A Turkish fountain has been installed in the city of Buffalo, New York, to reinforce its sisterhood with Bursa-Yıldırım, a metropolitan district in the center of the Turkish city of Bursa.
Buffalo and Yıldırım officials signed a sister city agreement at the 2nd Annual Friendship Dinner sponsored by the Turkish Cultural Center in Buffalo in April of this year.
The fountain was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Yıldırım Mayor Özgen Keskin as well as Buffalo Art Commission Chair Kathryn Gillesby, Buffalo Councilman David Franczyk and Turkish Cultural Center Director Mehmet Erdoğdu.
In his inaugural remarks, Brown stated that they are happy to host Keskin for his second visit to Buffalo. He said the fountain helps reinforce the sisterhood between the two cities of Buffalo and Bursa-Yıldırım. He also noted that they had declared Nov. 9, 2010, as “Bursa City Day” and said he would like to visit Turkey as soon as possible. Also speaking at the opening, Keskin said the sister cities play an effective role for intercultural dialogue in today’s globalized world. While recalling that Brown had said he would visit Bursa if Bursaspor, the city’s football team, which won the Turkish Super League title last season, became the league champion, Keskin said they look forward to seeing the mayor in their city.
A reception took place following the inauguration of the fountain at Buffalo City Hall. The program ended with a Turkish music concert by a Bursa band.
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