# Turkish municipalities deepen sister‑city ties

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-municipalities-sign-sistercity-agreements
> Updated: 2026-07-31T11:15:17.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

Earlier in July 2026, Trabzon’s mayor and Gazimağusa’s mayor signed a sister‑city protocol to foster cultural, tourism and educational links. A week later, Gaziantep’s municipal council approved a partnership with Gaza, signalling political solidarity while discussing local development projects.

On 31 July 2026, Gaziantep and Gazimağusa formalised a comprehensive sister‑city agreement covering infrastructure, environment, transport, waste management, gastronomy, culture, education, youth, sports and social services. The ceremony in Gaziantep was attended by Mayor Fatma Şahin, Gazimağusa Mayor Dr. Süleyman Uluçay, Şehitkamil Mayor Umut Yılmaz, representatives of the International Democrats Union and the KKTC consulate. Both leaders highlighted shared heritage and a common future, with Şahin stating “we are one, together, brothers.”

These successive agreements illustrate a coordinated effort by Turkish local authorities to deepen ties with municipalities in disputed or geopolitically sensitive regions, using sister‑city arrangements to express solidarity and pursue concrete development initiatives across a broad range of sectors.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: Gaziantep and Gazimağusa Formalize Sister‑City Partnership

Gaziantep and Gazimağusa signed a sister‑city protocol, linking the two municipalities for joint projects in infrastructure, culture, tourism and social services.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gaziantep-and-gazimausa-sign-sister-city-protocol

### 2026-07-13: Gaziantep municipal council moves to sister‑city tie with Gaza

Gaziantep council authorized Mayor Fatma Şahin to sign a sister‑city pact with Gaza, citing solidarity, while also discussing a housing surge, bike‑infrastructure plans, and new train sets.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gaziantep-municipal-council-moves-to-sistercity-tie-with-gaza

### 2026-07-05: Trabzon and Gazimağusa Sign Sister‑City Agreement

Trabzon’s mayor and Gazimağusa’s mayor signed a sister‑city protocol to boost cultural, tourism and educational cooperation between the Turkish and Northern Cypriot ports.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trabzon-and-gazimausa-sign-sistercity-agreement

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Cite as: Turkish municipalities deepen sister‑city ties. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-municipalities-sign-sistercity-agreements