Foreign guests and representatives of sister municipalities who came to the city within the scope of the International Manisa Mesir Paste Festival, which was held for the 484th time this year and is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity, were hosted at the Metropolitan Municipality. Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Architect Ferdi Zeyrek and his wife Nurcan Zeyrek, Şehzadeler Mayor Gülşah Durbay, Manisa Mesir Promotion and Tourism Association President Ufuk Tanık attended the program, where a gift exchange ceremony was held with the guest delegation. The first person to speak in the program was Ufuk Tanık, President of Manisa and Mesir Promotion and Tourism Association. Association President Ufuk Tanık said, "I thank you for the values and efforts you have added to Manisa."
Şehzadeler Mayor Gülşah Durbay said, “Mesir is one of the greatest examples of Manisa's cultural and historical values. "At the same time, it is our treasure that will be the key to introducing Manisa to the whole world by ensuring the cultural unity of our 17 districts and transforming the people of Manisa into a prosperous society," he said.
“YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR FESTIVAL MADE US HAPPY”
Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, Architect Ferdi Zeyrek, started his speech by welcoming all the guests who came to Manisa for the festival. Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek said, “You made us happy with your participation in this beautiful festival that has been going on in our city for 484 years. We are on the 5th day of our festival, which we started with enthusiasm on Tuesday. Tomorrow, our festival will end with the cortege to be held with the participation of our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, and then the scattering of approximately 7 tons of healing mesir paste to the public from the minarets of the Sultan Mosque. We hope that you, our esteemed guests, will be satisfied with both our festival and our city; I wholeheartedly believe that you will leave here with satisfaction. In these days when we are experiencing spring, you have seen the heat of Manisa and the warmth of Manisa people closely. "I hope that we will be together again with greater enthusiasm in the coming years," he said.
“MANİSA IS ONE OF TURKEY'S LEADING CITIES”
Emphasizing that Manisa, which has a population of approximately 1,5 million, is one of the leading cities of Turkey with its developed industry, agricultural wealth, natural beauties and deep-rooted history, Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek said, “In our city, which I am proud to serve as the Mayor, we have a 484-year history of International I am also honored to continue an important cultural heritage such as the Manisa Mesir Paste Festival. It is my greatest wish that the bridge of love and friendship we have created with this beautiful festival will be longer-lasting and stronger. In the light of the words of our country's founder, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 'Peace at home, peace in the world', I believe that the common denominator of all of us should be world peace. "Despite everything, we must work hard to increase goodness, beauty, peace and love," he said. 
GIFTS WERE PRESENTED TO THE GUEST DELEGATION
Following the speeches, Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Architect Ferdi Zeyrek, Şehzadeler Mayor Gülşah Durbay and Manisa, Mesir Promotion and Tourism Association President Ufuk Tanık presented gifts consisting of the symbols of Manisa to the guests. Foreign guests who came to Manisa for the festival and representatives of sister municipalities also presented gifts representing their countries and cities. After the program, the guest delegation was hosted for dinner.
