E-Newsletter
July 29, 2011 / Issue 15
In This Issue
President's Message
ATAA Statement on HFAC Mark-Up, July 20, 2011
ATAA Gathers Turks for a Vigil for Turkish Cypriots
ATAA Welcomes Boston Turkish Consul-General Murat Lutem
ATAA Hosts Reception for Press Counselor Ilter
ATAA Attends Funeral for Lt. Col. Dr. Omer Ozguc
ATAA VP Kurtulus Builds Relations with the Georgian American Community in NY
ATAA VP Kurtulus Comments at Protest at Chinese Mission
The American-Turkish Association of Washington, DC
ATAA in the News
President's Message by Ergün Kırlıkovalı


Dear Members of the Turkish American Community Coast-to-Coast:

 

I trust that this message finds you well and that you and your family are enjoying a great summer. It is my sense of duty and responsibility, as well as pleasure, to update you on progress ATAA made since the last e-Newsletter issued on June 23, 2011.
 

1) Frontal Attack by Anti-Turkish Lobbies intensified in July: Some Armenian, Greek and fundamentalist Christian groups seem to have focused their coordinated campaigns on all things Turkish by introducing new resolutions and/or tacking on new concepts to existing ones.

 

1.1 H.R. 2583: On July 20, the House Foreign Affairs Committee convened a Committee markup for consideration of H.R. 2583, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, for Fiscal Year 2012. The markup hearing concluded on the evening of July 21, authorizing $48.3 billion in international affairs spending. Although this bill is considered by most a DOA (dead on arrival) its significance is in the fact the anti-Turkish language of H.R. 306, though stripped of its "whereas clauses" and only featuring its "resolved clauses", was built into it.[read]
By becoming a member you will be part of a network of Turkish-Americans and friends of Turkey who care about the historic relationship between the two countries and who are aware of the crucial role each one of us plays in strengthening the relationship and promoting an accurate and fair picture of Turkey and Turks. Please visit www.ataa.org for more information.
ATAA Statement on HFAC Mark-Up, July 20, 2011
Another Distortion by the Anti-Turkish Armenian Lobby

 

July 21, 2011, Washington, DC  - The members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) approved amendments to a State Department Authorization bill that blatantly misrepresent Turkey's record on religious freedom and preservation of religious legacy. We strongly oppose the language sneaked into the measure by Berman, known for championing controversial and racist Armenian causes, because it presents a partisan view held by those openly hostile to Turks, Turkish Americans, Turkey, and the Turkic realm. [read]
ATAA Gathers Turks for a Vigil for Turkish Cypriots

 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011, Washington, D.C.- Despite a heat index of 105 F°, ATAA staff, interns, volunteers, and many Turkish Americans in the D.C. area came together for a 2-day long vigil in front of the Turkish Embassy to commemorate the 37th Anniversary of Turkey's Cyprus Peace Operation. The vigil began Tuesday evening at 6pm through Wednesday afternoon. Volunteers proudly held Turkish and TRNC flags and wore red and white, holding up signs that read "We support Turkish Cypriots" and "Shame on Greek Terrorists for Ethnic Cleansing of Turkish Cypriots."[read]

ATAA Welcomes Boston Turkish Consul-General Murat Lutem 

 

Springfield, MA, July 10, 2011 - The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) brought together the members of the Turkish American community and American friends with a reception in Springfield Massachussets. Organized by ATAA Northeastern Regional VP Mehves Sonmez, reception welcomed the new Boston Turkish Consul-General Murat Lutem and informed participants about ATAA's Turkish American Broad Advocacy Network (TABAN) program. Consul General Lutem, updated participants on the new Boston Turkish Consulate's opening and progress.[read]

ATAA Hosts Reception for Press Counselor Ilter

ATAA held a goodbye reception in honor of Turkish Embassy Press Counselor Bilge Ilter. The Washington correspondents of all the major Turkish papers attended. ATAA Past President and Member of the Board, Gunay Evinch, presented Counselor Ilter with a plaque of appreciation for "Excellence in Media Relations." Evinch expressed, "A primary duty of the Turkish Embassy is to serve Americans of Turkish heritage, and the primary duty of the Turkish Press Counselor is to help the American media, Turkish American media, US-based Turkish media, and Turkish American community achieve a broader and deeper understanding of current affairs as they relate to Turkey.  [read]
ATAA Attends Funeral for Lt. Col. Dr. Omer Ozguc,
a Prominent Member of the US Armed Forces

 

Washington DC, USA, June 30, 2011 - Lt. Col. Omer Ozguc, a prominent physician in the US Armed Forces, died of lung cancer at age 55 while in active service in Germany. Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) Past-President Gunay Evinch and Civic Engagement Director Yenal Kucuker, joined by Bill Ali, President of the American and Turkish Veterans Association (ATVA), showed their respects by attending Lt. Col. Dr. Ozguc's funeral at the Arlington National Cemetery.  [read]

ATAA VP Kurtulus Builds Relations with the Georgian American Community

Turkish American builds relations with a congregation from the Georgian American Community in New York by raising the Georgian flag in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Georgia at historic Bowling Green in the heart of Wall Street New York. The flag raising ceremony was organized by Ibrahim Kurtulus Vice Chairman of Bowling Green Association a Turkish America community leader.  [read]
ATAA VP Kurtulus Comments at Protest at Chinese Mission

On behalf of the Turkish American Cultural Alliance of Staten Island and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, ATAA,  It's a privilege to join the Young Turks in standing with you all and our brothers the Uygur Turks who stood up and continue to stand up for freedom and democracy in China . I am proud to stand with the Young Turks of USA to recognize our Uyghur Turkish brothers human rights activists doing dangerous and heroic work to get the Chinese government to reverse their pursuit of inhuman treatment of minority groups and to improve the treatment of their Uyghur citizens. [read]

ATAA Component Association Spotlight
The American-Turkish Association of Washington, DC (ATA-DC)

 

The American-Turkish Association of Washington, DC (ATA-DC) is a non-political, non-profit (tax-exempt) organization founded in 1965 to promote better understanding between the American and Turkish people through social, educational, cultural and charitable activities. ATA-DC also initiates and carries out various community-service projects. ATA-DC is the largest Turkish-American organization in the Washington metropolitan area. It is governed by an all volunteer Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Each year half of the Board is elected for a two-year term. The President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary are all elected for two-year terms. The Board conducts the business of the Association through the committees it appoints and holds monthly meetings to coordinate its activities. 

 

 

President: Demet Cabbar, president@atadc.org
Address: ATA-DC, 1526 18th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036
Website: www.atadc.org

ATAA in the News
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)

 

The ATAA, representing over 60 local chapters and 500,000 Turkish Americans throughout the United States, serves locally and nationwide to develop an informed and empowered Turkish American community, and to support strong U.S.-Turkish relations. 

The ATAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed under the laws of the District of Columbia. To learn more about ATAA, please visit us at www.ataa.org. 

© 2011 Assembly of Turkish American Associations.  The ATAA™, ASSEMBLY OF TURKISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS™, and ATAA ASSEMBLY OF TURKISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS logo™  are trademarks owned by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations.  All rights reserved.