Mustafa Tunç Soyer: "We must create resilient cities all over the world"

In Izmir, its mayor, Mustafa Tunç Soyer, welcomes us for a pleasant lunch in an excellent restaurant overlooking the bay. We talk about the natural and historical wonders of Izmir, a region that offers a fascinating combination of the remains of other civilisations in Pergamon and Ephesus with numerous natural Mediterranean habitats that are home to an impressive colony of flamingos and a modern coastal city, once a pioneer of trade and a gateway between East and West.

In conversation, Tunç Soyer discusses the difficult relations with President Erdogan's regime, the obstacles of his erratic economic policy and the conviction that he will be ousted from power in the 2023 elections.

Mayor, you have a privileged place in the Mediterranean?

Our main goal is to show that Izmir is a beautiful city, which has a huge potential and historical heritage, accommodation, natural beauties and the hospitality of our people. In many topics, this city can be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Do we have to focus on mass tourism looking for more beaches and sun, or do we want to be the cultural and historical centre of tourism?

After the climate crisis everything has changed. We have to look at all these issues through the new perspective of the climate crisis. Which means that by whatever means we have to create resilient cities all over the world. It is not only about Izmir's problems, but about the whole world. All city authorities have to understand that they have to look at the world with the new perspective that the climate crisis has created. This is something new and we have to learn how to learn and fight the climate crisis.

Nature is constantly reminding us of this...

With floods everywhere, wildfires everywhere... No matter how technological the agriculture is, how good the markets are, how good your city is in tourism...

Is water management key?

Yes, because first you have to create resilient agricultural sectors, which means using water well, finding good products to grow, not consuming too much water, protecting the resources we have, not poisoning them. We have to take good care of water security. This is something new, we have forgotten that we have to pay attention to it. Now, the theory should be this perspective. So, whatever it is tourism, agriculture, industry, first we have to create a resilient city, looking at everything from this perspective.

Could this mean giving up a great tourism opportunity in the cruise sector?

What I mean is that people who come with cruise ships should be aware that the city will take care of their safety, that it resists climate change and the effects of the climate crisis, that it cares about its people, its nature, its guests... this is the main goal, the main priority from my point of view. 

What resources do you highlight in Izmir?

We have agriculture, tourism with the historical richness, beautiful plans, agricultural tourism.... We have to support our industry production and digitalise our agriculture product, tourism business and industries. We have to use more technology in agriculture and tourism. So basically in these three main sectors we have to use more technology and be aware of the richness of these potentials and protect their richness for the future.

How can you do everything at the same time?

The most resilient thing in tourism is to see nature not as a source. We have to be in harmony with nature, we have to respect nature. So, if you have this perspective, the conflict between economy and ecology will end. We have to bring together economy and ecology in a good way. It is possible.
 

Do we have to change things to achieve this goal, to have both?

That's what I mean by resilient cities. For example, what we are trying to build on the other side of the city, in the flamingo nature park. We have flamingos, there is a population of about 10% of all the flamingos in the world. Now we are trying to create a natural park where people can go and observe their life. You protect them and at the same time you create the potential for tourism, because people would like to see them. If you don't protect it, you lose a huge potential of your tourism capacity. This is an example to your question.

What does Izmir offer to foreign tourism?

The weather, the climate, the people, the nature and the historical heritage which is unique.

Do towns like Ephesus and others agree with Izmir for a combined strategy?

Yes. We have opened a new website: "Visit Izmir", in which there are about 2,300 points that can be visited and enjoyed. These places are connected to each other, so it is not only the information related to them, but also the links between them, how to go from one place to another, which roads to choose, what to eat, where to stay, etc. It is an interactive website where you can also introduce new points, new places that you would like to promote.

Is being a UNESCO World Heritage Site key?

We started new processes on UNESCO World Heritage sites. One is castles. This is another application for Izmir to UNESCO World Heritage. The other application is about the old city centre. This is the oldest and the biggest open market in history. There are thousands of small shops next to each other.

Does Izmir complement places like Ephesus?

You can go to Ephesus, you walk a lot, you are impressed by the ancient, but now you can come here to have lunch looking at the sea view, with a very good gastronomy... That's complementary. 

I think the political situation in Turkey influences Izmir because it is more secular. Does it benefit you and the tourists who come?

It is something different. There are very different points if you compare it to other parts of the country. But this is the destination of the city. Being a "port city", it creates a kind of social gene, so people are very open to the rest of the world and have a lot of experience in living together, which means that, being a port city, there are French, Italians, Levantines, Spaniards... people who have lived together for centuries here, in the city, who create, who have learned to share everything. Although their languages are different, their cities, their religious beliefs, their celebrities... they learn to live together.

A coexistence that can foster democracy?

A kind of culture of coexistence has been created. This also means democracy, because democracy is not something yet, it is a tradition of living together. Therefore, this city has this culture, which means tolerance to other people's opinions, people and accepting different points as a richness to the city. For this reason, Izmir has always been the pioneer of the country in every way: the first football team, the first consulate, the first newspaper...

Is Izmir a pioneer in many ways?

