MITAGED News Summary

Decentralization and Anti-corruption Conference held in Ankara Decentralization and Anti-corruption Conference of the Economy Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) was held on December 5 and 6 in Ankara. MITAGED was the only NGO attending the conference. Instead of making the clear description of the corruption, the conference was mostly focused on control mechanisms. It was stated in the conference that lack of controllers and problems which occur during control process led bigger problems in various fields. Among the participants of the conference were Interior Minister Beşir Atalay, Turkish Union and Chambers and Commodity Stock Exchange (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, World Bank Turkey Director Ulrich Zachau, Abdüllatif Şener from TOBB Economy and Technology University, Rene Veron from University of Guelp, Canada, Kai Kaiser from the World Bank and Güven Sak from TEPAV.       Publication Department of MITAGED has released 4 books for local administrations. MITAGED Seminar in Antalya MITAGED organized another education seminar at Antalya Queen's Park Resort Hotel on May 24, 2007. Publication Department starts its activites MITAGED has established Publication Department to encourage publication of books in high-quality, to distribute them to public in an economical way and to contribute the education of municipalities. MITAGED attends 5th Technical Advisors Congress The 5th Technical Advisors Congress was held in Ankara Swiss Hotel on April 12 and 13. MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and Second Chairman Erdal Karabaş were invited to the congress Minister of Public Works Nafız Özak delivered the opening speech of the congress. Problems of local administrations like technical and financial capacity problems and problems led by tender system were discussed. Among the participants of the congress were European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA) President Yann Leblais, General Secretary of EFCA Jan Van Der Putten, EFCA Administrative Board Member Andrzej Michalowski and Reinhard Honert from Brussels. MITAGED in Georgia MITAGED Administrative Board members will pay a visit to Georgia. Relations between local administrations will be discussed during meetings in Georgia. Through its Intellectual capacity and experiences Turkish local administrations will serve as examples for other local administrations. MITAGED and Cuban Embassy to work hand-in-hand MITAGED Administrative Board paid a visit to Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Gomez Abascal on February 2, 2007. It was underlined, during the meeting with Ambassador Abascal and First Secretary Alejandro Simancas Marin, that more functional activities between local administrations of two countries should be conducted and a future cooperation atmosphere should be established. In this regard, with the help of Ambassador Abascal for Turkish municipal officials a visit program to Cuba will be prepared. Within this program, if health condition of legendry Cuban leader Fidel Castro allows, a short meeting with Castro is planned. Contacts with the Municipality of Havana and other local administrations in Cuba continue.   Innovative organization from MITAGED Organized by MITAGED during the two meetings, trial balances and other accounting works of participant municipalities were examined one by one and necessary corrections were done by experts. Due to request the first meeting held on November 2006 was repeated on December. MITAGED Administrative Board took the decision of the continuation of these meetings periodically due to the frequent problems municipalities face in new accounting applications.   MITAGED visits National Productivity Center MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci paid a visit to General Secretary of the National Productivity Center (MPM) Kerim Ünal. It was stated, during the meeting, that a new understanding of productivity parallel to the recent developments in the world is necessary. In this context, MPM will give technical support to MITAGED's initiatives. Enver Ahmedoglu becomes MITAGED's Chief Advisor of International Security Police Chief Dr. Enver Ahmedoğlu was appointed as Chief Advisor of MITAGED International Security. Anti-terror specialist Ahmedoğlu will serve as a consultant in security issues in international relations, terror activities and all developments in international security field. Ahmedoğlu will also contribute to the activation of necessary services concerning the security and peace of participants of MITAGED activities to be held both in Turkey and abroad.   