The Turkic American Alliance (TAA), a leading Turkish-American umbrella organization, opened new headquarters this week in Washington, D.C., with the participation of members of the US Congress and Turkey’s Ambassador to the US Namik Tan. Members of the US Congress who were in attendance at the opening ceremony thanked the TAA for their contribution to the US-Turkey relationship. California Congressman Bob Filner, who had just returned to the US after a TAA-sponsored trip to Turkey, indicated that the nature of the relationship between Turkey and the US has changed as it was a more military-based tie before. Now we have to have a people-to-people relationship,Filner said, adding, What you [the TAA]are doing is extremely important, and that is establishing real people-to-people talk. Highlighting Turkey’s role in the Middle East, the congressman continued: You can play a role in the Middle East no one else can play. We need to have a strengthened Turkish-American relationship because I think Turkey is the key to a stable and peaceful democratic Middle East.
Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge also congratulated the TAA and thanked the institution on behalf of the young people in Ohio who receive education at TAA schools. I had the opportunity to be a judge at one of your science fairs. It was just fantastic, she said.
Todd Rokita, a congressman from Indiana, said the TAA is needed to keep building the US-Turkey relationship. Ambassador Tan congratulated TAA head Faruk Taban and other members of the alliance. You have organized lots of activities in different parts of the United States which I believe made a difference, and it has become a source of inspiration. It has become even a driving force at certain times for us as professionals representing our country in this land of big thinking. You made something which is a product of big thinking, Tan said during his speech.
Source: Today’s Zaman Retrieved May 12, 2011 fromhttp://www.todayszaman.com/news-243706-turkic-american-alliance-opens-new-headquarters-in-washington-dc.html
