The delegation of mayors from Lebanon, including Muhammed Saadieh, President of Union of Municipalities of Lebanon and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, Abdulfattah Allam, Mayor of Mrah Sreij, Ziad Jamal, Mayor of Bakhoun, and Ali Sabra, Mayor of Bikaasefrine visited Ali Kılıç, Mayor of Maltepe on 24 January 2017. Dr. Leyla Şen, UCLG-MEWA General Coordinator, and Rüya Kebapçıoğlu, UCLG-MEWA Project Officer accompanied the Lebanese Delegation in their visit.
A commemoration ceremony for the people who lost their lives at Reina terrorist attack, including three Lebanon citizens, was held before the meeting. Ali Kılıç, Mayor of Maltepe who made a speech at the commemoration ceremony said “pains will bring the people of two countries closer and will be a major blow against terrorism,” and Muhammed Saadieh, President of Union of Municipalities of Dannieh, said that all nations should cooperate against terrorism and these kinds of actions will not harm the friendship between two countries.
The Agreement is a sign of Solidarity and Fellowship
After the commemoration ceremony, delegation of Lebanese Mayors led by Muhammed Sadieeh, President of Union of Municipalities of Dannieh and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, and Ali Kılıç, Mayor of Maltepe signed sister city agreement in Ortaköy. During the signing ceremony Mr. Sadieeh, who mentioned that it is meaningful to hold the ceremony there after the terrorist attack happened in Ortaköy, said that the sister city agreement is also a sign for solidarity and fellowship. Mr. Sadieeh stressed the importance of the agreement with the following words: “the signatures in the agreement are not only ink on the paper, but they are the future and solidarity of our children, youth and people.”
Ali Kılıç, Mayor of Maltepe, mentioned that the main purpose of terror is to break the peace and with this agreement they would be stronger against these kinds of actions. Mayor Kılıç concluded his words by saying “I would like to thank four mayors who came here and thrust out their hands with peace, by turning down polarization.”