EVALUATION: Voluntary Visitor Project for the

UNCLAS ANKARA 003124 SIPDIS STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/E: DDOUGLAS; ECA/PE/V/F/E: ECONNOLLY; EUR/PPD: CTEAL SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL TU SUBJECT: EVALUATION: Voluntary Visitor Project for the Diyarbakir Municipality DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY: In line with the travel of Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir and three members of his staff to the US for a conference and consultations with the UNDP, the voluntary visitor office organized a project on migrant issues and diversity in municipal administration. The objectives of the two-day visit to Nashville were to learn about municipal administration in the U.S. and to explore the possibility of establishing sister city ties. In Nashville the visitors examined the City's experience with the integration of minority and refugee communities. DATE, FISCAL YEAR, AND QUARTER: February 14 - 15, 2006; FY 2006; Second Quarter JUSTIFICATION AND MPP OBJECTIVE: In the words of the current Prime Minister, "Turkey's road to the EU runs through Diyarbakir." The southeastern region is a major focus of Post's effort to bolster civic consciousness and human rights. As decentralization continues, mayors of regional centers like Diyarbakir will be given more authority to reach out to their constituents and deal with their local needs. In the case of Diyarbakir, this means integration of Turkish and Kurdish communities and dealing with migrant/refugee communities. These officials often lack formal training, experience, or context to deal with these multifaceted issues. The mayor's office reached out to Consulate Adana for assistance with setting up a sister city relationship and also to gain perspectives on the US administrative model. The Governor of Diyarbakir participated in an IVLP program in February 2006 - capitalizing on the Mayor's presence in the US doubled the impact of this program. RESULTS/IMPACT: Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir found the party's trip to Nashville "excellently organized" and highly informative. He greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Nashville and members of the City Council, calling their discussion "intimate and important". The group discussed various strategies they had used in attracting investment to their cities. Baydemir said he would use some of these strategies to "realize Diyarbakir's full potential" in the future. The group also discussed separation of powers between the city, state, and federal level. Baydemir was impressed by the freedom local administrators had to pursue their own goals and interests. A sister city relationship was also discussed, Baydemir invited Nashville officials to Diyarbakir and remarked that "talks are ongoing" about the establishment of a formal sister city relationship. Visits to local schools and police stations were eye opening for the group. Baydemir was in particular interested in the idea of integrating migrants through education, which he saw firsthand through the children of Nashville's significant Kurdish community. During a visit to a local police station, the group was very interested in local government structures. Baydemir was unaware that the US had no national police force, and that city police forces are run by municipal authorities. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN-KIND SUPPORT AND AMOUNT: The Mayor and his staff traveled to the US for the International Municipalities Conference in Washington DC and consultations with the UN Development Program. The Turkish government funded this part of their trip. The participants also covered internal airfare to Nashville, hotel accommodation, and their expenses. QUALITY OF U.S. SUPPORT AND AGENCY OFFICE: Baydemir said that the program was "excellently organized", and Post agrees. This is due to the efforts of program officer Paul Engelstad, who had to cope with numerous last-minute requests from the group. WILSON