Association of Historic Towns and Konya Metropolitan Municipality: Expectations and Achievements
Countries started to have mutual interactions with the effect of globalisation. The policies conducted in one country are being transferred to other countries as good examples. In other words, mutual policy/reform transfer among countries has become into prominence. Local governmental cooperation has risen in an international level. Moreover, among different cities from different countries social, cultural, economic and administrative cooperation has become a popular option.
An example of local governmental cooperation in international level is “European Association of Historic Towns” which is designed to ensure the cooperation among cities in European countries. This association is an example of cooperation among local governments in international level. Local governmental cooperation can be achieved both in international level and national level. In national level, an example of local governmental cooperation is “Turkish Association of Historic Towns”. Turkish Association of Historic Towns was founded in 2000 in Bursa with the participation of 52 historic towns and became a member of European Association of Historic Towns in 2001. The main aim of this association is to cooperate in historical and cultural areas in city level and to share experiences mutually among cities.
Konya Metropolitan Municipality is also a member of Turkish Association of Historic Towns. To interiorise the membership conditions of the association matters for both the municipality and the people who live in the city when it is handled as specific to Konya Metropolitan Municipality. In this context, there are some requirements such as to raise awareness of the public about historical and cultural values, to produce projects about the preservation and promotion of historical and cultural values, to raise the number of academic, scientific and social activities.
It is an inevitable reality that the university, state institutions and organizations, private sector organizations and nongovernmental organizations have to form cooperation under the leadership of Konya Metropolitan Municipality. Konya Metropolitan Municipality has to strengthen its efficiency in the Turkish Association of Historic Towns and has to develop its cooperation with other members. In this context, projects should be produced; some activities such as symposiums, workshops and exhibitions should be carried out under the leadership of Konya Metropolitan Municipality.
As a result, it is important to remember the importance of intercity cooperation both in national and international levels. As an historical city, Konya hosted a lot of civilizations. There are important steps to take for Konya both in national and international level by the representative of this city, Konya Metropolitan Municipality. As a starting point of Learning Towns concept, it is important to interact mutually and produce common intercity projects for the cities. If these projects can be fund-raised by European Union and other international organizations, it will be more possible to succeed. Konya Metropolitan Municipality should be a leader and take advantage of good examples of historic towns from different cities all around the world. Finally, Konya should take a step forward to be a member of Association of European Historic Towns as a city itself.
