Istanbul’s Sister City, Cooperation Protocols and Memorandum of Understanding/Goodwill Letters
Saudi Arabia
Brasil
Japan
Pakistan
Malaysia
Egypt
Morocco
Germany
Russia
Turkmenistan
Spain
United Arab Emirates
China
Ukraine
Jordan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Romania
North Macedonia
Indonesia
Syria
Italy
South Korea
Thailand
Lebanon
Iran
Mexico
Tunisia
Libya
Chad
Georgia
Cyprus
Sister City Concept
A sister city is a union of geographically distant settlements for the purpose of cultural and commercial exchange. This union is the joint practice of two or more municipalities that carry out projects and programs to increase socio-economic development. Sister city or “sister city” in international relations terminology has emerged since the 1950s with the aim of promoting peace and mutual understanding between the cities of the USA and the cities of the rest of the world. In the same years, fraternal relations called “twinning” started to be established in Europe in order to develop friendship, especially between French and English cities.
According to the principles of the World Organization of Sister Cities, headquartered in the USA, a city can establish a sister city relationship with only one city from each country. This is not a very strict rule. However, this rule is generally observed.
The proposal to become a sister city is usually made through diplomatic means. It is communicated to municipalities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or mutual contacts are established between municipalities. In order to become a sister city with any city from abroad, the decision of the Municipal Council and the approval of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change are required.
The most important issue considered both in the decision of the City Council and in the permission of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change is the equivalence between the cities. of cities; It is ideal that they are close or equivalent to each other in terms of their importance in the country, population, economic and commercial situation, cultural structure and geographical feature. Because a relationship to be established on the basis of these criteria will be more productive and enable more successful joint work. Sometimes, a sister city relationship can be established with a city in order to provide moral support even though it is not equivalent or by looking at one or more of the above-mentioned similarities.
Establishing the sister city relationship itself creates a suitable ground and a strong bond for all kinds of cooperation between the cities that established the relationship. In general, it is stated in which fields the cooperation will be made within the framework of the protocol. Before the protocol is prepared, studies are carried out for cooperation areas that will benefit both sides and mutual negotiations are made. The parties can put a time limit on the protocol if they wish.
Istanbul has 41 Sister Cities, 20 Cooperation Protocols and 28 Memorandum of Understanding/Goodwill Protocols.
Source : Istanbul Municipality