On Wednesday, June 4th, 2014, the Council of Turkic American Associations (CTAA) hosted its 5th Annual Turkic Cultural Day at the Massachusetts State Capitol in Boston to celebrate Turkic culture and traditions. Distinguished guests included the Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Senate Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg, many other state Senators and state Representatives, legislative staff and the Turkic community were also in attendance.
The event opened with a speech by CTAA President Furkan Kosar, who gave a brief presentation on the role that CTAA plays in supporting cultural exchange and promoting diversity within its regional community. He also emphasized the strong relationship between the United States, Turkey and the Central Asian countries, pointing to the example of the annual Turkic American Conventions as a major indicator of such relationships. This year, the Turkic American Convention was held on April 8th and 9th, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
Additional remarks were delivered by Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and Senate Majority Leader Stanley Rosenberg. Senator Rosenberg spoke highly of Turkey, its people, as well as its ability as a nation to bounce back from the Soma disaster on May 19th, 2014. Speaker of the House DeLeo also paid tribute to the Soma mining victims. In addition, Massachusetts State Representative Harold Naughton, Jr., offered a brief and special history of the relationship between Ireland and the Ottoman Empire. During the Great Famine in Ireland, the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid in 1845 generously offered 1,000 sterling pounds and commanded three ships full of food provisions to the coast of Ireland to assist in the relief efforts, despite many efforts by the British monarchy to thwart its efforts.
Later in the afternoon, Massachusetts state Representative Sarah Peake presented a resolution to CTAA President Kosar, expressing her condolences on the deaths of the hundreds of miners whose lives were lost as a result of a mine explosion in the town of Soma in southwestern Turkey. Representative Peake concluded by recognizing the efforts made by the Council of Turkic American Association in assisting the victims and their families. At the conclusion of the event, a wide variety of delicious Turkish delicacies and cuisines were offered. Also on display was a collection of traditional crafts and books that showcased both Turkish and Turkic cultures.
The Council of Turkic American Associations (CTAA) aims to promote cultural awareness and engage in dialogue through annual friendship dinners, Turkey trips and luncheon forums. CTAA is one of six member federations organized under the Turkic American Alliance (TAA), which is located in Washington, D.C.
