"Istanbul festival employs cultural diplomacy
By Delphine Strauss in Istanbul
Published: January 18 2010 00:54 | Last updated: January 18 2010 00:54
Istanbul marked the start of its year as one of three European capitals of culture at the weekend with outdoor concerts and fireworks lighting up the sky.
Cultural diplomacy is becoming an important tool for Turkey as its bid for European Union membership falters. A season of events running in France is intended to win round a public deeply sceptical about Turkish accession; and the organisers of Istanbul 2010 hope the year will make outsiders more familiar with a city shaped as much by its Christian and Jewish communities as by Muslim or secular traditions."
More:FT.com / Europe - Istanbul festival employs cultural diplomacy