Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comEuropeErdogan to Open "Turkevi" Skyscraper in New York

Erdogan to Open “Turkevi” Skyscraper in New York

Turkevi Center Turkey
Erdogan will open the Turkevi Center in New York on Monday. Credit: Twitter/Turkish Consulate New York

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will open on Monday the Turkevi Center, a 36-story skyscraper located just across the street from UN headquarters.

The Turkevi Center, which will become the hub of Turkish culture in the US, will also house the UN’s permanent mission of Turkey and the Turkish Consulate General.

The building, which features traditional Turkish architectural motifs, especially from the Seljuk Empire, rises into the sky in the shape of a tulip and can be seen from downtown Manhattan, the East River and Long Island.

Turkevi Center to reflect Turkey’s culture

It was designed as a symbolic skyscraper that will add to the skyline of New York, one of the world’s most iconic cities, while reflecting Turkish culture, history and diversity.

The Turkevi Center’s swooping curves and geometric crescent patterns were designed by Perkins Eastman. This new, 563-foot tall consulate of the Republic of Turkey is a modern architectural interpretation of “Islamic themes and Turkish art and culture.”

United Glass Metal Yapi engineers and fabrication specialists built the building’s iconic glass facade and perforated metal paneling. The consulate will house new passport and visa branch offices, conference rooms, a multi-purpose prayer room, fitness center, auditorium, underground parking, and residential space for staff and visitors.

Erdogan, who is in New York to attend the 76th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, paid a visit to the skyscraper on Sunday.

After his visit to the Turkevi Center, Erdogan addressed members of the Turkish American community at an event held by the Turkish American National Steering Committee.

He urged Muslims to elect representatives in federal and state elections, vowed to help out in any way he can and branded hostility against Islam as more dangerous than Covid-19.

“I expect you to continue your activities of charity, (Islamic) cause and benevolence at a faster pace,” the Turkish president said. “In addition to Covid-19 we are also fighting another virus which is more destructive, more deadly and more insidious. The name of this virus is hostility towards Islam,” he added.

Erdogan says he will meet Mitsotakis in New York

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday he will meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in New York City, during the session of the UN General Assembly.

“We will realize Mitsotakis’ demand in the US. We’ve got a meeting with him there,” Erdogan said.

Asked about a meeting with Erdogan in New York last weekend, Mitsotakis was far from certain they would have one. “I think our schedules do not match,” he had said.

The two leaders last met in June on the sidelines of a NATO summit.

Greek sources said that the meeting, lasting more than an hour, was held in a “positive climate.” They added that the two leaders agreed “to leave behind the tension of 2020, despite the very important disagreements that exist.”

Earlier, Mitsotakis said that he was open to a positive agenda when he meets with Erdogan.

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts