The European Commission selection committee declared on April 11, 2006 that Istanbul, along with Hungary’s Pecs and Germany’s Essen, were chosen as the 2010 European Capitals of Culture. On November, 2006, with the approval of the European Parliament and European Union Commission of Culture Ministers, the awarding of the title of 2010 European Capital of Culture to Istanbul was announced. The President of the Agency for Istanbul European Capital of Culture 2010,
Sekib Avdagic, answered
TURKOFAMERICA’s questions:
A large group of American politicians and chamber presidents is to visit several major Turkish cities between September 19-26 Turkish – American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TACCI) is joining its peers in Turkey and co-organizing series of events with the initial leadership of Turkish – American Businessmen Association (TABA/AmCham). More than 40 business leaders and politicians will be exclusively traveling from different parts of USA to attend this trip, including TACCI President Celal Secilmis. The trip will take place between September 19 - 26.
By Murat Yalçıntaş- As the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, one of the most important organizations representing the Turkish business community, I feel great happiness to address you once again in this issue of the magazine TURKOFAMERICA. On these pages, I will try to cover the options to increase the possibility f cooperation between our countries. The visit President Obama paid to Turkey within his first months of taking office was a turning point in the relations between Turkey and the United States. 
