UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON HUMA N SETTLEMENTS Turkish Housing Development Admini11ration Habitat II Project Coordination Unit HABITAT II ls sue:I January 1996 CITY SUMMIT newsletter ISTANBUL 3-14 JUNE 1996 25 thousand people from 185 countries are expected in Istanbul for the Habitat II conjerence Towards the largest summit
Making the of the 20th century worlds ... The UN Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat 11, previously entrusted to the state. The importance of broad-based which will convene in Istanbul between 3-14 June, 1996, participation has been stressed du A will be the last global svmmit of the 20th century. ring the preparatory work for Habi tat II and will continue to be an in The Conference on Human Set;tle 1995; and the Conference on Wo tegral element of the Conference it ments, Habitat ll, which will conve men and Development in Beijing, al self. The Conference· stresses that ne in Istanbul in June 1996, will be so in 1995) and the solutions reac ...human the resolution of problems related the last global summit of the 20th hed will be debated on the basis of settlements... to human settlements requires the century. The Conferenc_e will also human settlements. effective participation not only of cover all of the issues discussed at S::ommon SoJutJon. the state but of all the pertinent ac previous global summits. tors, namely local authorities, the Another 'fea�re of Habitat I� that The objectives of the Confe�� private sector, professional organi natiQnal "zations and NGOs. The Second change in the UN con�erence sys Preparatory Meeting of Habitat 11, tem, local authorities II now ha e which was h!!ld in Nairobi between a voice at the Plenary �on, whe April 24 • May· 5 1995, resulted in ... safe, re the interest and views bf NGOs, important �velopments as regards the role of lo� authorities and equitable NGOs. As a result of the new ar and sustainable the environment in rangements, representatives of local for people... ve through new, m autho 'ties will have a full say at the Plenary Sessi,on and Committee velopment. meetingsof Habitat II. roncept Into UN �ees, na mely the "Coml"!'Qn Solution". Partners�ip Forum A.tHabitat I in Vanc:owi, it was wi In line with the relevantUN resolu ce on Human Settlements, HabitatI, dely believed fit governments co tion�. a series of fora will be held in _ held in Vancouver in 1976; the uld resotve problems relamd to ho parallel to the Habitat IICity Sum
Earth Summit in Rio in 1992; the using, ur 'an.. __ �
his year's World Habitat Day living. Working together with conferences of this decade - be Tcelebrations center around administrators, planners and ot ginning at the Earth Summit in Rio the theme "Our neighborhood". her professionals, with NGOs or to the just-concluded Women's What is the neighborhood, and organized in community groups, Conference in Beijing - which is what is relevance to World Habi the poor can take control over writing the global environmental tat Day? How does it form and their lives and learn how to plan, and social and economic agenda influence the individual and the build and maintain their homes of the 21 st century, the world's commun ity? The neighborhood is and neighborhoods. When enco attention will focus on tangible much more than a physical place uraged and supported, the poor programs and strategies to sup in a city, town, or village. For a have proven time and time again port people around the world place becomes a neighborhood that they can take the initiative to who are already pooling their tal only when the people and families better their lot, make wise decisi ents and energies to improve that live there develop close soci ons and contribute to good go their communities. At the 'City al, cultural and economic bonds. vernance at the local level. Summit' in Istanbul, we must all When people feel their individual cular town or city. But civic pride The United Nations Centre for join our hands to theirs, working homes as part of a larger commu entails civic duties, already de Human Settlements (Habitat) as together towards the century of nity where they dwell, meet fri monstrated by all those people, well as the United Nations as the city. Building 'our neighbor ends, feel at home as they relax around the world, working in whole sees such positive initiati hood' is the starting point of such or play, worship and work-that is partnership at the neighborhood ves - in settlements large and an effort, so the benefits of city what makes a neighborhood. And and community leaves to build small, in developed and develo can be enjoyed by a world of World Habitat Day is about imp healthy. safe, productive and sus ping countries - as examples to be neighbors - men, women, child roving our neighborhoods. tainable settlements. emulated and to learn from as we ren and families. And just as we want to make a Such efforts at community mana head in e few years time into a good home for ourselves and our gement and development may be new century where the great ma Message of Dr. Wally N'Dow, Assis families, so we must work with aimed at improving the local envi jority of the world's population tant Secretary-General UNCHS our neighbors to create a living ronment, creating jobs, reducing will live in cities. Next June in Is (Habitat) and Secretary-General, space which we are proud to call poverty, or dealing with the de tanbul, at the United Nations United Nations Conference on "our neighborhood". Then only vastation of disaster. They are un Conference on Human Settle Human Settlements (Habitat II), on do we create a sense of together dertaken by people from all walks ments (Habitat II), the last in that the occasion of World Habitat Day, ness and of belonging, beyond of life. Especially