Everything was first created in Izmir because having democracy gives a kind of wealth to the culture of the people, and this wealth automatically increases the standard of living of the citizens. For this reason, it is different from other cities in the country, and it has always been the… of democracy. It is not easy to say that people are social democrats or socialists, but they stick very strictly to the use of democracy.

Do you feel that being in an opposition city has an impact on aid, investment from the central government?

That somehow the central government is punishing, not only Izmir, but now Istanbul, Ankara... the opposition cities that you see that there is a kind of cut in funds for investment, for new infrastructure and so on?
I can say that they don't want us, I can feel it, I'm sorry, but I don't care. They are not only cutting back, they are even preventing it in other ways. 

But it has an impact if you want to develop a new plan, maybe you don't have a lot of money to do it.

There are thousands of ways not to do something, but there is only one way to do something. If you like doing it, then you do it. Of course, they do everything they can to prevent it, to create obstacles... but I don't care. I try to do my best.

Are you worried about Turkey's foreign image because Erdogan's foreign policy is very aggressive everywhere?

Yes, of course, but we came to this position knowing all these possibilities. We didn't have any surprises. We knew that there would be such a possibility. So, knowing this, it is easier to fight it and to deal with it. I agree that it is becoming more and more difficult and dangerous. We are aware of that. But what we try to do is to make our people aware of these new possibilities and not to lose hope for their future. This is something very essential on my part. What I try to do is to keep them hopeful for the future.

Do you have the feeling that there are fewer people coming to Izmir or Turkey because of this?

Of course, it is possible, but as I said, being resilient means thinking about all these possibilities and finding more outlets. Which means being ready for the cry of the western world, which means creating new potentials from within the country. So being resilient means creating new possibilities for all those catastrophes, not only natural catastrophes, but social catastrophes.

Do you call on the EU to re-open its doors to Turkey?

From my point of view, the EU is the greatest peace treaty in history before business, trade, customs union and so on. It is a peace treaty of humanity. Therefore, it has created values. 

What are these values?

In Izmir they are the same values of democracy, coexistence, tolerance, mutual respect, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, the rule of law.... These are, in my view, the greatest innovations of mankind. But democracy and values are the greatest innovation of mankind. That is why I respect the EU, and we have to stand together.

How can you ensure that this will not have an impact on people's working conditions?

I have to say that, of course, it is increasingly difficult, but one of my mentors told me that good captains don't come from "steely waters", good captains come from stormy weather. We learn to be strong.

Have you thought about having a relationship with Spanish tourism companies?

I feel very close to Spanish culture. I have many friends from Spain and I have visited them many times, in Barcelona, Madrid..., and I have always felt at home. For this season, personally, I would like to promote and create new possibilities with Spain, because I sincerely believe in the similarity of our cultures and people. And it is easy to start with the potential that you feel similar and close.

Does the International Press Academy project have your support?

Of course it does.

I think we must have the commitment, the obligation to have the best relationship and the best ties with the Turkish people, journalists and politicians.... Because Turkey is a very strategic and important country for our stability, for our lives, for our security.... 

One day I would like to ask the presidents of the states, why did they support the extreme right, the extreme Islamists? It is a big mistake. They supported the Taliban, Daesh. How did they make this mistake? From my point of view it is impossible to understand. If they supported another kind of Islamists... there would be a different world.

Were they warned?

Seeing the situation, there were people in Turkey warning them, telling them that it is not right and it is very dangerous. There were people warning them and pointing out the danger that was coming.
With the international media, that language started to change. With Orban we were saying the nationalists, the ultra-nationalists and with modern Islamism....

But when you have a very bad economic situation inside, you're losing Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir... You have rising prices in health care, education... You need an external enemy to resist, it's the usual thing.

External conflict increases internal conflict.

Biography

Tunç Soyer, mayor of Izmir, introduces himself on the internet:

I was born in 1959 in Ankara. I have lived in Izmir since my childhood. After my years at Bornova High School, I completed my higher education at Ankara Law School. In these years, I worked as a reporter in refugee camps. 

I completed master's programmes at Webster University in Switzerland in the field of "International Relations" and at Univn, the Turkish News Agency. I translated a book on women's drama into Turkish language at Dokuz Eylül University in the field of European Union. I have advanced knowledge in English and French. In 1991, I took the lead for the establishment of a still active holiday village in Seferihisar. For nine years, I worked as a manager in the tourism sector.

In 2003, I worked as an advisor to the Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Ahmet Piriştina, on the financial resources to be obtained from the European Union. During this process I have increased my experience of Izmir's economy and social life. Between 2004-2006, I worked as the Director of External Relations at the Izmir Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, I was appointed Secretary General of EXPO Izmir by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2009, I was elected mayor in Seferihisar and held this position for two terms. I have extended the international recognition of the scale of small towns and the development of the Citta slow (Quiet City) economy first in Seferihisar, and then in seven geographical regions of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

In 2013, I was elected Vice-President of the World Association of Calm Cities based in Italy; in 2014, President of the Governing Council of the Association of Social Democratic Municipalities (SODEM); and in 2019, member of the Governing Council of the World Organisation of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Soyer, who currently continues to hold these positions and in the March 2019 local elections was elected Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, is married and has two daughters.

I was elected mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in the March 2019 local elections. I have a dream to live in a free, joyful, harmonious Izmir where prosperity increases in all neighbourhoods....