04.10.2025 13:30
The Union of Turkish Municipalities (TBB) is a member of the Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Regional Organization, which has assigned three important international roles to Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar. The council, which convened in Konya, appointed Mayor Gülpınar as the Cultural Ambassador, Co-Chair of UCLG-MEWA, and a member of the Executive Board of the UCLG World Council.
The members of the United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Regional Organization (UCLG-MEWA), of which the Union of Turkish Municipalities (TBB) is a member, gathered in Konya. At the congress attended by over 300 representatives of local governments from 17 countries, Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar was once again entrusted with important roles due to his effective work in the international arena and his pioneering role in cultural diplomacy.
RE-ELECTED AS CULTURAL AMBASSADOR
In the meeting attended by UCLG-MEWA Secretary General Dr. Mehmet Duman and UCLG-MEWA Honorary President Mohamad Saadie, Mayor Gülpınar was unanimously re-elected as Cultural Ambassador of UCLG-MEWA due to the success and strong impact of his visionary work to date. The decision was made with broad consensus from both the MEWA Management and the Council, further strengthening Şanlıurfa's pioneering role in the international cultural arena.
ŞANLIURFA'S VOICE IS NOW EVEN STRONGER
At the congress, Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar's vision and representation power were not limited to the cultural field. In line with the decision taken, Mayor Gülpınar was also reappointed as Co-President of UCLG-MEWA. Thus, with his diplomatic leadership in the cultural field and his active role in regional governance, Şanlıurfa's voice will find a stronger place on international platforms.
This year's congress recorded another historic achievement on behalf of Şanlıurfa. Mayor Gülpınar was elected as a member of the UCLG World Council Management Board, taking on an active role not only in the MEWA Region but also on a global scale. This important position means that Şanlıurfa will be actively represented in global decision-making mechanisms.
"WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT OUR PROVINCE AND OUR COUNTRY"
Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar stated in the ongoing meeting in Konya that he has taken on very important roles in terms of representing Şanlıurfa on a global scale. In his speech, Mayor Gülpınar said, "UCLG-MEWA is a global organization and, of course, it is divided into regions. The MEWA section, of which we are a member, is in the Middle East and West Asia. When I was first elected in the last term, I served both as co-president and cultural ambassador. These roles are renewed every year during the elections. With this year's meeting, both our cultural ambassadorship and co-presidency have been continued. A new decision was made in this meeting, and I was elected as a board member. In fact, the most significant achievement is this. We have gained the right to represent on a global scale. We will have the opportunity to represent our province and our country. With these three honors, we will return to Şanlıurfa with good news. Therefore, I would like to express my satisfaction and happiness. We wish good luck to Şanlıurfa and our country," he said.