of his work can be seen in the permanent collections of such museums as the Wintherthur, the Chicago Art Institute, the Boston Library and the Illinois State Museum. Many of his commissions also come from private collectors. Henry Kupjack says that Miniature Rooms was affected largely by his experiences and childhood imaginations. ‘Miniature Rooms’ deeply affect visitors of all ages differently. In these rooms, visitors can find traces of their own lives, experiences, histories, and cultures. Each room creates a feeling of looking inside from a TV secreen. Yet, Kupjack’s rooms are so real, you feel as if you are in the room. From the photos, its is really difficult to realize whether the rooms are miniatures or actual size. The success of the setting depends on how strongly the details reflect the reality. Kupjack uses 1 inch for 1 feet; a scale of 1:12. Kupjack is a rare breed. Few artisans anywhere do what he does, and only a handful do it with as much skill and élan. Kupjack is a miniaturist, but the description falls well short of indicating the spectrum of his abilities. Here are many professional miniaturists, but most specialize in a particular genre, such as making furniture or casting metal. Kupjack does it all. In the process, the artisan must blend an encyclopedic knowledge of architectural history with a surgeon’s dexterity and a set designer’s cunning. As to the mesmerizing effect of miniatures, Kupjack muses, “There’s an innocence about them. It’s like playing with a toy when you were a child, and you fill in whatever’s missing to make a little world of your own.”
Alexandar’s Seige Tent at Halicarnassos c. 333 b.c.e. Henry Kupjack, Studio date 1983, Collection of the artist. 24 IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
“Henry Kupjack says that Miniature Rooms was affected largely by his experiences and childhood imaginations. ‘Miniature Rooms’ deeply affect visitors of all ages differently. In these rooms, visitors can find traces of their own lives, experiences, histories, and cultures. Each room creates a feeling of looking inside from a TV secreen. Yet, Kupjack’s rooms are so real, you feel as if you are in the room. From the photos, its is really difficult to realize whether the rooms are miniatures or actual size.” Rahmi M. Koç Museum, who has always started new traditions, brought original and impressive design works to the Museum is delighted to be hosting an exhibition of these wonderfully created artworks, Miniature Rooms. The tent structure of this miniature is conjectural in that nothing of the original survives. Siege machines at this time were modular in construction and capable of being dismantled and moved, hence the engineering of the tent reflects this level of sophistication. The furniture in this tent is copied or adapted from vase paintings or reliefs of both Greek and Egyptian origins. Most items were gilded bronze, portable and collapsible for easy moving and storing. The many military items were copied from the famous Roman mosaic in Pompei of Alexander at the battle of Issus.
Dauphine* Dining Room in the Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg, VA c. 1770 Eugene Kupjack, Studio date 1983, Collection of the artist. History tells us that this inn was the favorite meeting place of the Burgesses of the Virginia colonies. The room is furnished in the Queen Anne style with several Chinese import items. The wallpaper is taken from a full-size example at Williamsburg. It is said that the Declaration of Independence was discussed at this table by the various members of the revolution. *Dauphiné is a French term for the heir or son of the king, this term is also used by the English to refer to the Prince of Wales and was used in colonial America and the tavern dining room miniature depicted was named for the dauphine.
17th Century Pirate Captain’s Cabin c. 1680 Henry Kupjack, Studio date 2004, Collection of the artist. This miniature room depicts a 17th century Spanish Galleon Captain’s cabin whish would have been a captured trophy vessel of a pirate crew who often commandeered their ships as booty. There are few existing examples surviving, or drawings of ship interiors from this period so some artistic license was necessary in creating this model. One can see here the plundered treasure of the pirate crew being divvied up on the table in this cabin. The interior and furnishings are typical of the Spanish/Flemish style of shipbuilding and fittings in the 17th Century. The room is placed in a decorative chest in the Spanish style of the 17th century especially created for this room.