EU Commission seek harsh environmental penalties The EU Commission's meetings regarding the increase of environmental penalties to be imposed for member countries have started. A general compromise is sought for penalties regarding wastes, environmental pollution and environmental health. Workshop for local administrations kicks off A workshop which focused on the educational needs of municipalities in the Local Administrations Reform process was held at the headquarters of the Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East (TODAIE) on January 26, 2006. Within the project conducted by the Ministry of Interior, MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and Second Chairman Erdal Karabaş attended the program jointly organized by the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, TEPAV- EPRI (TOBB), World Bank Institute and TODAIE. Following the workshop, MITAGED held an evaluation meeting. It was stated in the meeting that approaching the problems regarding municipal personnel education with a narrow scope won't solve these problems. Therefore, in the following days MITAGED will organize meetings with municipalities' human resources departments to determine general deficiencies and the most proper education methods.  MITAGED visits TIKA MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and Second Chairman Erdal Karabaş paid a visit to Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) Deputy General Director Musa Kulaklıkaya to exchange exchanging information in the field of local administrations as regards the entire Eurasia region in general. Previously, during the visit of Azerbaijan delegation to Turkey, MITAGED was involved, as the only NGO, in the delegation’s talks in Ankara. After that contact, talks were held with Azerbaijan’s SSTAA Foundation, with MITAGED inviting this Foundation’s Deputy Chairman Huseyni Ilqar to travel to Ankara. MITAGED subsequently hosted Ilqar in Ankara during a visit of four days. Ilqar indicated that his institution would like to be host to mayors from Turkey traveling to Azerbaijan with MITAGED’s arrangements.  MITAGED visits Ministry of Environment and Forestry MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and Second Chairman Erdal Karabaş paid a visit to Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Environmental Protection Deputy Director General Fevzi İşbilir to discuss local administrations and environment management problems. It was stated, during the visit, that Turkey has deficiencies in environment management systems. İşbilir said that Ministry will support and contribute to the educations programs to be organized by MITAGED. Another meeting regarding the same issue was held at Afyon Oruçoğlu Thermal Resort. St. Petersburg welcomes MITAGED MITAGED organized White Nights and St. Petersburg International Study Tour. St. Petersburg is well known for its infrastructure and urban architecture. MITAGED’s talks with St. Petersburg’s State officials have been completed. Preliminary talks had been held with the said officials upon their invitation to MITAGED. Through two rounds of negotiations that Dr. Erdal Karabaş the Second Chairman of MITAGED carried out, traveling to St. Petersburg as Invited Guest, the tour topics and compositions of delegations have been determined. The tour will include Official Contacts as well, on the basis of an itinerary that MITAGED would prepare. The trip is scheduled to take place after June 15. For further information, please feel free to contact MITAGED Headquarters. MITAGED’s Çanakkale Trip  On May 25, 2006 MITAGED organized an education visit to Çanakkale's Gallipoli Peninsula where not only the destiny of a nation, but a whole world was changed. 2nd Municipal Administrations Fair Conference held 2nd Municipal Administrations Fair Conference was held in Ankara. Jointly organized by Forza Fair and Organization Services A.S. with MITAGED as the Partner Organization, the conference was focused on the problems of municipalities, municipalities on the process of EU, urban transformation and possible solutions to these problems. Among the participants of the conference were deputies, officials from embassies and international institutions. Summaries of speeches and other details regarding the conference will be published in the 5th issue of Yerel Dünya magazine. In-service program for municipalities implemented successfully Development Work on MITAGED’s Municipalities Special Program of In-service training has been completed. Newly adopted legislation, especially those adopted in the context of Turkey’s accession to EU, has been causing difficulties in municipal practice. A six-week schedule of work was implemented, jointly by TODAIE, officials of Interior Ministry, representatives from Universities, and local administrations, along with MITAGED consultants, for identifying problems and developing training models that would indeed be relevant. It was announced that the program would be put under implementation starting on April 1st, 2006. First instance of implementation was for Municipality of Sariyer (a district of Istanbul). Attending the all sessions of the program, Sarıyer Mayor Yusuf Tülün stated that the program organized by MITAGED should be followed by other institutions. "MITAGED paid attention to every detail. I express my heart-felt thanks to MITAGED," said Tülün. Southeastern Anatolian Project Regional