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[Press Release] Istanbul Celebrated as a “Capital of Culture” in New York

10/09/2008

New York, NY – Friday, October 10, 2008 –  Tuna Koprulu, Consul General of Monaco in Istanbul and the author of “Istanbul: The Capital of Cultures” addressed a group of more than 70 guests at a reception and book signing hosted by The American Turkish Society in New York on October 9.
The event was attended by H.E. Baki Ilkin, Ambassador of Turkey to the United Nations; H.E. Gilles Noghes, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations and to Washington, D.C.; and The Honorable Mehmet Samsar, Consul General of Turkey in New York, as well as Rahmi M. Koc, Honorary Chairman of Koc Holding and other distinguished guests from the diplomatic, business and cultural arenas. 
 
In his introduction of Tuna Koprulu, H.E. Ambassador Noghes praised Istanbul and the book, remarking "I salute Mrs. Koprulu for the work she does and for belonging in a unique group of people building bridges between cultures.” He also mentioned that Mrs. Koprulu has been commissioned to write a book for the Prince of Monaco. In her remarks, Tuna Koprulu relayed that when Dr. Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul, found out about the candidacy of Istanbul as a European Capital of Culture, he asked her to write a new, comprehensive volume on the city, which was missing at the time. She stated “I am pleased that we are discussing Istanbul, a European Capital of Culture, in New York, the Capital of the World.” In addition, Mrs. Mica Ertegun made special remarks at the event, calling Istanbul “one of the most romantic cities” and hoping Mrs. Koprulu visits other cities in Turkey and completes similar works. Mr. Ahmet Ertegun, Founding Chairman of Atlantic Records who passed away in 2006, was the long-time,cherished Chairman of The American Turkish Society.
 
Published in 2006 with Greater Istanbul Municipality’s sponsorship, Tuna Koprulu’s “Istanbul: The Capital of Cultures” was commissioned by Dr. Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul, on occasion of the city’s selection as a 2010 European Capital of Culture by the EU Parliament. As the only comprehensive volume on Istanbul, it features a detailed history of the city, from the Roman and Byzantine eras through the Ottoman period, and first-time-published photographs, including unique aerial images, by architect and prominent photographer Cemal Emden. 
The title "European Capital of Culture" was designed to help bring European citizens closer together. Since 1985, more than 30 cities have been designated by the EU Parliament as European Capitals of Culture, from Stockholm to Genoa, Athens to Glasgow, and Cracow to Porto. The title can be awarded to more than one city each year, including to cities in countries that are candidates for EU membership. In 2010, Istanbul shares the title of European Capital of Culture with Essen (Germany) and Pécs (Hungary). 

Tuna Koprulu was born in Izmir and raised in Ankara, Turkey. She went to Washington, D.C. in 1966 after her husband, Ertugrul Koprulu , was appointed as the Press Attache of the Turkish Embassy. As a diplomat’s wife, she became actively involved in representing Turkey. She was a White House correspondent for 15 years at which time she also covered the Congress, the World Bank and IMF. She is the first Turkish correspondent who covered four U.S. presidents and traveled with them around the world. After 25 years in Washington, she was appointed Honorary Turkish Consul General in the Principality of Monaco. She was knighted as the “Chevalier de St. Charles” by Prince Rainier III for bettering the relations of Monaco and Turkey. She currently serves as the Consul General of the Principality of Monaco in Istanbul. She is the author of White House Memories (2002), Foreign Palaces in Istanbul (2005), and Istanbul: The Capital of Cultures (2006). She is currently working on a book called From Albert I to Albert II about the environmental initiatives of the two Princes of Monaco a hundred years apart; the book will benefit Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which aims to be a catalyst for environmental projects.
 
Founded in 1949, The American Turkish Society is America’s oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States. The Society achieves its mission by bringing together leaders in government, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of State and Ambassadors, as well as business leaders, journalists, and scholars covering a spectrum of fields. It also initiates and sponsors a variety of education and arts & culture programs, providing fellowships, grants, and other opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries. The American Turkish Society is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.   
 
The “Istanbul: The Capital of Cultures” book signing was the latest in The American Turkish Society’s long history of providing public forums to discuss Turkish history and arts and culture. Tuna Koprulu donated copies of “Istanbul: The Capital of Cultures” to The Society, which are available for purchase in support of the education programs and cultural initiatives sponsored by the organization. In 2006, The Society held a similar event for Mrs. Koprulu's previous book on Istanbul "Foreign Palaces of Istanbul,"copies of which are also available.  
 
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Members of the press wishing to learn more about the American Turkish Society may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212-583-7614.
The American Turkish Society, 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017
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