Montmorenci Stair Hall c. 1830 Eugene and Henry Kupjack, Studio date 1982, on loan to the Winterthur Museum. The original Montmorenci Stair Hall’s free standing spiral stairs are molded after the staircase in Montmorenci, a North Carolina mansion built around 1822. The balusters and decorative applied brackets were carefully copied from the original staircase, while the treads and risers were cut from yellow pine boards from the porch columns at Montmorenci. The finely detailed cornice and molded plaster ornamentation above each door blend perfectly with the stair’s simple carving. The furnishing in the Montmorenci Stair Hall exhibit the refined taste of the Federal Period. The mahogany and satinwood chairs and settees were made by John and Thomas Seymour of Boston. A large portrait of Catherine Browne of New York, painted around 1800, hangs above the settee.
Ottoman Coffeehouse, 18th Century Henry Kupjack, Studio Date 2008, The Rahmi M. Koç Museum Collection When the Ottomans first encountered coffee in the middle of the 16th Century when it came to İstanbul from the Arabian Peninsula, they immediately fell in love with this enjoyable product. They set up special places to cook, drink and sell it. İstanbul coffeehouses were formed after passing through the distiller of time and history and living through many prohibitions and destructions and being distilled and refined by the taste and effect of people of all classes. Sometimes down at heels at a remote district, sometimes splendid at the garden of a mansion and sometimes spacious and pleasant by the side of the Bosphorus. However, all of them had the basic coffeehouse tools, all with a fine taste and a certain level of smartness. Henry Kupjack presents us with all these finenesses with small magnificient details in his miniature coffeehouse which cannot fit into our fantasies. Just like somebody who has lived in those times and has been to those coffeehouses or like a historian who kept the pulse of those centuries; it is possible to find signs of all the coffeehouses on the Ottoman geography in this miniature room. Kupjack has added the wonderful coffeehouse scholarship to his unique artistic talents. From the coin on the shelf for holding the turbans, to the stools, from the hookahs on the side tables to the coffee cooking pots all the miniature items in the room are masterpiece-versions of the real ones used in the past all made by Kupjack. The coffee stove, the walls, the columns, the stools, the chandeliers, they all have been fashioned with the refineness and smartness of a jeweler and are the eye straining hand work of a wonderful artisan. Kupjack, in this small room, carries coffee enthusiasts to another level, and as a master artisan, who succeeds in doing this, he has created one of the peaks of international art. References: http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/sergi-2008/eng-odalar.html IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 25
Turkish Cuisine
Camilla Hansen / Socio-Cultural News camilla@intersociety.net
IIS ASHURA DAY IIS ASHURA DAY It is said that the reason why there is such a pudding having really more different ingredients than any desert is that during the flood, the prophet Noah and his followers cooked a meal in order not to starve with what in their hands and put everything they could find in it to increase the amount. And there formed the pudding Ashura. There is an easy recipe on next page it for those interested.
International Interaction Society (IIS) brought different cultures together in Ashura Day.
to Lithuania, to Gabardin Balkar participated in this significant cultural day. The guests joined the day in company with their wives, husbands and children, making the day more colorful and joyful. The day was organized in the central building of IIS in Gaziosmanpaşa. International Interaction Society staff and board members together with both old and new members were also there. Suitable for the importance of the day, the guests were offered homemade ashura which drew great attention. Many foreigners who tasted ashura for the first time gave their impressions about the desert mostly positive. Moreover, the talented Reed Flute Player Ender Barış was also with us to give the guests a small incredible concert while they were tasting ashura in their cups
The 3rd Traditional Ashura Day The welcoming activity of the year 2010 has been the 3rd Traditional Ashura Day which was held on January 24, Sunday for International Interaction Society (IIS). Distinguished guests from many different countries and regions including from Denmark to Nigeria,
Photo Nurettin KAYA
It is said that the reason why there is such a pudding having really more different ingredients than any desert is that during the flood, the prophet Noah and his followers cooked a meal in order not to starve with what in their hands and put everything they could find in it to increase the amount. And there formed the pudding Ashura. The guests were taken photograph with IIS President, Mr. Gümüşdoğrayan in the memory of the day
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A s h u r a / N o a h ’ s Pudding? Ingredients: 1 cup* wheat, 1 cup chickpeas, 1 cup raisins, 5 cups sugar, water (enough to cover) Almonds, peanuts Dried apricots, figs, or any dry fruit and nuts as desired Apple, orange, orange peels if desired Topping: walnuts, cinnamon, almonds, pomegranate etc *Actually the amount and ingredient totally depend on your choice. The more types of ingredients you have, the richer you ashura is :) “40” is believed to be the critical number such that if you have 40 types of ingredients, it is the best ;) So do not limit yourself!
