Wednesday, April 17, 2024 İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay opened the workshop titled “Historic Port City İzmir: April 18 and UNESCO Studies from the Past to the Future”.   Stressing the importance of protecting cultural heritage for the city, Mayor Tugay said that they will closely follow the process regarding İzmir Historic Port City, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, and will prioritize the infrastructure and superstructure works.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay participated in the workshop titled "Historic Port City İzmir: UNESCO Studies from April 18 to the Future" organized by İzmir Historic Port City Area Presidency and İzmir Institute of Technology (IYTE) within the scope of April 18 International Day for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Day), hosted by TARKEM (Historic Kemeraltı Construction Investment Trade Inc.).   In addition to Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, Konak Mayor Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu, İzmir Deputy Governor İsmail Çorumluoğlu, IYTE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran, IİzmirHistoric Port City Area President Abdülaziz Ediz, TARKEM General Manager Sergenç İneler, academics and many representatives of non-governmental organizations attended the workshop held in the Historic Akın Passage.   
 
“No one can doubt that I will protect cultural heritage”
Mayor Tugay first visited the historical Akın Passage, whose restoration was completed by İzmir Governorship. In his opening speech at the workshop where the establishment of the UNESCO Chair on Cultural Heritage and Risk Management was discussed, Mayor Tugay stated, "The Historic Port City studies are conducted in collaboration with civil society organizations and academics. Generally, preserving cultural heritage is one of the most important goals for a city. It is also one of the most important areas of activity for a municipality. There should be no doubt that I will also demonstrate a stance that supports cultural heritage. During my candidacy period, I received a summary of the work being carried out here by TARKEM and congratulated them. I saw that very successful work has been done. We must continue on this path."       
“It is the primary responsibility of all of us”
Mayor Tugay said that they will closely follow the process regarding İzmir Historic Port City, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, including Kemeraltı, Kadifekale and Basmane, and will prioritize infrastructure and superstructure works. Mayor Tugay said, “It is the primary responsibility of all of us to protect our cultural heritage and to work within the framework of the targeted management plan for this region as soon as possible. I will be a part of this work by following the process closely.” “Kemeraltı will either shrink or return to its historical mission”  
İzmir Deputy Governor İsmail Çorumluoğlu said, “There is a fork in the road ahead of us in this process. Kemeraltı will either continue its life by shrinking a little more or it will return to its historical mission through public works. Our wish is for Kemeraltı to regain its historical mission. Our municipalities have made valuable contributions in this regard and we believe that even better work will be done.”
“Kemeraltı is the apple of Konak's eye”
Konak Mayor Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu said, “Kemeraltı is the apple of Konak's eye. I believe that with the increase in the international recognition of Kemeraltı, we will see a very different İzmir and a very different Kemeraltı. Konak Municipality will always be involved in these efforts.”  
“We are ready to give everything we have”
IZTECH Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran, who gave information about the work carried out as a university for Kemeraltı and İzmir, said: “If we put our will, mind and power forward, we can transform Kemeraltı together.   Kemeraltı is the largest open-air bazaar in the world. İzmir's trademark is Kemeraltı. As IZTECH, we are trying to take precautions for all these with the idea that natural disasters will continue until 2100. Taking this precaution is not a matter of fighting with nature, but of living in harmony with nature and believing in reason and science. We are ready to share all our experience for İzmir to become a world city.  We will continue to stand by local governments to protect our historical relics and pass them on to future generations and make İzmir a more livable city in every sense.” 
“Cemil Mayor has an emotional connection with Kemeraltı”
Sergenç İneler, General Manager of TARKEM, said, “TARKEM is a city alliance where all stakeholders are together. Cemil Mayor has an emotional connection with Kemeraltı This is very exciting. I believe that we will realize important works for Kemeraltı with this urban alliance in the new period.”
“Cultural heritage must be protected by scientific values”
Providing information on the UNESCO process of the Historic Kemeraltı Bazaar, Abdülaziz Ediz, Head of the İzmir Historic Port City Area, said: “The Area Plan, which includes the perception and transfer of multi-layered cultural heritage to future generations, should be implemented by all our stakeholders. We continue our efforts to protect and preserve the values of Kemeraltı. İzmir has lost its cultural heritage to natural disasters throughout history. In our country, especially after the February 6 earthquake, it has become clear that irreplaceable cultural heritage should be protected with scientific values.”