ISTANBUL (AA) - Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kadir Topbas expressed his concern over Taksim Gezi Park protests saying there were aims of breaking the peace and disturbing the unity.
"We can see how the social media turned a tiny misunderstanding into a widespread event and we also know there are aims of breaking the peace and disturbing our unity in Taksim protests," said Topbas speaking to journalists on Wednesday following the ceremony of combining Uskudar-Cekmekoy underground in Istanbul.
Topbas pointed out there were some groups among the protesters that wanted to harm Turkey's developments adding some others seeming innocent at first were then triggered by vicious people.
"I feel sorry that our steps to create an important tourism destination in Istanbul by building a city museum have unfortunately been distorted by some groups," said Topbas.
Stressing his only happiness and hope was the fact that Turkish people were not revengeful, Topbas said "We are a great family of 14 million in Istanbul."
Topbas complained that nobody thanked for the works done for a better environment reminding the old images of The Golden Horn seeming like a marsh, which is now a valley for culture.
Referring to the saying of Prophet Muhammad "Plant the tree in your hand even if you realise it is the end of the world," Topbas said the city went even more green each day and would remain green.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
