Ankara in Istanbul ready for more concrete forms of cooperation with Sarajevo

At the invitation of Melih Gökçek, mayor of the twin city of Ankara, Sarajevo Mayor Ivo Komšić and Deputy Chairman of the City Council Miro Lazović participated in the work of the 3rd General Assembly of the Organization of Cities for Global Projection (GDCO), reports the Patria News Agency.  

With an invitation to a separate meeting, the head of Ankara, Melih Gökçek, paid special honor to the representatives of the City of Sarajevo.

Mayor Komšić reminded that the twinning agreement between Ankara and Sarajevo from 1994 obliges concrete forms of cooperation. In this regard, an exchange of cultural events and cooperation between higher education institutions were proposed. The idea of arranging a park in Sarajevo named after the twin city of Ankara was also conceived.

Komšić thanked the hosts for hosting the delegation of the Sarajevo Waterworks at the request of the City of Sarajevo. Representatives of the Ankara Waterworks (ASKI) expressed their readiness to help their Sarajevo colleagues within their capacities to ensure that the citizens of Sarajevo have the most regular water supply possible.

On the way back from Ankara, Mayor Komšić and his associates were welcomed in Istanbul by Mayor Kadir Topbaş. In a cordial meeting, the Mayor of Istanbul stated that Sarajevo enjoys a special reputation with him and his 17 million fellow citizens.

He invited Komšić to more intensive and concrete forms of cooperation for the benefit of Sarajevo. He expressed his satisfaction that Istanbul had the opportunity to deliver 30 functional and high-quality Mercedes buses to Sarajevo this year.

Mayor Komšić emphasized that these buses have restarted routes that were interrupted before their delivery, causing hardship for the citizens of Sarajevo. Topbaş offered to organize quality training for unemployed women from Sarajevo, enabling them to earn a dignified living.

Komšić proposed to Topbaş that Istanbul support the renovation of Sarajevo's White Tabia tower. The realization of this project would revitalize a valuable cultural and historical monument, engage local builders, increase Sarajevo's tourism resources, and create opportunities for the employment of young and skilled people.

As a token of gratitude, Komšić presented Topbaş with the Charter of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Sarajevo," which the City Council of Sarajevo awarded him before April 6th, Sarajevo City Day. On this occasion, Komšić invited his colleagues from Ankara and Istanbul for a return visit to Sarajevo, which should take place at the end of this year or next year, it was announced from the City Administration.