Istanbul mayor re-elected as UCLG president

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas was re-elected as the president of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) on Friday. At the World Congress of 2013 UCLG held in Rabat, capital city of Morocco, over 3 thousand delegates from about 130 countries reauthorized Topbas, as the only candidate, to continue serving as the president of the UCLG until 2016. Mayor Kadir Topbas is already serving as the UCLG President since November 2010, as well as the Chairman of Turkish Union of Municipalities and the United Nations Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA). The European Union Commissioner for Development Andris Pielbal also attended the World Congress of 2013 UCLG, where a General Assembly meeting, and a strategic session for "HABITAT 3" summit were also held. As part of RABAT EXPO 2013, an exhibition was held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the UCLG's foundation. Meanwhile, the Colombian capital Bogota, competing with Istanbul, was chosen to host the 2016 meeting of UCLG as the Mayor of Istanbul Topbas announced the witdrawal of Istanbul's candidacy to pave the way for development of the South American country.