Little Alexandria founded by Alexander the Great
I've been on my way to Iskenderun since the early 1960s. Even in the 1960s, it was an important city of great historical importance, but small in size. It can be called Little Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great. This historical beauty has not changed during the Roman, Byzantine or Mamluk period. The Ottomans always showed the same loyalty to Iskenderun.
Iskenderun is used as the equivalent of Alexandretta in the Eastern states and in us, after the name of Alexander the Great. Undoubtedly, it is a place that has lived the history of the entire Eastern Mediterranean. In the Hellenistic period; that is, although it was re-established and perfected as a port after Alexander the Great's victory in Issos during his oriental campaigns, it is clear that there are ancient settlements here. Alexandretta or Iskenderun experienced the sattvet of Hellenistic civilization during the Seleucid era and then of Rome.
The moderately sweet air, especially in the high parts of the great and rich province we call Antakya, turns into the heat of summer and a certain humidity here. However, this difficulty in the climate did not prevent the city from always existing and developing, its inhabitants becoming attached to it and the love of the passers-by. It's hard to find a city on the Mediterranean coast with a view and profile as beautiful as Iskenderun. This is the feature that the administrators and local people should pay the most attention to. Because the bad construction in our region is spreading here as well.
HISTORICAL BEAUTY HAS NOT CHANGED
This historical beauty has not changed during the Roman, Byzantine or Mamluk period. The Ottomans always showed the same loyalty to Iskenderun. Iskenderun was a favorite sanjak of the Antakya region. With the commercial development in the 19th century, agriculture went head to head. The fact that the inhabitants feel themselves in a different place both in Antakya and in the whole Eastern Mediterranean is due to the symbiosis, that is, harmony among themselves. For this reason, his education life was lively like the rest of Antakya.
I was in Iskenderun this week. Nuri Üysen, President of Yükseliş College, invited me. City administrators, Hatay Governor Rahmi Doğan, İskenderun Mayor Fatih Tosyalı, İskenderun Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Tolga Depci was also there. The rector of our university has some complaints. It seems that no aid has been given to the technical university from the center for six years. We cannot leave the construction of necessary installation laboratories and workshops to donations. This country, which is the center of iron and steel, needs definite state support in this regard. Faculty members must be satisfied with inputs such as salaries and lodging. This is also true for all civil servants and those working in the industry. Because life is expensive in this city growing on the Mediterranean coast.
I've been on my way to Iskenderun since the early 1960s. Even in the 1960s, it was an important city of great historical importance, but small in size. The artifacts inside gave a dominating appearance to a port city that had seen its day. In a word, a colorful city tradition... This place can be called Little Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great. There was an educated urban bourgeoisie in the city; there is still. Among these families, there are those who come under the administration of Turkey, those who work in institutions that require specialization such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and university professors.
A Cosmopolitan City
The city is a place that can be called cosmopolitan then and today. There are some French speakers among them. Of course, this does not mean that they have completely neglected Turkish. It is a region where people of various languages and religions are neighbors and business life is normal. No one should have the right to accuse those living in Iskenderun and Hatay with nationalism and racism. Because it is clear that there is no harmony between the Western big cities that cannot find a way to live with those coming from Africa and Asia, nor even between the societies of the old socialist world, as we have seen in recent events. I usually compare the Hatay region and Iskenderun to Barcelona and Andalusia. More so to Portugal. It is like the Iberian Peninsula, where harmony with outsiders is high.
IN TOP 10
Iron and steel plants affected the environment. The city has changed not only in 50 years, but even in the last 10 years. Construction increased. The quality of construction has increased. However, the same cannot be said for architectural pleasure. Beautiful houses with gardens are disappearing. Economic life increased in the city, where the iron and steel industry ruined the outlook. Despite this, Iskenderun and Hatay in general are in the top 10 of Turkey in terms of exports. However, its population is not as crowded as those in the top 10. In addition, they have surpassed Adana and Mersin in exports. These two facts are an extremely positive development, and attention should be paid to their preservation.
ATTENTION TO EVERY CIVILIZATION
However, it is difficult to say the same for harmony with nature. The old Mediterranean view of Payas, nice houses in gardens, mosques have started to be covered with ugly buildings. After the iron and steel facilities, these fragmentations and inconsistencies stand out from place to place until the entrance and exit of Iskenderun. But the truth is, there are also extraordinary architectural inventions. The Nihal Atakaş Mosque on the shore is the most important work I have seen in recent years. It has an opposite that appeals to every civilization. One of the witty people said, "It draws even the Christian inside and leads him in prayer." Iskenderun is a work suitable for the region where communities from various religions and historical strata live, and above all Iskenderun.
BIRTHDAYS INCREASED
The Governor of Hatay took the right decision. There is a government office not only in central Antakya but also in Iskenderun. So he works there a couple of days a week. It is more closely intertwined with the problems of the crowded population and the surrounding area. Hatay Mayor Dr. Lütfü Savaş made an interesting statement. He says that the Syrians in the city became naturalized, and those who did not buy land through the intermediary mechanism and the birth rate increased. Dr. It is understood that the figures put forward by Lütfü Savaş are based on calculations and books. The figures given by the Ministry, which criticizes it and even makes a criminal complaint, are figures that a sociology student who has little understanding of demographics and in any case a statistician cannot take seriously. We cannot convince anyone by publishing such data to the public, and it would be very difficult for us to bring people together on the seriousness of the problem.
IMMIGRATION POLICY IS IMPORTANT
Statistics must always be given correctly. Because Turkey has changed. 50 years ago, there were no program writers in Turkey. Today they number in the thousands. There are those who have their education in this field and people have started to be interested in statistics. Immigration policy is an important issue. In this century, there is no way to keep immigrants out of the door. But this must be done in balance. Otherwise, problems and conflicts of the type we are fighting will enter our own country. Everyone suffers, too. We need to respect a mayor's right to make a statement. It would be better for objections to be based on serious scientific research, data and made by experts.
The urban transformation and stratification of cities in the developing Eastern Mediterranean and our southern coasts has reached a sensitive point in Turkey, exceeding only intellectuals, sociologists and even municipalities. Of course, the Ministry is not outside of this sensitivity.Hürriyet -