Development Local Administration Coordinator Dr. Kadriye Aday and Tülün discussed the social and cultural contributions to be held for municipalities in Southeastern Anatolia. During the program MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci, MITAGED Environment Technologies Advisory Board Head Prof. Dr. İbrahim Adnan Saraçoğlu, MITAGED Second Chairman Erdal Karabaş, Southeastern Anatolian Project Regional Development Local Administration Coordinator Dr. Kadriye Aday, MITAGED member Feyzullah Büke and Sarıyer Mayor Yusuf Tülün had exclusive meetings. Further information on this Conference can be found in the pages of YEREL DUNYA (Local World) Magazine. MITAGED Conference Municipality Conference was held on April 27, 2006 at Hilton Hotel. The conference held within Ankara 2nd Municipality Fair was organized by MITAGED. MITAGED visits TRT MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and General Secretary Bekir Ezer paid a visit to Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) Acting Director General Ali Güney. Stating that Yerel Dünya magazine published by MITAGED is a ground-breaking magazine for Turkey, Güney said that he enjoyed reading Yerel Dünya and he kindly offered congratulations to MITAGED for achieving a first instance in Turkey with Yerel Dünya Magazine. Güney also added that NGOs should contribute to regional expansion of Turkey. "Seen from this aspect MITAGED works hard to promote Turkey abroad, especially in Europe, Asia and Africa. Turkey needs more NGOs like MITAGED," said adding that TRT has plans for placing further emphasis on promotion activities. Güney said that TRT is ready to give every kind of support to MITAGED. TRT and MITAGED will organize meetings regarding cooperation in the near future. The full interview text will be published in the next issues of Yerel Dünya magazine. MITAGED Brussels and Amsterdam Trip International Study Tour on Urban Planning, Patrimony and Environmental Policies in the cases of Brussels and Amsterdam: This program involves exchange of views with European Parliament as well as local administration officials in Brussels and Amsterdam. The format of the study tour programs, scheduled for implementation jointly by MITAGED and Congress and Event Management, has been defined in final form. These meetings, involving contacts with European Parliament as well, would be organized separately for a given municipality, or for groups of municipal administrations, depending on the request for the program. Organizations based in other countries that wish to organize similar tour programs for municipalities in Turkey should feel free to contact MITAGED.  REC meets MITAGED The Regional Environmental Center (REC) Turkey Office and MITAGED met to discuss future cooperation possibilities and the role of local administrations on environmental problems. On the other hand, REC officials were invited to the Municipalities Conference organized by MITAGED. Founded by the U.S., European Union and Hungary REC is a very effective institution in terms of environmental problems.   Distribution of the 4th issue of the Yerel Dünya magazine has started. MITAGED chosen as authorized institution for conference on municipalities MITAGED has been appointed as the authorized institution for the organization of the conference on municipalities to be held on April 2006 at Ankara Hilton Hotel. It was stated that MITAGED was chosen this year as the authorized institution as the association, in a very short time, proved its quality and gravity through its activities. Second meeting in Kemer Upon requests, the meeting held on February at Kemer Hotel was repeated on March 24-28. During this program organized by MITAGED, training was provided concerning Law No: 5018 and other legislation relevant to the needs of the participants. Problems encountered in practice were discussed, with specific examples, during these meetings held at Kemer Resort Hotel.  Erkan Karaarslan from Ministry of Finance answered the questions of participants and gave detailed information about budget and account applications. Interior Ministry Controller Nihat Yıldız, Southeastern Anatolian Project Regional Development Local Administration Coordinator Dr. Kadriye Aday, AVL (Austria) E. Director Prof. Dr. İbrahim Adnan Saraçoğlu and Hakan S. Seyhan from the Greater Sakarya Municipality also attended the meeting.      