exemplary, and continuum of United Nations 2 October 199 5 that. to that larger entity which deserving of our support, are ef we refer to as "the city". forts of the poor-men, women Continued from Page 1 What should such a neighborho and children - who are struggling neighborhood to improve their homes and ne od be like? A good World Cities Forum; the Acade tives of leading NGOs, private many elements: a safe ighborhoods in cities, towns and comprises micians' and Professionals' Fo sector organizations, professional of cri villages around the world. Those and healthy location, free rum; the Private Sector Forum; and financial organizations and lo access living in poverty constitute nearly me and violence, with easy the Trade Union Forum; the Par cal authorities. such as scho one quarter of the world's popu to social amenities liamentarians' Forum; and the centers. It lation, with women disproporti Habitat II will place Istanbul and ols, clinics and cultural NGO Forum. transport onately represented among them. should include case of Turkey at the top of the global near and But they are not necessarily poor The eyes of the world to and from other places agenda. Turkey will contribute to for employ in sprit or in pride. They can and will be on Istanbul far, opportunities Habitat II through the knowledge will make their neighborhoods The Habitat II City Summit will be something which we ment. and it has accumulated and the Confe o belon flourish if given access to affor the largest and most comprehen wish to call a sense f may rence itself will play a significant women or dable land and finance, security of sive conference ever held in Tur ging: People, be they key. Istanbul will host o role in enabling Turkey to gain old, who share an tenure, building materials and tra tens f men. young or thousands of people, including he social, political and academic . a common place, ining in construction and other ex I dentity with g part of a partl- skills with which they can earn a ads of state, scholars, representa- perience. and pride in bein 3 Turkish President Suleyman Demirel For us Habitat is a question of pride
e are preparing for a momentous "Turkey must have an excellent W event. The Human Settlements Con ference, or Habitat 11, which is being organized National Plan of Action. Turkey's by the United Nations, will convene in Istanbul pre paration of the National Plan of from 3-14 June. It will be a global event, the last one of its kind this century. Action was conducted in a manner
After the devastation of World War II, which worthy of a well-organized society. claimed 48 million lives, mankind resolved that It may not be the first time we such a catastrophe must never be allowed to happen again: the world had to learn to live in have undertaken such a project, peace; people had to learn to respect and to but then neither is it something of lerate others, regardless of their differences, without resorting to the use of force. which we have a lot of experience. The world has changed enormously in the last I see it as an important example 50 years, but it still faces many problems. Most of these problems tend to be regional, of the participatory nature of even global, in character, rather than being Turkish democracy". confined to a single country or society.
The recognition of this fact is the driving force tat 11, not be::ause it is ours, but because the of Action. It will be a monument to the Nati behind the major meetings organized by the city is unique in so many ways. onal Committee. Turkey's preparation of the United Nations. One of these, the United Na National Plan of Action was conduct ed in a I have said this many times before, but I will tions Children's Summit, produced the Con nevertheless repeat it once again : for us, this manner worthy of a well-organized society. It vention on the Rights of the Child; another, conference is a question of pride. It has to be may not be the first time we have undertaken the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, which was at perfect; and ensuring that it is perfect is the such a project, but then neither is it something tended by the heads of state or government of goal of our preparations. I would like to cong of which we have a lot of experience. Reports 120 countries, adopted an Environmental Dec ratulate Mr. Guloksuz and his team. They ha that are submitted to such meetings are usu laration and the Agenda 21 action plan. These ve the full support of myself, the government, ally prepared by government offices. But what documents constitute the foundations of the parliament and the press. For the realization of we now have here is the development of a new world order as we enter the 21 st cen this conference is not the responsibility of any plan by a well-organized society; that is. to a tury. single entity, but the responsibility of each and large extent, by non-governmental organizati Other major meetings have included the Cairo every one of us. ons and other civil organizations. I see this as
