IMM President Ekrem İmamoğluIn his speech at the IRAP introductory meeting, which aims to make the city resistant to disasters, he said, “Now we have to talk about the solution. We are aware of the importance of any task assigned here in the institutional sense. Let's complete these tasks together by pushing our means to the fullest. Otherwise, I think that if we stay here and gather for a report 5 years later, I swear that the people will question us, rightly or wrongfully," he said.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğluattended the Istanbul Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan (IRAP) Promotion Meeting organized by the Governorship of Istanbul. At the ceremony held at the Bağlarbaşı Congress and Culture Center in Üsküdar, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, İmamoğlu, IRAP Provincial Director Gökhan Yılmaz, ITU lecturer Prof. Dr. Ercan Yüksel and Üsküdar Mayor Hilmi Türkmen made speeches.
Emphasizing that IRAP is a very important start in his speech, İmamoğlu said, “However, it is not the result. As the main agenda of all of us, when 'disaster' is mentioned, unfortunately, confronting an earthquake in Istanbul comes to mind.” Emphasizing that success in this matter can only be achieved by working with a common mind, İmamoğlu warned, "This issue is not an issue that can be solved only by an institution, a district municipality determined by law, a metropolitan municipality or group X, Y, Z." Expressing that they submitted the report they prepared on the coordinated execution of the earthquake and urban transformation issue to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, İmamoğlu stated that they are ready to share the said study with the institutions and organizations that wish.
“URBAN TRANSFORMATION HAS BEEN A MATERIAL OF POLITICS”
Noting that he agreed with the words of Üsküdar Mayor Hilmi Türkmen, who spoke before him, that the people should be involved in the process, İmamoğlu said, “Unfortunately, after the 99 earthquake, our nation's mind comes to mind when urban transformation is mentioned. And unfortunately, when it comes to urban transformation, the logic of 'How many flats can I buy for one flat' comes to the fore. So there is no look like: 'How can I do my rotten flat? How can I have a circle in its place? How can I get the least amount of money out of my pocket? we agree with it. But such a logic was formed. I am not blaming A, B, C, D institutions here. As a whole, we are all flawed. Somehow it became the stuff of politics? Again, I'm not talking about A, B, C parties; We are all flawed,” he said.
“NOW WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTION”
Saying, "Now we have to talk about the solution," İmamoğlu said, "We must create a mechanism that is absolutely extraordinarily transparent in the solution part, in which everyone takes responsibility." In this sense, İmamoğlu stated that they continue to work with the ministry at respectable, transparent and healthy tables and said, “This business is a big issue. And I speak for Istanbul. You can't say '6306 is valid in every city'. Istanbul is another point of this business. Istanbul is another place. And on the day when the earthquake issue in Istanbul -let's say God forbid, let's make a living- comes the economic loss, there is a risk of causing such a loss that it will be a national security problem for this country. According to our latest research, nearly 200 buildings are at moderate to severe risk. There has been a lot of valuable work in the past. But the number that we come across in the analysis studies we have done is close to 200 thousand buildings. I'm not saying building, apartment. That's very clear. We cannot escape from this,” he said.
“THIS CITY IS ENROLLED TO US”
Reiterating that it is important to share IRAP, İmamoğlu said, “But what comes next is more important. Therefore, we have fulfilled our responsibilities since this opening meeting. I would like to express that we provided all the necessary technical support, shared our information in all the meetings we were invited to, and that we are in this process.” Giving examples of IMM's work on earthquake and urban transformation, İmamoğlu said:
“We are aware of the importance of any task assigned here in the institutional sense. Let's complete these tasks together by pushing our means to the fullest. Otherwise, if we stay here and gather for a report 5 years later, I believe that the people will question us, right or wrong, in a bad way. And in that respect, I would like to express that I will follow these studies meticulously. Indeed, our aim is to ensure that this city, which is the apple of our eye, experiences a healthy process. We have to say in the loudest tone, sometimes with outcry, that disaster will not be a politics. And we have to achieve this. With this responsibility, he sits in these seats today. Making Istanbul earthquake resistant is a national mobilization for our country. We recently went and watched the chaos created by 3-4 buildings in a city, both in Elazig and in Izmir, live. God forbid. God bless this city. This city is entrusted to us.”
A SPECIAL UNIT TO BE ESTABLISHED IN IMM
Emphasizing that Istanbul is also a guarantee for its own geography, İmamoğlu said, “Istanbul is the most important actor even in the resolution of a war next to us, even in the maturation of peace. In that respect, our responsibility is its own durability, the vital sustainability and quality of this city. I would like to underline a responsibility for us, not only nationally, but also towards the world. In this sense, let me state that a unit related to IRAP will be established in IMM. And let me underline that I will be a constant follower of this.”
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