Turkish PM reveals government's cultural development program

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has revealed the government's program on sustainable cultural development, which includes a series of plans extending from the Atatürk Culture Center in Istanbul's Taksim Square to making Ankara a capital with Turkey's best cultural venues. 

Davuto?lu shared his government's plans and approach to the development of culture in Turkey at the 64th Government Sustainable Cultural Development Program Introductory Meeting in Ankara on April 21. 

"It should be an aim for all of us to beautify Istanbul's squares and preserve the buildings in those areas, including the Atatürk Cultural Center. We should make the assessment of this by handling it all together, with our people of culture and all friends who know the history of Istanbul and who love Istanbul, without laying it on an ideological ground," said Davuto?lu. 

Regarding the plans for the cultural development of the capital, Davuto?lu said the needs of Istanbul and Ankara were different and noted they had carried out separate meetings with Ankara's deputies, mayor and governor regarding the issue. He also highlighted that Ankara's cultural infrastructure was not rich, adding that with the Ankara Cultural Center project, besides building a well-equipped center, they also aimed to enrich the museums through which foreigners could have an opportunity to learn about Turkey and which would represent the Anatolian culture the best. 

Davuto?lu also underlined that Ankara would be the most important leg of the Cultural Action Plan, saying they gave great importance to Turkey's largest libraries, best theater salons and other cultural venues being in Ankara. 

The prime minister described Istanbul as "humanity's biggest heritage," saying what made...