Conference on Population, the World Summit We have created a "Conference Valley" in Is an important example of the participatory na for Social Development held in Copenhagen, tanbul. We are proud of it. It was an excellent ture of Turkish democracy. and the Fourth World Conference on Women idea to convert the Lutfi Kirdar Sports Hall in The National Committee has the sole respon in Beijing. to an international conference centre and to sibility as regards how and when to finalize the Another major summit is currently being pre make the various neighbouring buildings and National Plan of Action. My responsibilities pared to address another important problem, facilities available for the conference; and it has are confined to praising the excellence of che worked. namely the transition from an agricultural to cu- National Plan of Action, not only as a do an industrial society, and from an industrial to We have another six months ahead of us. We io nal ment to be presented to th e ·mte rna t an information society. Urbanization has be will use that time to add the finishing touches. plura· community, but also as a product of th e come a very serious problem. As they grow, . . re de- is also the conference itself. There Iist, participa wh 1c h we a cities become less viable and more difficult to There will tory democracy be national reports and plans of action, which live in. Life in cities must conform with the re veloping in Turkey. all be consolidated into a Global Plan of quirements of the age; and this is the reason will D mirel' s ope Action. (Excerpts fro President Suleyman e for this conference. m . . f e Turkish nmg address to the Fifth Meeting o th Turkey must have an excellent National Istanbul is a most appropriate venue for Habi- Plan 995 ). National Committee on 15 December 1
4 Yigit focal Guloksuz, President of the Housing Development Administration (HOA), the Turkish point for the Habitat II preparation process : The Istanbul summit has to reach beyond Rio and subsequent conferences The Conkre1we will finalize and ,,ubst'ljUL'lll ,·onfcr,·nn·, in tlIL· Cllnll'llt and ol>jectil'l'S of the work undertaken so far to placing human SL'llkmt·nts on thl' Conkrt·nc,· will bl'. through broad-b:1sc.:d. higl1-lc\'L'I conkr dL'termine gL'neral princip of its urbanization les thL' global agl'nda. II is th,·rt·- thl' di\'ersity e1Ke in Istanbul. hut ,;irnulta and formulate a Global Plan of fnrl' impL'rati\'L' that the lstan- and housing supply proct·s,es, neously to raisL' global public Anion to achieve thesL' goals. bul Summit produces a new thl' vast experil'nce acquirL·d next 20 The awarenL·ss over the fir:;t goal was discussL'd at thl'oretiral and Illl'thodological by central govl'rnment and length year, by bringing human set at the Rio Summit and framL'work and adopts plans of local administrations through in its Agenda 21. The second action :mcl policies that will the institutional and legal tlements onto its agenda and goal. the Global Shelter Strate enable the objerti,·es of the frameworks thc.:y haw devcl- contribute to the Confen.:nce gy towards the year 2000. oped in connection with these was Conference to he rl'alized in hy ensuring that world leaders developed as a result of the line with tht· principles of processes. and the fact that take action to make sure that UN Year for Shelter for the equitable. just. healthy and those who come to Turkey fur the process of urbanization is Homeless in 1987. It is for this secure human senlemL'nts. I labitat II will ha,·c the chance equitable. just and reason that the Istanbul Sum The greatest contribution that to ll'arn about them at first- sustainable. mit should reach beyond Rio Turkey will be able to make lo hand. Turkey's aim is not just healthy.
Gustave Speth, Administrator, UNDP People-centered development is at the core of our solutions
abitat II is the culmination of pecially daunting task ahead of The international community H a four-year series of United them because many lack the finan- must join forces to help countries Nations Conferences that began cial and technical resources to capitalize on cities' vast economic with the Earth Summit in Rio de make their cities clean, safe, and potential. But before we can do this, we must tackle the severe Janeiro in 1992. productive. and global problems of housing international confe Cities have become a major force Each of the shortages, inadequate water and a different theme of economic growth in the deve rences features sanitation infrastructure , envi human rights, loping world. Development prog -the environment, ronmental decay and worsening social deve rams therefore need to pay incre population growth, poverty. The United Nations De rights. But asing attention to urban areas. As lopment and women's velopment Programme (UNDP) in com United Nations Secretary-Gene they all had something has a long-standing commitment people ral Boutros Boutros-Ghali said mon: a recognition that ling pollution and protecting the to working with developing is at the last year, "the question of human centered development urban environment, making sure countries to help them resolve some of settlements s urgent. ... The chal core of solutions to women have equal to income-ear these problems and harness the prob- lenge of sustainable development world's most compelling ning opportunities- in short, ma economic energy of cities. is a challenge of urban settle lems. king our cities truly livable. And as UNDP recognizes the crucial our cities grow, so does the need ments," "City II, also know as the role that cities will play in the Habitat for adequate shelter. the develop Cities indeed have enormous po Summit", focuses on economies and societies of the by urban All developing countries are fa tential to lead countries along the ment challenges faced future. Development increasingly all the the cing the challenge of rapid urban path of development. Cities are depends areas. It will touch on on cities. And the sur international growth. City services have to be backbone of countless economi vival and mes of previous sustain ability of the the future of develop, infrastructure built, jobs es-they are important hubs of cities of tomorrow will conferences because depend on mana created and housing provided. production, employment and in on our development efforts our cities will depend control- Developing countries have an es- novation. today. ging population growth, National Committee holds its fifth meeting Broad participation in the preparation of The National Report