A new book featuring observations and comments on Ýstanbul by members of the foreign press who live here was launched last week by the Greater Ýstanbul Municipality's cultural branch, Kültür AÞ.

The book, titled "Yabancý Gazetecilerin Gözüyle Ýstanbul" (Ýstanbul with the Perspectives of Correspondents), is a compilation of 22 articles on the metropolis by 22 foreign journalists who live in Ýstanbul. The book, commissioned by the Cihan news agency, is the first release in Kültür AÞ's new research series.

A book-signing day was held over the weekend at the Ýstanbul Bookstore, where several of the contributors met with bookworms, the Cihan news agency reported. Kültür AÞ General Manager Nevzat Bayhan, in a speech delivered at the event, said with this book, Kültür AÞ wanted to convey foreign correspondents' thoughts about Ýstanbul to people all around the world. He cited as the reason for Ýstanbul's enduring popularity the fact that it has been home to numerous civilizations and added that Kültür AÞ would undertake more projects of this kind.

Dutch journalist Wilco M.J. Van Herpen, whose article titled "Amsterdam'dan Ýstanbul'a Bitmeyen Bir Yol Hikayesi" (A Never-ending Road Tale from Amsterdam to Ýstanbul) is in the book, was also in attendance. Herpen said that he has been living in Ýstanbul for the last eight years and that he had great admiration for the city. "I am an Ýstanbulite now; I have no plans to leave this city," he added. Other journalists in attendance were Gülara Navidifard of Azerbaijan, Saad Abdülmecit of Egypt, Niinomi Makoto and Watanabe Mayuki of Japan, Taha Mi Ouda of Kuwait, Ýsmet Koçan and Asude Abdül Koçan of Macedonia and Kim Sang-Jin of S. Korea.

"Ýstanbul with the Perspective of Correspon-dents" includes the English translations of the articles and in this sense is an international publication. The book also features numerous photographs of Ýstanbul taken by renowned photographers. Another outstanding aspect of the book is that although it could have normally included a few accounts of unpleasant or negative experiences - since all of the book's contributors are foreigners living in Ýstanbul -- all articles depict the city from very neutral points of view.

Macedonian journalist Asude Abdül Koçan depicts Ýstanbul in her article as follows: "Ýstanbul, which at the very first sight scares newcomers with the impression that it is endless, is a multi-cultural city that is both beautiful and ugly, historical and modern, Eastern and Western …"

Palestinian journalist Fekri Shaban, on the other hand, has titled his article "Love of Ýstanbul." Meanwhile, French journalist Jerome Bastion confesses that they "love Ýstanbul's filthy, crowded and noisy streets as much as its amazingly beautiful scenery."

Well-known reporter Hüsnü Mahalli from Syria is also among the contributors of the book. Mahalli, who defines Ýstanbul as "a city that is longed for beyond dreams," draws a close link between the residents of Ýstanbul and his hometown of Aleppo. "If there weren't the difference of language, one can hardly realize if he is in Aleppo or in Ýstanbul," he says. Jerusalem-born reporter Bashar Qadomi, from The Associated Press, establishes the same link between his respective hometown and Ýstanbul. "Can one ever be a guest in the house of his sibling?" he asks, and adds, "Aren't Jerusalem and Ýstanbul siblings?"

Other journalists who contributed in the book include Gülara Navidifard, Saad Abdulmecid, Muratali Umarov, David Judson and Sandro Tucci.

Source: Today's Zaman

Güncelleme Tarihi: 20 Eylül 2018, 18:16