A Cultural Agreement Signed Between Muğla and Bastia

05 May A Cultural Agreement Signed Between Muğla and Bastia

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality has signed a cooperation agreement with Bastia Municipality of France, as two cities with coastlines along the Mediterranean, to protect our cultural and natural heritage and to enhance environmental and cultural collaborations.

The signing ceremony of the Cultural Cooperation Agreement between Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and Bastia was held at the Mayor’s Office with the participation of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, Consul General of France in Istanbul Nadia Fanton, Deputy Mayor of Bastia Mattea Lacave, and Deputy Mayor of Nice and AViTeM President Agnès Rampal.

Shared Emphasis on Cultural Heritage and Maritime Culture

With the Bastia Cultural Cooperation Agreement, the aim was to promote cultural heritage in areas such as maritime culture, archaeology, viticulture, and olive farming, raise awareness for the protection of maritime heritage, manage scientific activities like sustainable coastal management, joint training programs, monitoring and data sharing, and jointly evaluate international funding and support mechanisms.

Mattea Lacave: “This Protocol Will Revitalize Our Connection”

Deputy Mayor of Bastia, Mattea Lacave, who stated that the connection between the two cities would remain vibrant through this collaboration said, “I am proud to be here representing the city of Bastia. For the first time, Bastia is signing such a protocol with Muğla. As we are a gateway to the Mediterranean, this protocol will revitalize our connection. What is important for us is to protect the environment and preserve the heritage we have. I wish great success to this partnership. I hope the Mediterranean will turn blue through our collaboration.”

Nadia Fanton: “A Historic Protocol with Great Significance”

Consul General of France in Istanbul, Nadia Fanton, stated “This protocol is a historic one and will have great significance. It serves as a common meeting point for the cities at both ends of the Mediterranean, addressing the shared issue of climate change. This historic protocol is extremely important because it brings citizens together. One of the areas covered by this protocol also brings women together. Through this protocol, cooperation between women from Muğla and Bastia will be enabled.”

Mayor Aras: “The Future of the Mediterranean Depends Not on the Struggle between Land and Sea, but on the Harmonious Coexistence of Humans and Nature”

Highlighting the importance of the cooperation between Bastia and Muğla for the future of the Mediterranean, President of the Aegean Coastal Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Aras said “I am happy and proud of this protocol signed with Bastia. This protocol is very important for the future of the Mediterranean. We share many commonalities with Corsica. Through this partnership, the joint efforts we undertake gain even greater significance. Since the beginning of history, the Mediterranean has been a crossroads of cultures, trade, and civilizations. However, today we are facing common threats such as the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and socioeconomic imbalances. In the face of these challenges, the path to strengthening regional resilience lies in reestablishing the connection between land and sea.

This new cultural bond is not merely a physical connection, but also a foundation for social, artistic, and ecological cooperation. By bringing together the memory of coastal cities, the wisdom of local communities, and the unifying power of art, we can build an inclusive culture of solidarity that protects both the sea and the land of the Mediterranean. We must remember that the future of the Mediterranean depends not on the struggle between land and sea, but on the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Every step we take with this awareness is a strong investment in our shared future.”