and Plan of Action Turkey's draft "National Report second half of February. ructure financing to enhance ac ted by unidentified persons be and Plan of Action" was discussed tor capabilities; yond their control; The priority areas identified in the at the fifth meeting of the Habitat * Developing housing finan * The preservation of featu draft include the following : II National Committee, which cing possibilities to enhance actor res of historical value and the fi * Increasing the internal and convened on IS December 1995. capabilities; nancing of multi-actor efforts to external linkage capacity of the * Regulating and strengthe maintain and improve sanitation The draft is the outcome of the national settlement system and ning housing supply through co in existing building and housing National Committee's work da its subsequent globalization; operatives to enhance individuals' stock; ting back to October 1994, and * Reinterpreting spatial equ capabilities and developing new * Increasing awareness of classifies priorities under 29 he ality and upgrading it into a deci models to ensure accessibility by quality in housing and the en adings. sion-making criterion so as to re lower income groups; duce its impact on individuals' fu vironment and ensuring that qual * Preventing illegal constructi A total of 90 organizations and tures and prevent marginalization; ity standards are implemented; on in order to avoid the abuse of institutions were invited to the * Ensuring a peaceful, terro individuals' capabilities; * The development of intra inaugural meeting of the National city transportation with a view to rism-free, stable urban environ * The improvement of squat Committee in October 1994. ment; ter areas; increasing the quality of urban life and enabling the population to They included: IO ministries, two * The regulation of urban re * The resettlement of those manage time more effectively; parliamentary commissions, I I venues and the allocation of suffi who have lost their dwellings and cient land to enhance actor capa public agencies, 12 universities had to migrate due to social cir * Providing individuals with bilities; and educational institutions, five cumstances and measures adop adequate leisure and recreation * Developing urban infrast- ted by the state or events instiga- activities and facilities. high level local authority organi zations, seven professional asso ciations, three trade union confe UN General Assembly discusses the last conference of the c derations, two housing coopera tive unions, seven housing and New procedural arrangements introduce(J construction organizations, and The report and draft resolutions NGOs, academics, expertS in ho pants included: the Chairman of 3 I NGOs. The number of parti which had been adopted at the se using and human settlement, tra· the Preparatory Committee, cipating organizations at the fifth cond session of the Preparatory de unions, parliamentarians and members of the Habitat Secretari meeting in December 1995 was Committee held in Nairobi in Ap the private sector will present at and the Habitat Project Coor 159. ril 1995 were taken up at the UN their views, comments and pro dination Unit, Foreign Ministry of The opening address at the fifth General Assembly's Second Com posals to the Partnership Com ficials, members of various UN meeting was delivered by Turkish mittee meeting. which was held mittee. The GeneralAssembly al organizations, and representatives on November 15-16 1995. Both President Suleyman Demirel, fol so decided to convene the third from organizations which will be the report and resolutions were lowed by State Minister Ali Din HabitatII PreparatoryCommittee holding parallel events. The me adopted by the Committee and cer and the President of the Ho session in New York between eting reviewed the preparations forwarded to the UN General As using Development Administrati February 5-16 1996. for Habitat II in detail and identi on, Yigit Guloksuz. (Further deta sembly. In December 1995 there Members of the Turkish delegati fied the measures to be taken. ils of these speeches are given el solutions, which include some on, which comprised the Habitat Preparations for the UN General sewhere in this issue). new procedural elements, were Assembly Second Committee me adopted by the UN General As II Project Coordination Unit and The draft "National Report and eting were taken up at the Prepa· sembly. As a result of the amend Foreign Ministryofficials who had Plan of Action" is considered to ratory Committee meeting that ments, representatives of local travelled to New York to attend be the most comprehensive do was convened on November I 0 administrations will take part in the Sec()fld Committee meeting, cument ever to address Turkey's 1995. the Main Committee discussions also took part in theTask Force housing and urbanization prob on the Global Plan of Action du and Preparatory Committee Bu At a presentation made on No lems and the country's effortS to ring the Habitat II Conference on reau meetings and had contacts vember 13 1995 at the ECOSOC formulate appropriate policy res an equal level wftti government with UN officials. The extended Hall at the UN, members of the ponses to them. Comments on nipcesentadves. In addition, rep- Task Force meeting was hel� on Habitat Secretariat and the Habi the draft are expected to be dis 1"111811Ca1MS cl local authorities. November 8-9 199S. The particl- tatCoerdination Unit and Foreign cussed at the next meeting in the
6 Habitat II International Trade Fair on Housing and Construction Technologies and Human Settlements The largest trade fair ever to be organized by Turkey
h1ten·ic11• ll'ith Ceyda Erem. Pn•sidem Q( CNH hie .. u•hicb is Ol'RCllliZill� the Fair.
Could you explain the sco pe of the Fair?
