Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbaş in his speech at Marmara Group Foundation's traditional meeting said; ''About the Taksim's pedesterian project, in truth no trees ought to be in the squares. But our people was trees in the squares also. When you look at the squares of the world's developed cities, there are no trees. We are going to make greening, forestation, city furnitures and ground plating works, it is not finished yet.''

Mayor Topbaş attended Marmara Group Foundation's Academic Council Meeeting organized in Yeşilköy WoW Hotel. Prof. Atilla Dicle, Dr. Fatih Saraçoğlu, Dr. Akkan Suver, Engin Köklüçınar, Mustafa Kefeli, Mithat Yümlü and Şamil Ayrım were also present during the meeting. Kadir Topbaş, with reference to Dr. Suver's remarks such as ''He left good things to this city'', stated; ''This should not carry the meaning of an end of duty. It is on the records, it needs to be stated. I am still on duty. I need to say this''. This statement from the Mayor Topbaş caused laughters among the crowd.