EUROPEUS

However, in the implementation phase, members of the municipal administration were changed. The new AKP municipality was taking side with the EU projects anyway and looking at the project as logically positive. So no problem would occur, it was thought. The AKP municipality's view was in contradiction with the international requirements that the implementation phase must be in line with the feasibility reports prepared prior to the implementation. Moreover gentrification must not be targeted, which means no point of interest must be created for politicians. For this reason, the municipality did not like the project. Although it didn't say anything until its completion it acted as though the project was taking place in some other district. In fact the municipality, later on, ventured for a different project in the same neighborhood together with a company with good relations with the government.

 

In the meantime, rumors were circulated about the project, such as that Ecumenical Patriarchate was behind it, personal properties would be confiscated and sacred pieces of the homeland would be awarded to Greeks. Location choice was also an indicator. Why is it not in the very Ottoman Süleymaniye district, but rather in Fener-Balat? Because the Patriarchate is located here, the rumors said. Non-Muslims were living in these neighborhoods. The purpose isn't the preservation of our own cultural heritage but that of theirs …

 

In the end, the municipality seemingly supported the project but systematically kept its share of contribution away from the project administration and spent it for the neo-kitsch style pavements and for the restoration of a few historic fountains.

 

However neither the EU nor UNESCO has anything to do with these rumors. On the contrary, the goal was to keep locals in place. For the purpose, donations were provided and a social center was formed. The project was consisting of routine works that a fair and active local administration is supposed to do.

 

In the end, Istanbul's getting the benefit from this pilot project and meeting with modern municipality practices was prevented. Due to the municipality-originated rumors, citizens who are not able to fix their premises are confused today. According to the news in the press, they think they are betrayed. Was not the Patriarchate supposed to expropriate these houses? The residents, on the contrary, living in the renovated houses are in better conditions. The municipality, on the other hand, is forcing people living in the neighborhood to leave their houses by pushing the urban transformation project with a big building company they are getting along. To the more, the municipality is pluming itself on marketing houses to foreigners.

 

In the meantime, it shrewdly continues with the demolitions in the Sulukule district. Despite the municipality announced that an alternative project prepared by the Autonomous Planners without Borders, or STOP, will be discussed, they continue with the works of demolishment in the district.

 

The big boss on the other hand, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality spent a big fat 670.5 million new liras for bulbless tulips with 20-day life that they have been trying to sew in every corner of the city for the last five years.

 

Cengiz Aktar is director of the EU Centre at the University of Bahcesehir, Istanbul