Thl: International Trade Fair will encompass a large variety of products designed to imp rove urban life and offer solu tions to urbanization, housing The International Trade Fair will be the largest of its kind ever hosted by Turkey. and settlement problems. It will include products aimed at Between June 3-10 1996 organizers expect $10 million in hard currency rL'ndering urban life easier. revenues and 500,000 visitors at the World Trade Center near Istanbul's Airport. more comfortable and more pleasant. The products will therefore cover a broad spect logies, in which environmen tors; altogether we expect so from the stands. There will al r rum from construction materi tally-friendly products will pre mething in thL' range of so he revenue f om the accom als to communication techno- dominate. '>00,000. ntury modation and local expenditu We have contacted 184 count Can you tell us more about res of visitors, resulting in a ries. So far India, Belgium. your promotional activities? Great Britain. Gem1any. Austra substantial inflow of hard cur We have been conducting a lia and Canada have officially 1inistry officials briefed members campaign since April 1994 and rency. We estimate that it will of applied to participate in the ,f the press and representatives have sent out information to be in the range of $10 million. Fair and many others have ma y ivil organizations on the prepara almost ever country in the de reservations. Many domestic ions for Habitat II. Thepresenwi world. We have made presen Furthermore, the Turkish com fim1s have also shown interest ,a also included two video films in the fair, which will be the tations in foreign countries and panies will have a lot to gain boutthe preparations. a similar campaign is under largest ever held as far as Tur commercially. Top decision key is concerned. It will cover way inside Turkey. makers will come here from all an overall area of 90 thousand How strong will the partici over the world. There will be square metres, 30 thousand of pation of Turkish compani which is enclosed while the es be? What is the technolo procurement teams. There will rest is open-air. gical level of the constructi be municipalities from many What stage have the prepa on sector in Turkey? countries, in addition to those rations for the Fair area re Turkey possesses fairly advan from Turkey. Add all these ached? ced technology, but it is not together and the Fair will Work is near completion, but really indigenous. Turkey has be a we are already making amend managed to keep abreast of golden opportunity for Turkish to the original plan. Fol the latest developments mainly ments companies. It will be a unique lowing our promotion campa through technology transfer. opportunity, a unique ign abroad, a wide range of vi gat Will the Fair make any fi sitors is expected at the fair. hering of a diverse, high-level nancial contribution to Tur Some 25,000 people will at key? clientele. There is no other fair tend the Conference and we anywhere in are also expecting visitors from Indeed it will. Some foreigr;i the world to rival abroad in addition to local visi- currency revenue will come it. 7 Preparatory work nears completion for the last major UN summit of the century Nineteen companies join forces for the organization of Habitat II
!11ft!n'ie11• u·itb E1·doga11 Ozo gul. Project O,ordi11atur <>I'the tors. transpo11ation and sighr four to l'Vl'n two-star hotds. :111d thL'y. thl' �t:1tl' :ind puhlic v1\ · Habitat II Co11so11i11111. 011 seeing tours both in Istanhul The number of reSL'rvations l'nterprises :md thl' pri\·atl' Sl'C· the logL�tica/ and orga11izati- and elsewherL', such as in Cap Arewill increasl'all the hotel rapidly. reservati tor .should hl' thl' rl'al ho.,ts of 011a/ aspects f..!lthe Co11fere11ce. L padocia. Antalya and Bursa. ons in the so-called Confe thi.s conkrencl'. Becau�e of th · These will either bL' day tours rence Valley? multi dirnL'nsional char:1cter of or for rwo or more days. The thl' conferl'nCl', the Govcrnora hy Mr. Ozogul, the VIV Habitat aim is to acquaint the confe te of htanhul has set up a Ste II Consortium has underta rence participants with thL' uni IV!ost are in or around Taksim ering Committl'e, chaired ken one of the most impor que natural and historical be and in Aksaray, Heyazit, Laleli tl1e Governor. The Steering tant roles in the preparation auties of Turkey. Sultanahmet. There will alsov he Committee meets e1·ery month. process forHabitat II. The y a trade fair and thus reserati The meetings are attended by The second categor involves VIV Habitat II Consortium ons for those interested in the executives from public enterp cultural and a11istic en·nts and will be responsible for all fair are concentrated in hotels rises. representati,·es of the pri catering sen-ices during the the logistical and organizati near the airpo11, close to the vate sector, and organizations opening and closing sessions onal services. Can you give World Trade Center. In additi such as ours which are enga as well as during rhe conferen us some information about on. the fact that, apart from ged in the organization of the ce itself. which we have gro your activities? the official conference itself, ci event itself. uped under the litle ·social ser vil organizations will abo hold ,xes . The other t\\'O catego As I mentioned earlier. all the v separate meetings has meant ries are conference ser ices pertinent organizations are Habitat II is a very important that we have also had tci pro and logistics. These cover the well aware of the event and conference for Turkey. Ever vide less costly accommodati technical and infrasrructural the necessary arrangements are yone is fully :1ware of this fact, on. People from all walks of li preparation of all the sites at being made regarding security and it was with this is mind fe will he attending the me Conference Valley. This also and traffic flow during the con that 19 companies joined for etings of the civil organizati includes the tr,.1ining to the ference. For example, schools ces for this conference. The ons. We are engaged in nego highest possible standard of will dose earlier than normal VIV Habitat II Consortium is tiations with municipal hotels, 1000-1500 people who will un in order to alleviate the traffic perhaps the first example of which will provide us with at dertake various duties during to a certain extent. The muni such a coalition in the Turkish least one thousand rooms. Our Somethe conference. 