On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, members of the Niagara Foundation and the Turkish American Society of Missouri (TASOM) accompanied a delegation from Kyrgyzstan to the Missouri State Capitol building to attend the 5th Annual Intercultural State House Reception. The honorable delegation consisted of delegates from the Osh Province of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Kyrgyz delegation received a warm welcome by Missouri Senator Joseph Keaveny and was given an inside tour of the State Capitol. Missouri Speaker of the House Tim Jones expressed how honored he was by their presence and spoke briefly about his role in the Missouri House of Representatives and explained how new legislation is enacted, implemented and ultimately representative of the people it seeks to serve.
Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, who acquired expert knowledge of Central Asia during his time in Afghanistan as a military intelligence officer, emphasized the region’s importance and expressed his role in the state of Missouri to maintain strong relations with Kyrgyzstan and its neighboring countries.
As part of their U.S. trip, the Kyrgyz delegation also visited the Missouri Department of Economic Development, where they discussed the significance of developing trade relationships and connections as well as the value of sharing trade data between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan.
The delegations also had meetings with Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, who acknowledged the history of Turkey and Kyrgyzstan as well as their rich and vibrant cultures. Additionally, Missouri State Auditor Thomas Schweich shared his excitement towards the group and briefed them on various civic topics, including the election process, the functions of government at the state-level and state government’s commitment to transparency and accountability to state-run institutions and privately owned businesses.
This reception marked the first time a Kyrgyz delegation visited the Missouri State Capitol. The delegation was recognized by both the Missouri Senate and House, receiving proclamations and warm applause.
Founded in 2004, the Niagara Foundation aims to foster dialogue among the U.S. and Turkic countries. In addition to holding intercultural receptions, it also hosts dialogue dinners, an Abrahamic Traditions Dinner, lecture series on subjects such as global affairs, interfaith collaboration and international development. TASOM’s ultimate goal is to build stronger and safer communities through communication and interaction. TASOM also seeks to enrich the experience of the entire community by providing opportunities to engage and educate the community related to diversity. The Niagara Foundation is a member of the Turkic American Federation of Midwest (TAFM). TAFM is one of six federations under the Turkic American Alliance (TAA), which is located in Washington, D.C.
