President Aras attended the opening of the 26th International Symi Symposium.

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras attended the 26th International Symi Symposium held on the island of Sisam in Greece from June 29 to July 4, 2024 as a speaker. The 26th International Symi Symposium was themed ‘Reimagining Power for Peace, Equality, and Sustainability’ this year.

The opening ceremony of the 26th International Symi Symposium took place in the town of Vathi on the island of Sisam. Among the speakers at the symposium, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras was present alongside former Greek Prime Minister and founder of the Symi Symposium George Papandreou, internationally renowned artist, composer, writer, and intellectual Zülfü Livaneli, Mayor of East Sisam Paris Papageorgiou, former leader of the SHP and former Foreign Ministers Murat Karayalçın, former Deputy General Secretary of the CHP and General Secretary of the Livaneli Foundation Şule Erten Bucak, Mayor of Kuşadası Ömer Günel, Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, former President of Croatia Prof. Ivo Josipovic.

In his opening speech at the 26th International Symi Symposium, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras stated, ‘Climate crisis, inequalities, technological dilemmas, mass migrations due to wars, political polarizations and populism are common problems that urgently and innovatively require us to think and act. As politicians, thinkers, and changemakers, we bear the responsibility of producing sustainable solutions to the problems we face. Today, the world order is being shaped by geopolitical changes that affect regional stability and international relations. Diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation are crucial to solving the complex problems of our time. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. In this context, as Mayors, we have an important role to play in establishing cooperation between our societies. Muğla Metropolitan Municipality places great emphasis on building constructive relationships in the Mediterranean and Europe.’