25,000 people are ex cipalities are considering plans tourism sector. Leading Turkish pamphlets will be completed pected to participate in for the illumination of the city travel agencies have also jo and mailed by J:muary. We bitat II. Are the hotels in ined the consortium. Most of Ha will accept confirmed reservati and other environmental arran· tanbul capable of providing them are very experienced in Is ons until the end of February. gements. The aim is to prevent accommodation for such a specific fields such as congres In addition, we are also explo any hitch that may arise beca· large number of visitors? use ant ses, conferences and other to ring ways of making use of of the problems attend How are your preparations urism sub-sectors. Theschool VIV dormitories. Habitat II Consorti on an event of this scale and progressing? um working in to display, for all the visitors, It ,vould not be appropriate to coordina tion with the Istanbul the full beauty of Istanbul. restrict the consortium's res is Orga nization Committee. ponsibilities to hotel accommo So far, reservations have been What What cultural and artistic stage have the dation or trnnsportation servi made for 5,500 rooms. In re Committee's events will place in Istanbul deliberations ces. For a conference as comp cent years there has been a reached? during the conference? as Habitat II. the VIV Ha boom in the number of 5-star lex Apart from cultural and artistic hotels, particularly in Istanbul, bitat II Consortium's responsi events certain ex · Istanbul is hosting Habitat II, which to a bilities may be grouped toget where we have many hotels will so it would be wrong tent the people of Istanbul which are of world standard to assess her under four headings. be a the event only from a touristic also attend, there will and better than those in most ces. The first is touristic services, point of view. This series of special performan other countries. But not all the is a confe that the such as: hotel :1ccommodation, rence that should include the When you consider bookings have been made at n welcoming and seeing off visi- people of Istanbul world will be watching Ista 5-star hotels. They vary from as a whole; 8 bul forthese two weeks, all Con(erence valley
aL'ti,·itiL's assume a spL'cial im tural acti,·itic·s for thl' duc1tion portancL'. ThL' opening :ind thc• of the conkrL'IKL'. Thc· lst:mhul dosing cerernoniL's are ext Festi,·al is just onL' of these :tc· rL'rneh· important. There are ti,·ities. It has hL'L'll rL'sc plans to use a number of sites hedukd to opL·n on JunL' 10 tu in Istanbul for artistic and cul- coincide ,,·ith the conference. Accreditation of NGOs to Habitat II Partners Liaison T earn United Nations - Room S,250 Habitat II. Secretariat New York, NY. 10017 - U.S.A. During the first two sessions of the Prepara P.O.Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya Fax No: (212) 963 16 42 tory Committee for Habitat II. (Prep Com) a Fax: 254 -2-623 080 A�er 15 may 1996 total of 128 NGO's were accredited. 'The clas Media Accreditation Officer sification for "Non-Governmental Organizati Procedures to Apply for Media UN. Conference on ons Accreditation" includes all partners such Accreditation Human Settlements - HABIT AT II. as NGO's and CBOs, Parliamentarian groups, Bona fide representatives of the mass media - United Nations Information Center academic, scientific and research instiwtions, press, photo, radio, television and film - will 197 Atatiirk Bulvari Ankara, Turkey Fax No: (312) 468 97 19 trade unions, women's groups, the private be accredited for coverage of the United Na sector and professional associations. tion conference on Human Settlements Habi Application will not be acknowledged, for tho tat II., to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 - se who have applied by mail, passes will be issu As of 30 September 1995, 97 NGO's had fi ed at the Conference upon presentation of two 14 June 1996. nalized their documentation and were propo forms of photo ID (passport, official national sed to PrepCom Ill in New York for accredi Completed .y>plication form must be accom- press pass, drivers license. work Id, etc.) tation; In addition, 221 NGO's are expected . panied by a letter of assignment, issued on of Those applying for the first time at the Con to finalize their documentation by Februrary ficial letterhead and signed by the Editor or ference site MUST fill out an application form next year, which will increase the total num Bureau Chief. It should be mailed or faxedto: and present letterof assignment on letterhead. ber of NGO's accredited to Habitat toapp (Before 15 may 1996) II. PLEASE NOTE: Application forms will be coo Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit roximately 500. sidered ONLY if accompanied by o letter ofas ForMore Information please contact: UN. Conference on- Human Settlements signment INCOMPLETE APPLJCATIONS WILL Seyda TOrkmemetolUllan Habitat II. NOT BE PROCESSED. Accreditation to United Research/Accreditation Officer Department of Public Information Nations Conferences is free of charge. 9 ------