PPP meeting organized in Ankara Meeting on Public and Private Sector Partnership Financing Model and Applications in the Context of Local Administrations was organized by TMMMB (Turkish Union of Consulting Engineers and Architects) with support from MITAGED; the event took place at Ankara Hilton. The topic was the Public-private Partnership (PPP) model, which had entered the agendas recently as a solution to the problem of investment delays at the level of local administrations stemming from financial difficulties being experienced at that level. Mr. Sabri Erbakan, Undersecretary of Ministry of Public Works opened the meeting. Dr. Erdal Karabaş, Second Chairman of MITAGED led the panel during the afternoon session. Panel members were; Mehmet S. Türel, Dalyan Köyceğiz Environmental Protection Union; Süleyman SON, Director General Tepe Construction Company; Mert Tarlan Deputy DG Standard Bank; Bekir Bora, Financing Group Coordinator, Alarko Project Company; and Haluk Doğançay, Proje A.S. company. New General Secretary of TBB is Cemal Ayman Governor Cemal Ayman was appointed as Turkish Union of Municipalities (TBB) General Secretary. Paying a visit to Ayman, MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and Second Chairman Dr. Erdal Karabaş discussed problems of municipalities. Şekerci stated that he believed TBB was a leading organization in the sphere of municipal affairs in Turkey and that MITAGED would continue to do its best, during Governor Ayman’s term as well, in order to contribute to the work of TBB and to that of any other relevant organization as well. The text of the interview with Governor Cemal Ayman can be found in the pages of Yerel Dünya Magazine. MITAGED working groups start activites Working Groups formed under the body of MITAGED will help municipalities to solve problems regarding new laws.   MITAGED attends REC meeting MITAGED attended the meeting on Environmental Systems and Methods of Financing organized by the Regional Environmental Center (REC) Turkey Office on March, 2006 at Neva Palas. The topic of the meeting was EU funds available for environmental systems and other methods of financing around the world. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Öztürk, Deputy Undersecretary at Ministry of Environment and Forestry also joined that meeting as a speaker. From among the associations in Turkey, MITAGED and YAYED only have been invited.  Following the welcome speech of Turkey director of the center Kerem Okumuş, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Öztürk, delivered his speech. İnci Ataç Rosch from European Union Secretariat General, Joanna Fiedler from REC, John Boston from Enviro Markets International, John Maguire from Solventa LLP, Agnieszka Sentowska from E.D. Co. Ltd., Burkhard Hinz from German Development Bank (KfW), Özgür Pehlivan from Prime Ministry Undersecretariat of Treasury, Elif C. Torcu from European Commission, Environment and Sustainable Development Sector Manager and Adnan Gümüşsoy from İller Bank attended the seminar. Embassies of Germany, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden and Switzerland were also participated in the seminar of the REC.   Municipal problems discussed in workshop Local Administrations General Directorate, the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, TEPAV-EPRI, World Bank Institute and Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East (TODAIE) jointly organized a workshop. Various issues were discussed through this activity in the context of the Project for Training Needs Assessment for Local Administrations, which was being jointly implemented by Ministry of Interior Affairs and UNDP. From among the associations' active in the area of local administrations, MITAGED only was invited. Among the participants were MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci and Second Chairman Erdal Karabaş, Interior Ministry Deputy Secretary Mustafa Tekmen, Fikret Toksöz from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Zafer Mustafaoğlu from the World Bank, Çankaya, Tepebaşı, Yenimahalle, Malatya, and Tarsus municipalities. While the audience did not appear to be in full agreement and satisfaction with the results of work done under the Project, it was amply understood that there was indeed a need for training at municipal administrations. Subscription for MITAGED's YEREL DÜNYA Subscription system for MITAGED's magazine Yerel Dünya has started. You can have new issues of Yerel Dünya, which is published in English, Turkish and Russian, by filling the subscription form posted on the website.   MITAGED's Afyon Meeting Hosted by Afyon Municipality "Local Administrations; Implementations and Problems in European Union Process" meeting was held in Afyon Oruçoğlu Termal Resort on December 2005 with participation of MITAGED, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East (TODAIE). Among the speakers of the meeting were MITAGED Chairman Müfit Şekerci, Second Chairman Dr. Erdal Karabaş, Prof. Dr. Kamil Ufuk Bilgin from the Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East, Afyon Mayor Abdullah Kaptan, Fevzi Işbilir from Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Interior Ministry Controller Nihat Yıldız and Environment Engineer Derya Danaoğlu. MITAGED organizes third education seminar MITAGED and Yerel Dünya magazine organized the Third Education Seminar on November 23-29, 2005 at Ankara Midas Hotel. Hasan Hüseyin Can, Interior Ministry Local Administrations General Directorate deputy head, underlined the importance of restructure efforts in public sector in his opening speech. Among the speakers of the seminar were Prof. Dr. Kamil Ufuk Bilgin from Public Administration Institute for Turkey & the Middle East, Prof. Dr. Cevat Geray, Ankara University Faculty of Political Science Academic, Haydar Kulaksız from Ministry of Finance, Controller Dr. Nihat Yıldız from Interior Ministry, Levent Karabeyli from the Court of Accounts, Arife Coşkun and Mehmet Gürel from Altindağ Municipality.  