Republic of Turkey
Municipality of Cesme

August 18, 1994

Dear Mr. Ergun Ozakat,

Throughout the course of history Cesme has proven to be very important center during the Ionian, then Byzantine and Seljuk periods. This peninsula that has been the region's largest trade center in the 13th and 14th centuries is now headed for becoming a new center in the 21st century. This process which started with the construction of the highway and continued with the port is drawing the attention of many valuable friends of Cesme, like yourself.

In the future, I can see Cesme that will send out technology to the world through Turkey, besides attracting tourists, with its Cesme University, Izmir Institute of High Technology in Urla and a whole virgin region serving to benefit us all.

There seems to be circles who have been acting in a biased manner about the technopark. I suggest that they put off deciding until they have given a fair share of attention to the project. These circles had also opposed the idea of a highway and the ferryboat port. Those narrow minded groups have not bothered to inspect this project the same way they have ignored previous developments.

But your leadership efforts in accordance with our great leader Mustafa Kemal's ideas to pull Turkey up to "modern civilization levels" together with the leadership of other courageous people like Mr. Isik Biren and Senator Charles Percy will leave our Cesme many lasting and favorable contributions.

The courageous have always won in the course of history. I, too, believe that courage and logic will succeed in this project. This book that you, the initiator of the project, have prepared will be a valuable and lasting documental contribution for us, Cesme lovers in the future. I congratulate you on this valuable piece of work.

Sincerely yours,

Nuri ERTAN
Mayor of Cesme