ISTANBUL MEGA-FLAGS STIR NATIONALIST WAVE

The New Anatolian, Turkey
March 14 2007

Amid rising concern over a nationalist wave gaining ground in Turkey,
Istanbul’s mayor yesterday marked the first step by the municipality
to furnish the city with huge national flags.

Istanbul Greater Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, hailing from the
ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, hoisted a gigantic Turkish
flag at a ceremony in Istanbul’s Sarayburnu district, an elevated
neighborhood that can easily be seen from around the city center.

The municipality aims to adorn the city with 10 flags, each weighing
nearly 50 kilos.

However, several commentators watching these developments with
concern have warned about what they see as a rapid escalation in
nationalist sentiment and demonstrations, while urging authorities
to stop "manipulating" the public.

On the other hand, a great many analysts have explained the rise in
nationalist expression as an expected reaction to increased terrorism
and Armenian genocide claims. It has become common to observe crowds
marching against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) while
carrying huge flags and shouting nationalist slogans.

Topbas, speaking at the ceremony, said, "The municipality wishes for
all people living in Istanbul to feel the honor of living under the
Turkish flag, the real love of the Turkish people, and that foreigners
setting foot in the city notice these flags."

"The flags, which will be flown from 36 meter poles and be floodlit
around the clock, will be in the sky forever," he added.

He also noted that each flag has an area of 150 square meters.

The enormous flags will be flown in the Emirgan Grove, Beylikduzu,
Kartal and the Pendik districts, Camlica Hill and Istanbul’s hilly
Kayisdagi district.

The flag poles are made of a weather-resistant electro-plated material
that can withstand gales and earthquakes.

Sisli district Mayor Mustafa Sarigul from the main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) also said recently that he is planning
to have an extraordinarily large flag made to order.

According to the mayor, one end of the flag could be placed in Taksim
and the other in Sisli, a 15-minute walk away.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress