Archive of Press Releases and Official Statements

Istanbul NOB Dedication Ceremony

Istinye, Istanbul
Thursday, June 12, 2003

[Ambassador reads text of Secretary of State Colin Powell’s message.]

Degerli Konuklar,

Hepiniz yeni baskonsolosluk binamiza hosgeldiniz. Sizleri bugün burada agirlamaktan çok büyük mutluluk ve gurur duyuyoruz.

Ladies and gentleman, I am very proud to be here. Every time that I come to Istanbul from Ankara I am aware that I am coming to a place that has received foreign ambassadors and plenipotentiaries for century after century after century. Here is a world center of civilization for exchange, for understanding, and for growth that has flourished through the ages.

Thus, we have a large presence in Istanbul. The size of our staff and the size of this building reflect the importance of Istanbul for the United States.

Americans look to the future. In moving to this new building, up the Bosphorus, in Istinye, we are committing ourselves to the future of Istanbul, this dynamic world city that continually grows and expands and changes. All of us are enchanted by the historical Istanbul that lies within the walls of Sultan Mehmet, of Constantine and Theodosius. We will not neglect it, from our new perch here. However, our interest in Istanbul grows along with Turkey’s future. Istanbul – the most populous city in Europe – commands our attention as a thriving, bustling, chaotic, beautiful, extraordinary and memorable metropolis. We will continue to share the joys and sorrows of contemporary Istanbullus, the better to know you and the better to represent the United States of America to you.

At the same time, we are deeply grateful to the Turkish Government, which protected us so well for so many years at our former Consulate in Beyoglu. Please allow me to take this occasion to thank all of you – publicly, sincerely, on behalf of all who worked here and on behalf of all of their families and on behalf of the Government and the people of the United States.

Colleagues, friends, ladies and gentleman, we are proud to welcome you today to this new Consulate General Istanbul facility. May it represent the reality of our hopes for the deep friendship between the Turkish and American people. To those of you who directly or indirectly helped to build it, I offer you congratulations and heartfelt thanks. To those of you who will be working in this building, to those of you who will be coming to it for business or services or knowledge, I say “güle güle oturun” and “hoş geldiniz”. Thank you.