Today, we as Turkic American Alliance and Rumi Forum, one of our component organizations organized Annual Intercultural Ramadan Dinner at our headquarters in Washington D.C. This Iftar (Ramadan Dinner) was colorful with the participation of officials in Washington D.C. from different cultures and religions. Alongside of Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan, Ambassadors of South Africa, Fiji, Mozambique, Timor-Leste and Diplomats from the Embassies of Russia,Republic of Cite d’Ivoire, Macedonia,Norway, Kazakhstan, Kingdom of Bahrain, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Indonesia, Sweden attended to the Ramadan Dinner. There were also officials from the White House and the US State Department as well as some other Agencies in Washington D.C. In brief, around 100 guests attended to this wonderful Ramadan Dinner.
Guests begun to arrive around 7 :30 p.m. and they talked with each other in the reception room of TAA’s headquarter which was decorated with the cultural hand-made exhibitions of brother Turkic countries. People looked at those exhibitions while they were talking with each other.
Then, guests begun to pass to the multi-purpose hall and took their places. TAA and Rumi Forum introductory videos were shown to guests as well as a video about the Ramadan. Then people broke their fasting by listening Athan. Guests tasted delicious Turkic hand made food and dessert at this wonderful night.
Jena Luedtke, Director of Center for Interfaith & Intercultural Dialogue at the Rumi Forum warmly welcomed guests and told TAA and Rumi Forum’s gratitude to distinguished guests for their coming to the Ramadan Dinner. She then invited Mr. Emre Celik, President of Rumi Forum to the podium. Mr. Celik also welcomed guests and underlined the importance of sharing this night all together.
Afterward, Mrs. Luedtke invited Mr. Paul Montero, Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement to the podium. Mr. Montero said thanks to Turkic American Alliance and Rumi Forum for their organizing this wonderful dinner and talked about the significance of the Ramadan Dinner tonight and this kind of events for understanding each other.
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool of South Africa then talked about the Ramadan Dinner and how it turns to a melting pot for the people from different cultures and religions by sharing similarities and understanding differences between each other. H.E. Ebrahim Rasool said Ramadan is a magnificent time not only for Muslims but also for our friends and neighbors. It is an unobtainable opportunity to strengthen our friendship.
Consequently, Norwegian Diplomat Mr. Johan Vibe, Deputy Chief of Mission talked about today’s event. Speakers generally reiterated importance of the dialogue, friendship and cooperation by refusing any kind of sepratism among cultures and religions.
Ambassador Namik Tan of Turkey underlined also that everybody needs to cooperate with each other and try to understand each other by drawing attention to the globalized world. H.E. Namik Tan said we all share this world and in this place that we live together, importance of knowing each other is everyday increasing. These kinds of nights are a great opportunity to know each other of different cultures
In the end, President of Turkic American Alliance Dr. Faruk Taban said his gratitude to distinguished speakers for their invaluable talks, and guests for coming and then announced there would be Ebru, water marbling exhibition and wonderful Turkish coffee service at the Turkic American Alliance’s rooftop.
Guests watched the Ebru and enjoyed Turkish coffee at the rooftop by talking with each other while some of the were taken photo with the beautiful Capitol view.
Related News: http://www.turkishny.com/usa-news/87-american-english-news/63721-taa-ve-rumi-forumdan-farkl-kultur-ve-dinleri-buluturan-iftar