How to prepare Ashura /Noah’s Pudding? Soak wheat, chickpeas and garbanzo beans in water overnight. Boil them in separate pans. (You can use canned chickpeas and beans). After they are cooked, mix them in one big pot and add dried fruits and nuts that remained in water for a while and were cut into small pieces. Add them to the mixture along with sugar and boil for additional 10-15 minutes. Serve with toppings * You can add more/less water and/or sugar depending on your preference.
IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010 27
Sport
Yüksel Serdar Oğuz / Business & News Editor
serdar.oguz@intersociety.net
Photos Nurettin KAYA
The winner team, Phillies (USA), got their cup by the hand of IIS President, Mesut Gümüşdoğrayan.
IIS INTERNATIONAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT 2010 The traditional and annual Bowling Tournament of International Interaction Society (IIS) is on scene again with its third in 2010. Increasing interest with every year, IIS International Bowling Tournament keeps gathering the foreigners around the bowling ball and the pins against them. This year, like the previous ones, there were many players from embassies and different NGO’s, embassies of Kosovo and USA were in the tournament. Eight teams, one of which included the Ambassador of Kosovo to Turkey, H.E. Bekim Sejdiu, were in Bilkent Roll House on 6 February 2010 Saturday to “roll the ball for interaction.” Teams were very keen on having an advantage before the second step of the tournament, which would be played one week later on 13 February 2010 to determine the best four teams to play in the final on same day. The nationality of players in the tournament showed variety from Kosovo to Denmark, USA to Lithuania and Albania to Bosnia Herzegovina and so forth... After the first week’s scores, Rodos team had ranked the first with average 106 points. The teams were going to play again in the following week and the first four teams according to the average of two weeks would deserve to play the final for the IIS International Bowling Tournament 2010 Championship Cup. The teams had huge excitement even at that moment and everone wondered which teams would qualify to the final.
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THE SECOND WEEK AND THE FINAL OF IIS INTERNATIONAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT 2010 The second week of the IIS International Bowling Tournament witnessed high excitement and colorful scenes on 13 February 2010. It was observed that the contest for playing on the final motivated all of the teams more than the previous week. After two weeks matches, three teams became the finalists according to the average: Phillies (USA), Zematja (Lithuania), and Angora (Kosovo). The final match of these three teams has been full of contest. The players of each team were so good that the champion could not be guessed even until the final shots. Angora team had been in front when it was reached to the final shots. Yet Phillie team made a great game which made them champion with only one point difference. 446-445. The Phillies team received their cup from the hands of the President of IIS. The President of IIS congratulated Phillies team players while giving their cup. After the tournament it was enjoyment, contest and new friendship what remained in the minds.
The nationality of players in the tournament showed variety from Kosovo to Denmark, USA to Lithuania and Albania to Bosnia Herzegovina and so forth...
Sport
Erdem Göndiken / Press Agent
egondiken@intersociety.net
IIS INTERNATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE PIZZA PARTY On 21th February 2010, International Interaction Society (IIS) hosted IIS International Football League team captains via a pizza party in IIS building for the opening of the second season of the league. Michal Danis and Tomas Svozil from AMAC (Military Attachés) Team, Steve Bennett from UK/Ireland, Andrey Losev from Russia, Dia Eldin from Qatar, Mathisen Eirik Nestås from Nordics, and Erdem Göndiken from IIS discussed about the programme of the second half besides the party. They exchanged ideas on how the league could be more entertaining and competitive. The captains were more familiar and friendly with the effect of having played together as team mates or opponents for three years, it was observed. The IIS International Football League has been more organized and interactive this year when compared to the last two years, the captains stressed. However it was also underlined that IIS International Football League has always been for fun and having good time together. On the other hand, the fixture of the second half and the possible advancement of the rules were decided based on the recommendations of the captains. There will be two groups again in the second half. There could be played a match between the mixed teams of each groups after the completion of the league matches, the captains offered as well. The second half of this football fever is beginning on 10th March 2010, and the ball is starting to trickle for IIS International Football League once more.