Foreign Ministry Undersecretariat : The "Partnership Committee" represents a major reform of The UN system "The Foreign Ministry is The rules of procL'dUrL' :idoptL'd b coordinating with the UN in con curity measures. y the L'\ General Assembly on DeccmhL'r 20 19tJ� nection with Habitat II. In addition, What stage has the work carried out on I introduced what can ht· considerL"d a ma in cooperation with the Interior Mi international platforms regarding Ha jor reform of the l I system. As a result. nistry, the Foreign Ministry is bitat II reached? the Istanbul Conference will include a se responsible for all the pre-confe To· date. two Preparatory Committee me cond committee, in addition to the Plenary rence preparations and security etings within the UN have been hdd in and the Main Committee. This second measures relating to the official connection '\Yith Habitat II. The first me committee. which is called the Partnership delegations who will take part in eting was held in April 1994 in Geneva Committee, provides for the direct and ef and the second in April 1995 in Nairobi. the Conference". fective participation of various actors. such The third meeting in the series will be as parliamentarians, NGOs and local aut held in New York between February 5-16 horities, on a similar standing to the sove 1996. reign state members of the UN. Decisions The declaration of principles and the draft taken in parallel gatherings will be conve What rolewill the ForeignMinistry Global Plan of Action, which aims to pre yed to the Second Committee by the rep play in the preparatorywork for Habi sent proposals to solve they problem of resentatives of the bodies concerned and tat II? housing in the 21st centur. are discussed will, where necessary, be discussed with In June 1994 the Office of the Prime Mi at the meetings of the Preparatory Com official delegates. This reform. which was nister mandated the Foreign Ministry to mittee. These documents will be finalized approved at the 50th General Assembly, conduct negotiations with the Habitat Sec at the third meeting of the Committee and can be interpreted as a recognition by the will tl1en be presented for evaluation and retariat and other pertinent international UN system of the increasingly important approval by the state representatives who organizations and. given its expertise in role played by local aumorities and NGOs will take part in the Istanbul Conference. the field. mandated the Turkish Housing throughout the world. De\·elopment Administration (HDA) to be Turkey has contributed to me formulation The signing of a Host Country Agreement gin work on the preparations for the Con of a draft resolution pertaining to the orga covering exemptions, privileges, organiza ference, including the procurement and al nization and rules of procedure of the tional and equipment requirements for an location of the necessary funds. HDA is Conference. After its approval by the Se international UN meeting is a procedural currently working on the preparations for cond Committee on December 5, 1995, the y the Conference. primarily the preparation draft was forwarded to me UN General As matter between the UN and the countr of Conference premises. whereas the Fore sembly. The UN General Assembly appro where the meeting is to be held. ign Ministry is conducting discussions with ved the draft resolution on December 20 The Host Country Agreement is formulated the UN about the preparations. The Fore 1995. in accordance with the conditions and ign Ministry is also a member both of the Many international regional conferences laws of the country concerned, based on Task Force set up by the Governorate of and meetings have already been and are the relevant prototype UN agreement. Istanbul and the Cultural Advisory Com being held in connection with the prepara mittee which is planning the cultural acti Similar Host Country Agreements were sig tions for Habitat 11. The decisions reached vities that will be held during the Confe ned for the 1976 Habitat I Conference in at these meetings will be presented to the rence as well as at the opening and clo Vancouver, tl1e 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. Istanbul Conference. One such meeting sing ceremonies. the 1993 Human Rights Conference in Vi will be heldw in Turkey in cooperation with enna, the 1994 International Population Tot> Foreign Ministry is involved, in co UNDP beteen April 19-21 1996. and Development Conference in Cairo. the opt>ration with the Interior Ministry, in Can you explain the importance of the preparatory activities related to the official Social Summit in Copt>nhagen and the Habitat D "PartnershipCommittee", a Women's in 1995: delegations that will participate in the rm Conference in Beijing mechanismwhich has not fo ed part tained Conference and helping to finalise the se- and each of these agreements con 10 of previousUN conferences? different provisions. • Work is progressing on the NGO Forum
"The International order to organize the NGO Group, which is composed of were held during December as Forum. The roles of the actors some 20 global non-governmental part of the preparatory process Facilitating Group, which taking part in the organization of organizations, conducts work at for Habitat II. The first sympo is composed of some 20 the NGO Forum can· be summa the international level to formu sium, which was organized by the Chamber of Architects of Turkey, international non rized as follows late the main programme of the Habitat II NGO Forum and to discussed the qualitative aspects governmental The NGO Forum Secretariat, to ensure the active participation of of the housing question. The top be headed by Mr. Jan organizations, works at NGOs. ics discussed at the Symposium Birket-Smith, is responsible for included: Women and Housing; the international level Repair and maintenance work has to planning the Forum. Habitat II Migrants and Housing; Disabled started at Taskisla, the Faculty of formulate the main will benefit