TRNC Ambassador Gazioglu meets MITAGED Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ambassador Dr. Tamer Gazioğlu attended the dinner reception held within the Education Seminar organized by MITAGED and Yerel Dünya Magazine on November, 2005 and delivered a speech on Cyprus. A well-rounded interview with Gazioğlu will be published in English, Turkish and Russian at the 4th issue of Yerel Dünya magazine.      MITAGED and Chamber of Geological Engineers cooperation MITAGED and Chamber of Geological Engineers will jointly organize information meetings on earthquakes for municipalities located in risky areas. To be held within the MITAGED Regional Education Series these meetings will focus to provide information to local administrations on how to be ready for an earthquake risk and to increase earthquake preparations.  MITAGED’s informatory meeting for ANAP mayors Upon the written request of ANAP (Motherland) party, MITAGED organized an information meeting on new laws for ANAP mayors. Experts from MITAGED gave detailed information and training to ANAP mayors about new laws.   Chamber of Environmental Engineers and MITAGED cooperation Pointing out the environmental problems faced by local administrations, officials of the Chamber of Environmental Engineers stated that they are ready to cooperate with MITAGED. Chairmen of the chamber and MITAGED decided to bring up a resolution about waste systems and information deficiency of local administrations on this subject. Yerel Dünya meets audience with its 2nd and 3rd issues The 2nd and 3rd issues of Yerel Dünya Magazine published by MITAGED were distributed throughout Turkey and abroad. Yerel Dünya will meet its audience in English, Turkish and Russian. You can have these issues as well as the 4th issues to be released soon by filling the subscription form. MITAGED supports arts and culture Following the meetings between Art Association and MITAGED, officials decided to increase counseling and support to culture and art activities in local administrations. Further information about the subject can be seen at the 2nd issue of Yerel Dünya magazine. MITAGED is in Russia MITAGED Second Chairman Dr. Erdal Karabaş will pay a visit to Russia to meet officials from top institutions. Details about meetings will be announced by Erdal Karabaş.    KfW and MITAGED come together Authorities from the German Development Bank (KfW) and MITAGED Administrative Board members discussed additional financial means that will be provided to municipalities with in the agreements signed between Turkey and Germany. On the other hand, programs that will introduce foreign finance possibilities will be organized jointly by MITAGED and KfW.   Yemen Premier meets MITAGED's Erdal Karabaş Yemen Prime Minister Abdülkadir Bajammal met Second Chairman of MITAGED Dr. Erdal Karabaş at Istanbul Çırağan Palace during his visit to Turkey. The meeting focused on enhancing relations between two countries and cooperation possibilities in local administrations. In this context, mutual visits between municipalities in two countries will be established in near future. Erdal Karabaş also invited to the MITAGED meeting to be held in Ürgüp. Yemen Prime Minister Bajammal stated that in the following months he would pay a visit to MITAGED with a minister responsible for local administrations and jointly organize meetings with the association.        Meeting between MITAGED and Italian Embassy Following the meeting between Italian Embassy and MITAGED Administrative Board members, it was stated that both parts will do their best to enhance relations between the local administrations of two countries and mutual visits will be organized. Details about the cooperation will be declared soon. MITAGED's negotiations with Japan MITAGED's talks and negotiations with Japan regarding cooperation about earthquakes and conveying information to local administrations on the subject continue. MITAGED and Azerbaijan SSTAA Association cooperation According to the cooperation agreement between Azerbaijan SSTAA Association and MITAGED, mutual observation trips will be organized and municipality twinning will be established. Bursa Municipalities welcomes MITAGED Bursa Municipalities Association invited MITAGED Administrative Board to Bursa. During their visit MITAGED Administrative Board members met mayors of Osmangazi, Yıldırım, Mudanya and Emek.  MITAGED gathers municipal officials and experts at "Local Administrations and Additional Financial Means" Organized by MITAGED a meeting entitled "Local Administrations and Additional Financial Means" was held at Ankara Esenboga Airport Hotel with participation of municipal officials and experts.