28 Jan Mayor Aras Addresses Culture, Tourism, and Local Democracy at the B40 Summit
Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, who also serves as the President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union, attended the B40 Balkan Cities Network Summit held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, between January 25 and 27.
As part of the summit, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality was elected to the B40 Executive Board, becoming one of the cities involved in the network’s decision-making processes. At the summit held in Zagreb, Muğla gained the right to be represented on the B40 Executive Board alongside Zagreb (Croatia), Sofia (Bulgaria), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Thessaloniki (Greece), Novo Mesto (Slovenia), and Pella (Greece). With this development, Muğla has gained a stronger voice within the B40 network, one of the key platforms strengthening intercity cooperation across the Balkans and the surrounding region.
International Cooperation Meetings Held
Within the scope of the summit, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, who also serves as the President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union, held bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening Muğla’s international cooperation network. In this context, meetings were held with Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, Mytilene Mayor Panagiotis Christofas, Sarandë Mayor Oltion Çaçi, and representatives of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria. During the meetings, opportunities for cooperation were discussed in areas such as joint participation in EU-funded projects, cultural exchange, sustainable urban policies, and strengthening regional solidarity.
Addressing the Fight Against the Climate Crisis
In the meetings held with the Municipality of Mytilene, the issue of the climate crisis—directly affecting both cities—came to the forefront. A mutual commitment was expressed to develop joint projects in the areas of protecting marine ecosystems, combating forest fires, sustainable tourism, and climate adaptation strategies. The discussions also emphasized that digital democracy tools, which enhance the effectiveness of decision-making processes in local governments, play a critical role in the planning and implementation of climate policies through data-driven governance, open data sharing, online participation platforms, and multi-stakeholder decision-making mechanisms.
Mayor Aras Delivers a Message of Culture and Tourism Oriented Development
Within the scope of the summit, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, who also serves as the President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union, delivered two separate speeches under the themes of “Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism as Driving Forces of Urban Development, Integration and Intercity Cooperation” and “Local Democracy.”
In his speech focusing on culture, creative industries, and tourism, Mayor Aras stated: “Muğla is one of the prominent cities of the Mediterranean basin, with its thousands of years of cultural heritage, natural riches, and strong tourism infrastructure. We view tourism not only as an economic activity, but as a sustainable development model integrated with culture, creativity, and local values. We believe that a tourism approach that spans all four seasons and respects nature and local communities will be further strengthened through cooperation between cities.”
Mayor Aras: “I Believe Intercity Solidarity and Collective Wisdom Are the Greatest Strength”
In his speech on local democracy, Mayor Aras stated: “Drawing on the democratic culture inherited from the Carian and Lycian civilizations, we are firmly committed to a participatory and inclusive approach to local governance. We will continue to work toward a model of local democracy that strengthens gender equality and ensures greater participation of women and young people in decision-making processes. I believe that intercity solidarity and collective wisdom are the greatest strengths in building fairer and more resilient cities for the future.”
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