Blog: "Istanbul is the worlds most important city!"

I'm spending three days in Istanbul the last week of January, and on the wall of the first café I walk into I notice a framed news clip from a Norwegian newspaper with the heading "Istanbul is the world's most important city!" My curiosity was sparked and I spent the next few days trying to understand this majestic statement.

Obviously the meeting of east and west, Christianity and Islam, tradition and modern, is evident everywhere. It's evident in the buildings, the dress, and even in the behavior and attitudes of people. I'm impressed to see such a mix of tourists from all over the world; from Korea, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Sudan, Russia, etc. And I start to understand that the bragging statement might hold water.

I meet a well travelled businessman in the bazaar, who over a cup of tea expressed his joy in Turkey's developments. His spoke with pride of the reformed police force and the fight on corruption nationwide. Two policemen have become national heroes for turning down half a million USD bribe.

In April Indevelop will host the follow-up training course of Sida's International Training Programme 1325, for participants from Sudan, Georgia, DRC, Liberia and Colombia in Istanbul. And I can't think of a better city to bring together people from several countries, not only for logistical reasons, but Istanbul is a city that breathes development and democracy, and welcomes the meeting of minds.