from the experience and Housing; Elderly and Housing; of Mr. Birket-Smith, who was the Architecture building at Istanbul programme and Children and Housing. City of the Technical University, which has Coordinator of the NGO Forum dwellers were also encouraged to been chosen as the location for Habitat II NGO Forum at the 1995 Social Summit in speak from their own perspec the NGO Forum. Joint work is and to ensure the active Copenhagen. tives and proposals were made. also under way between the The HC, which is composed of participation of NGOs". NGO Forum Liaison Unit and Meanwhile, various groups con various Turkish NGOs, will both Istanbul Technical University to tinue their efforts for Habitat 11. Work is underway for the organi facilitate and increase the partic create an office for the NGO The Turkish trade union confed zation of the NGO Forum, to be ipation of the national NGOs in Forum Secretariat; HC is being eration, Hak-ls, the Child Founda held between May 30 and June I I, Habitat II and provide resource consulted to ensure that prepara tion, the Science and Arts Foun within the framework of the UN consultants to NGO Forum tions are in line with the spirit of dation, the Architects and Engi Habitat II Conference. The orga Director Mr. Birket-Smith and to NGOs. neers' Group Secretariat con nization of the NGO Forum is the Secretariat. vened under the Chairmanship of jointly conducted by the Host The Host Committee, the Forum The NGO Forum Liaison Unit, Turgut Cansever and conducted Committee (HC), the Interna Organizing Group and the NGO discussions under the heading of which is officially responsible for tional Facilitating Group (IFG) and Forum Liaison Unit have jointly "Thoughts on City and Housing". the Conference, performs anoth the NGO Forum Liaison Unit. At prepared a bulletin in English, with These discussions produced an er facilitating task for the Forum meetings held on December I 1- contributions from IFG members, alternative viewpoint that could by handling communications 12 1995, during the visit of the and begun its dissemination at the contribute to the National Plan of between HC and the Internation IFG members to Istanbul, it was international level. A similar bul Action. al Facilitating Group on the one 'I' agreed that the HC, the NGO letin in Turkish will be issued for I hand, and the relevant authorities, Various NGOs in Turkey have set Forum Liaison Unit and the NGO dissemination to NGOs in the UN and the Habitat II Project up working groups. NGO caucus would work Turkey. Forum Secretariat Coordination Unit, on the other. es have been formed for: Youth, to organize the NGO together Dr. Sule Aytac is the Director of Some 400 students are expected Women, Environment, Children, Forum. The number of actors the NGO Forum Liaison Unit. to assume various duties at the Universal Values and Health. reflects the amount of involved NGO Forum as part of the "Vol NGO caucuses are conducting which needs to be done in The International Facilitating work unteers Project", which was work not only inside Turkey but drawn up under cooperation also outside the country. Thus, in red to in the agreement. The The Host Country Agreement between UNDP and AIESEC. The addition to the host country is which being negotiated bet exemptions in question should volunteers will undergo a training NGOs, NGOs throughout the UN will programme prepared by these ween Turkey and the be understood as the exemp world are exerting all their efforts be no different than the ag two organizations before taking in order to prepare forthe NGO tion to be accorded to those up their duties at the NGO reements mentioned above. Forum. attending the official UN meet Forum. For more far as press reportS are con information on working As ing in connection with ·'the a Symposia on "The Housing Ques groups in Turkey and related per cerned, there appears to be conference-related activities in tion of the Others" and "Inter sonalities, please call (90 212) 243 misunderstanding concerning which they will be involved". NGO Communication Problems" 63 54. the issue of exemptions refer- 11 • • • • • • IC B•IB UIITED IATIOIS COIFEREICE A 10 Tu II We 12 Th 13 Fr 14 Mo 27 Th 30 Mo 3 Tu 4 WeS Th 6 Fr 7 Sa 8 Su 9 Mo ITU ACC 0.. C, z .E:;; m z Forum er: a::"t° for 0 Human Solidarity I: C: .. 0 nrF,;,·· .E Im "6"o a:: II z :::, II II- 111 II tm z 0 ILO UNESCO 0 FAQ z HCC er: I- ITU <( ACC IL. m m m 11 II Irg_ L. -Ill m -- m C, z II II Im Ill z - - m m SPECIAL ACTIVITIES ROUND-TABLES 13. Daily Electronic Public Consultations VENUES I. Film Festival on the future of cities 14. Best Practices Award Ceremony 2. Forum Opening MCB (in the 21st century) I 5. Children's Competition Awards Main Conference Building 3. Hotel's TV/Habitat II. 16. Photo's and One Minute Video Festival's (LUtfi Kordar Conference Hall) I. Employment and Production 4. Opening and Awards: The U.IA Exhibition Awards on "Convivial Places" 2. The Form of Cities 17. Junior Citizens Caucus CCH Compound ConcertHall S. Books' Exhibition and Sale 18.. Senior Citizen's 3. Transport Caucus 6. Photos' Exhibition (Cemal Retit Rey Concert Hall) 19. Environment Day's Awards 4. Urban Physiology, Metabolism, 7. "Open Space Posters" Exhibition 20. Street Activites:"Enjoy your City" HIL Hilton Convention center Environment 8. Best Practices Exhibition 21. Pop-music Concert 9. Historical Exhibitions on Anatolya and on 22. "Fountain ACC Atatiirk Cultural Center 5. Citizenship and Democracy of Solidarity" Dedication Istanbul 23. Closure Publk 6. RuraVUrban Linkages Event TEH I 0. Conference's Opening Event T!iyapExhibition Hall 25. Pre-1nagurat1on 7. Cities and the I I .Trade Fair:"Good Ideas For Better Cities" 26. Corporate ITU Istanbul Technical University BestPracti ces Awards at Informational Society 12. Cities Video Theaten Private Sector Forum OAT Open Air Theater