Turkic-American Alliance held the premiere of its third annual Turkic-American Convention on board in Washington on Tuesday. In association with the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), about 400 guests attended the dinner held as a cruise tour on Potomac River.
Guests of the dinner included Texas democrat Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, US Special Representative for International Religious Freedoms Suzan Cook, several Turkish deputies among whom were Vice President of Turkish Justice and Development (AK) Party Ekrem Erdem, Vice President of Turkish Republican People’s Party Bulent Tezcan, deputies from the Turkic republics, Trabzon Governor Recep Kizilcik, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Akaydin, Turkish Ambassador in Washington Namik Tan and ambassadors of Turkic republics, officials from US, Turkey and Turkic republics, businessmen and politicians attended.
President Faruk Taban of TAA, began the opening ceremony thanking the committees for attending the convention on energy, trade and development.
US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee touched upon enhancing relations of US with Turkey and Turkic republics and their cooperation in areas of energy and trade. Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said, “I’m here to extend a hand of friendship, to indicate to you that we will be introducing the 21st Century Energy Caucus in Congress with members from both the Senate and the House.” Stating that she embraces the Turkic world, Lee said that with the sizeable Turkic population in Texas and the US as a whole, there is cultural collegiality between the US and the Turkic world.
Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan pointed out that the bilateral relations of US and Turkey were important to establish peace and stability in the Middle East, describing US-Turkish relations as “indispensable.” Namık Tan, praised the TAA as “one of the most important, prominent, prestigious civic institutions of the Turkic world.” Commenting on the work of the TAA, Tan said, “They started just three years ago and established themselves as an advocacy group which is so energetically and ably reaching out to every walk of life in this great country.” Expressing appreciation for the work of TAA’s volunteer staff, Tan said diplomats like himself are paid for what they do, but that there are a lot of workers and members of the TAA who do not get paid for the work they do.
Referring to bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the US, Elin Suleymanov, supported the description of the relationship as “one nation, two states” as he called for “one nation and multiple states,” inviting the wider Turkic world to work together.
Kazakh Ambassador to the United States Kairat Umarov also talked about the importance of cooperation. “This is quite a moment for all of us to be together talking about common projects, about common ideas,” he said while thanking the TAA for bringing the representatives together.
Complimenting the TAA’s cultural activities that bring the Turkic diaspora together in America, Kyrgyz Ambassador to the US Muktar Djumaliev also thanked the US for allowing them to build good relations among Turkic states and the US.
Talking about his visit to Turkey, Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks said that “being there educated me a lot. We better understand Turkey and the country, and more importantly Turks as people.” “I hope that US-Turkish relations will continue to improve, that we can find economic paths that are mutually beneficial and, equally important, that we can do what is necessary to help make sure that there is peace in the Middle East,” he further commented.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) İstanbul deputy Ahmet Berat Çonkar congratulated the TAA for the annual convention and said discussions during the convention will further strengthen the relationship between the US and Turkic countries.
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Bülent Tezcan said that in a world that is becoming ever smaller and more competitive, Turkey needs to be in closer cooperation with its friends in the Turkic world.
