EXHIBITION ABOUT OTTOMAN ART OPENS IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) - A great exhibition "Treasures of Ottoman Art" commenced on Thursday evening in Zagreb. The exhibition has been prepared on occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Osmanli cultural heritage which is being celebrated world-wide.#L# The show includes 150 invaluable exhibits from the treasure of the Imperial Palace 'Topkapi', the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Archaeological Museum and Sadberkan Museum in Istanbul. It was ceremonially opened by Ivica Kostovic, the envoy of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman under whose auspices this big cultural project is taking place in Zagreb. Croatia's Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic assessed that this event in Zagreb crowned the fruitful cooperation between the two friendly countries. His Turkish counterpart, Istemihan Talay, said Presidents of Croatia and Turkey, Tudjman and Demirel, had considerably contributed to the furtherance of the cooperation and its results. Commenting on the significance of this show, Minister Talay said exhibited items belong to the world cultural heritage, and most of them are put on display for the first time outside Turkey. It is expected that numerous visitors will come from neighbouring countries to see unique examples of textiles and embroidery, carpets for prayer, clothes, rugs, sultan jewellery, illuminated manuscripts bearing witness to excellent Ottoman calligraphy. Some exhibits are things from the applied art, made of bronze, ivory, gold, silver and are masterpieces of the Ottoman arts from 15th to 19th century. All proceeds from the show will be earmarked for aid to those who suffered in last summer's strong earthquake that hit Turkey. The exhibition will last by 30 November. Present at the ceremonial opening were many visitors, cultural workers, politicians, public figures, Croatian top officials and foreign diplomats in the Croatian capital. The sponsors of this event are the "Croatia osiguranje" insurance company and Croatia Airlines. (hina) jn ms