1. Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, arriving at news conference
2. Cutaway of camera
3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor:
"We are prepared, we are prepared even for the most risky situations. But let me express this: I am hoping that they don't. My expectation is that the quality of politics in Turkey is experienced in the highest way."
4. Cutaway of reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor:
"We have the capacity to announce to the public at every moment and every situation that we demand to work and produce together. I don't think it's rational to reject this without necessity or reason. Right now I am the Metropolitan Mayor of Istanbul and Mr. Erdogan is President. I think we can contribute great things to this country and the city by coming to an agreement."
6. Wide of news conference
7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor:
"We will look at the humanitarian aspect, we will look at the peace aspect and at the end of the day, we will work hard on the issue that refugees return home."
The new mayor of Istanbul said Friday he was prepared against any attempts by the government to restrict his powers while emphasising his willingness to work with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In a news conference to international media in Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu said the government had already put into practice new regulations to bypass the mayor in appointments to municipal companies and give authority to municipal assemblies where Erdogan's party has majority.
The mayor said such practices were against the current local governance laws.
"We are prepared even for the most risky situations," Imamoglu said.
Days before the elections, Erdogan hinted that the judiciary could investigate Imamoglu, who belongs to the opposition Republican People's Party.
The mayor said he'd chart his path calmly if an investigation were launched.
But the president quickly congratulated the mayor on election night and struck a somewhat cooperative tone in a speech from Japan Thursday, saying his party would support "realistic projects to the benefit of Istanbul."
"Right now I am the Metropolitan Mayor of Istanbul and Mr. Erdogan is President. I think we can contribute great things to this country and the city by coming to an agreement," Imamoglu said.
The newly-minted mayor also said that top on his agenda were plans to address the issues of refugees living in Istanbul.
Over half a million Syrian refugees live in the city.
Imamoglu was elected mayor for a second time Sunday after Turkey's electoral board annulled the results of the March 31 polls in Turkey's largest city.
He beat his opponent, the government candidate Binali Yildirim, with more than 806,000 votes.
