Mayor Altay Attends the UCLG Meeting in Barcelona

President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Uğur İbrahim Altay, attended the UCLG Annual Consultation Meeting held in Barcelona.

Attending the UCLG Annual Consultation Meeting, which brought together local and regional leaders from around the world, Mayor Altay participated in the “Intergenerational Dialogue” and “Presidency” sessions, delivering important messages to municipalities worldwide.

Mayor Altay began his speech at the “Intergenerational Dialogue” session by quoting Mevlana: “It is not those who speak the same language, but those who share the same feelings who understand each other better.” Guided by this wisdom, he emphasized that they continue their efforts to embrace all differences and build an inclusive and sustainable future.

Stating that they must connect the past, present, and future to strengthen their responsibilities toward current and future generations, Mayor Altay said, “To achieve this, we must involve all stakeholders in our city in the process. We must continue to strengthen our cooperation to leave more livable cities for future generations.”

Mayor Altay stated, “I believe most municipalities have youth councils that provide spaces for young people, but we have established a structure called the ‘Working Youth Council.’ This initiative is specifically designed for young people who have completed high school but did not continue to university, instead joining the workforce. It is crucial to create a space where they can express themselves, shape their visions for the future, and, most importantly, prevent social exclusion. We must listen to young people—not only those who are well-educated, articulate, and have a clear vision for the future but also individuals from all segments of society. We need to create platforms where everyone can share their ideas. That’s why I believe it is essential to establish platforms like the Working Youth Council, bringing together individuals from different backgrounds.”

Attending the presidency session held as part of the UCLG Annual Consultation Meeting, Mayor Altay emphasized that the core focus of all discussions was achieving peace in the world.

As part of the meeting, Mayor Altay also met with Lee Jang-Woo, the Mayor of Daejeon, South Korea, a sister city of Konya.