IMM and İSKİ Host a Programme on Historical Water Structures and the Istanbul Water Civilizations Museum
17 June ,2026
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Foreign Relations, in cooperation with the İSKİ General Directorate, organized the “İSKİ Historical Water Structures and Istanbul Water Civilizations Museum Tour Programme” for the consulates general and representative offices of the Turkic World in Istanbul.
The program was attended by Mr. Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Assoc. Prof. Mr. Şafak Başa, Director General of İSKİ. The proceedings also included the Istanbul Consuls General of the Kyrgyz Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan, alongside representatives from the Consulates General of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkmenistan. Furthermore, Representatives to Türkiye from the Russian Federation’s Republic of Tatarstan and Republic of Bashkortostan were present throughout the entirety of the program.
As part of the programme, participants were welcomed at the İSKİ General Directorate and then proceeded to the Istanbul Water Civilizations Museum in Terkos. The programme continued with a visit to the Mağlova Aqueduct, one of the most significant historical water structures of Istanbul. Participants then proceeded to the İSKİ Command Center, where a general presentation was delivered on İSKİ’s activities and Istanbul’s current water management practices.
Mr. Barbaros Büyüksağnak emphasized that the programme contributed to strengthening cultural and institutional ties between Istanbul and the countries of the Turkic World. Assoc. Prof. Mr. Şafak Başa underlined Istanbul’s deep-rooted historical accumulation in the field of water civilization and highlighted İSKİ’s ongoing efforts to preserve this heritage and pass it on to future generations.
The programme was regarded as an important opportunity to present Istanbul’s historical and cultural heritage to international representatives and to further develop institutional cooperation between cities.
