Muğla and Lecce Will Become Sister Cities

08 Dec Muğla and Lecce Will Become Sister Cities

Muğla Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Aras visited Adriana Poli Bortone, the former Minister of Agriculture and current Mayor of Lecce. The visit was held to strengthen cooperation between the two municipalities and to coordinate regional projects.

Mayor Aras and Mayor Bortone emphasized the Mediterranean identity shared by the two cities. Muğla and Lecce are both key cities that best reflect the shared characteristics offered by the Mediterranean. In this context, they agreed to develop joint projects in areas such as music, culture, gastronomy, art, and agriculture. Additionally, they reached a consensus to organize a collaborative art festival with the participation of Malta and Greek cities. Mayor Aras and Mayor Bortone highlighted that this cooperation would have positive impacts not only for Muğla and Lecce but also for other Mediterranean cities in the region.

The necessity of cooperation in literature and cinema was emphasized, highlighting its potential to contribute to the growth of art and culture in the Mediterranean region and to enhance the visibility of both cities on national and international levels. Both mayors agreed to combine the rich cultural potential of their cities in these fields to develop new projects. These initiatives, led by the mayors, aim to offer new opportunities and experiences for art enthusiasts while enabling local communities to benefit more from cultural richness.

Another prominent project between the cities is the development of joint initiatives in agriculture. Muğla, Lecce, Brindisi, and Taranto will collaborate on projects that aim to benefit from each other’s agricultural potential and expertise, particularly in olive oil production. Led by the Municipality of Lecce, this project will involve cooperation among the relevant departments and directorates of these cities, focusing on enhancing intercity collaboration opportunities.

Muğla and Lecce are working together to best leverage the shared characteristics of the Mediterranean while addressing common challenges. Both cities emphasized the importance of developing solution-oriented policies to move toward a sustainable future. The need for joint solutions and cooperation was highlighted in response to shared Mediterranean issues such as climate change, migration, and the decline in biodiversity.

Mayors Aras and Bortone decided to strengthen the partnership between their cities by signing a sister city protocol. They emphasized that this decision would foster solidarity and cooperation across the Mediterranean region, allowing both cities to maximize their potential and overcome challenges together.