Gunay pleased with Bond filming in city

Despite damage done by film crews, the James Bond film will promote Istanbul's Grand Bazaar to a global audience, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay has said. "Some shops are extremely neglected. There are unbelievable additions. While all these things are not considered, I can't understand why such a film, which will promote a traditional shopping mall to the world, is being criticized so much," said Gunay, who returned from Tunisia yesterday. Gunay said they attempted both to preserve and promote cultural places to the world as much as possible in granting permission for films to shoot in cultural and historical locations. The shooting of "Valley of the Wolves" or "Kurtlar Vadisi" in the seraglio (sequestered living quarters used by wives and concubines) of the Topkapi Palace in was an exceptional situation, and they have since limited the permission for film shooting in such places, he said. Gunay said that restorations were continuing in those locations. "In the last memorandum, I expressed that such places should not be used in film shootings, unless there is a big necessity, until the restorations are finished," he said. Aside from being a shopping mall and living area, the Grand Bazaar is a cultural legacy that the whole world should know about, Gunay said."This venue is not affiliated with us. We told the film team that we could be of help to them on some issues. They took permission and paid the money. I think some small damages have been exaggerated," Gunay said. There are many problems the Grand Bazaar needs to overcome, Gunay said, adding that municipalities were currently preparing a new project for the bazaar.