BAN TOURS YENIKAPı ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION

In Istanbul for three days, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently paid a visit to the Yenikapı Archaeological Excavation Site over the weekend.

Ban was accompanied by Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş and had the opportunity to see a human footprint spanning back 8,500 years as well as remnants from a ship and pier from over 1,500 years ago.

Ban greeted members of the press by stating, "Nasılsınız?'' which means 'How are you?' In Turkish, Mentioning that he has been to Istanbul before, Ban stated, "This trip has been the most productive. I not only had the opportunity to attend the Somalia and Alliance of Civilizations meetings, but this morning I have had the opportunity to tour this site. I want to relay my gratitude to the Turkish government and especially to President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for opening up these new horizons."