The players and captains of IIS International Football League met in IIS building for a pizza party.
The possible advancements of the rules and the league were discussed by the players and captains.
Michal Danis and Tomas Svozil from AMAC (Military Attachés) Team, Steve Bennett from UK/Ireland, Andrey Losev from Russia, Dia Eldin from Qatar, Mathisen Eirik Nestås from Nordics, and Erdem Göndiken from IIS discussed about the programme of the second half besides the party. Photo Nurettin KAYA
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Sport
Ieva Macule / Socio-Cultural News
ieva.macule@intersociety.net
IIS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Who is Onur Harman? Born in Ankara in 1962, Onur Harman is known as a famous businessman on tourism and transportation business. He founded Onural Turizm in the year of 1993 and still the owner and the manager of this firm for 17 years. Onur Harman, whose father was a former soccer player and coach in Hacettepe Spor once upon time, is one of the sponsors of IIS International Soccer League. Interview with the sponsor Onur Harman
2. What does IIS International league means to you?
It looks to me like a world cup as if it was the organization of FIFA, because there are teams consisting of different people and nationalities from all around the world. They come together and play as focused on same target so I feel like the world cup finals.
3. What are the basic reasons laid behind supporting IIS International Football League? Will you continue to support the league in following periods? Hopefully I think that I am going to be the sponsor and support the next organizations as well. I already like to meet new and different people and feel cheerful, so I see this league as a chance like I am meeting people from all the countries in the world. When I meet someone from a country, I feel as if I had known everyone from that country at all. Therefore it provides me the possibility of knowing varied people from many cultures and I think I gain new friends and I also like to sight-see. Things happen, maybe I can go their countries once a day. I want to be in this kind of, specifically international organizations, and hope to sustain it.
4. How is it to play football together and interact with foreign players? As I said, it conduced me toward meeting new people coming from many countries of the world. Playing football in the field with the people, coming together and contacting with them whom I have never met before, I do not know their culture and I do not even know their language, feel really so nice to me. During the waiting period outside of the field after or before the match, it is nice to communicate at least with my body language, even if I do not speak their language. Hopefully, due to supporting this organization and playing football in it, it will help me to learn a language, which I try for even in this age so that I can contact with the foreigners more easily, and open up my horizon, view to the life. 5. How are your relations with foreigners (foreign players and other people coming from different countries) Can you give us some information about the work you are doing? Well... Thanks to this league, I think my relations with the other people, especially the foreigners, would strengthen and this would be a closer surrounding to establish new contact. My job is already related with tourism. A part of my job.... So if I can get well communication with these people, it would have a commercial side too. Because I am providing transportation services related with tourism, if I can know more and more foreigners in Turkey, I can also make a commercial link. Therefore, I can help for the transportation of newcomers to Turkey. Actually, I have a project in my mind that foreigners shall come to Turkey, I shall show them around besides introducing my citizens. Photos Nurettin KAYA
1. Could you tell us about your relations with football? How did it start? An interest stemming from my father I have. My father was a professional football player in Hacettepespor once upon a time. He played in Turkish Premier League for 8-9 years besides playing in U-21 National Team and Army National Team. The old players from 1959 till 1970s know my father very well. Thus I have concern in football because of my father and since its being my father’s job indeed. Even had I some talent too and played in Ankaragücü Youth Team for two years. But after my father had passed away in a traffic accident, I left professional football and entered into the life. However cause it is my father’s job and I also played for a while, sometimes I try to play on astro pitch or indoor as long as I find chance.
“IIS International Football League looks to me like a world cup as if it was the organization of FIFA, because there are teams consisting of different people and nationalities from all around the world
30 IIS RAINBOW MAY 2010
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