1. The panel titled “Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Turkey and Japan” was held by JICA Alumni in cooperation with Istanbul University and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on December 05, 2011 in Istanbul at Ataturk Library. It was started with the opening speeches by the director of museums and libraries of IMM, Mr. Ramadan MINDER, JICA Alumni board member Ms. Saliha AKBAS and JICA Turkey Office.2. One of the panelists Mr. Alpaslan KUZUCUOGLU who is an ex-participant from IMM who participated in the training on “Mitigation Strategy for Mega-Urban Earthquake Disaster” in 2006. He made a presentation concerning risk measures for the conservation of cultural heritages in Japan and introduced examples by photos in order to compare the present situations in Turkey and Japan. In addition, Ass. Prof. Ahmet GULEC from Istanbul University and Ms. Yasemin MASARACI from IMM made presentations concerning the concept of museums and its preservation, and IMM’s studies on museums and management structures.

3. It is confirmed that information and opinions sharing among Japan and Turkey in terms of this field can be beneficial since each country has a different precious history, which needs to be protected from disasters. JICA will continue to assist Alumni activities to disseminate their experiences and knowledge which they gained through the training program in Japan.