The 36-month project, which was kicked off on February 26 in Gaziantep, aims to preserve, promote and conduct research on the common cultural heritage, so that intercultural dialogue and civil society dialogue between Turkey and the EU are developed. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Municipality of Gaziantep aim for further goals through the project: Making Gaziantep the “capital of architecture,” according to Mayor Fatma Şahin.
Within the scope of the project, Kendirli Church will be renovated to host the country’s first national archeology institute, which will be under the Culture and Tourism Ministry and will be co-run by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.
Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of Delegation to European Union to Turkey, believes that Gaziantep will be a hub of cooperation on archeology. “This center is the very tangible evidence of cooperation between the EU and Turkey.” The institute will provide a platform for joint research and analysis, training, internships for young experts, cooperation with international networks of archaeology, exchange of knowledge, know-how, and sustainable archaeology practices.
Besides, the team leader of the project Alessandro Bianche, said: “The institute will contribute significantly to the sustainability of archaeological research in Turkey.”
