Manama: The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has renamed the 3.5-kilometre long “Istinye Bayiri” Street — where the upmarket mall Istinye Park is located — “Qatar Street.”
Qatar Street in the “Sariyer” area on the European side of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus, was inaugurated by Qatar’s Ambassador to Turkey Salem Bin Mubarak Al Shafi at a ceremony held on Monday, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
Deputy Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Selamat said renaming a prominent street in Istanbul after Qatar was a testament to the historical and cultural ties between the two countries.
In his remarks, the Qatari envoy extended his thanks to the government and people of Turkey, and to the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kadir Topbas for their efforts in strengthening the bilateral ties, QNA said.
The renaming of a street after Qatar was the second in Turkey within months.
In December, 415th Street, adjacent to the Presidential Republican Palace in Canakaya, one of the most prestigious suburbs in the capital Ankara, was named after Qatar.
Doha and Ankara have built special relations in the recent years and, according to a Turkish daily, there have been 56 Turkish top-level official visits to Qatar between 2002 and 2013.
