A delegation of prominent leaders, businesspersons and gathered at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta for the 5th Annual Turkish-Georgian Friendship Dinner to celebrate “Turkish Day” on February 7th, 2014. The Turkic American Federation Southeast of (TAFS), along with one of its sister organizations, held a Turkey-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Reception later that evening.
The dinner was attended by 160 guests, including 6 state Commissioners, 2 officials from Georgia state Department Agencies, 57 state Representatives, 20 state Senators, 12 diplomatic staff from the Honorary Consul General of Turkey located in Atlanta, including the Honorary Consul General, in addition to many other businesspersons and academics.
Opening remarks were made by the Honorable Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal, who in 2013 led a state delegation to Istanbul and Mersin, Turkey, to discuss and promote trade and business. During his visit, the Governor stressed the significance of nurturing the bond between the state of Georgia and the Republic of Turkey. TAFS president, Cemil Teber, thereafter delivered a speech expressing the importance of sharing the beauty of Turkey in order to shift the spotlight from issues that have engulfed the nation these past few months. State Senator John Albers; Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler; Director of Academic Affairs at the Istanbul Center in Atlanta, Dr. Mustafa Gokhan Sahin; Thomas Brown, the Sheriff of DeKalb County, Georgia, and candidate for U.S. Congress; Georgia General Assembly House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams; and Honorable Consul of the Republic of Turkey Mona Diamond all proceeded to deliver remarks.
The distinguished speakers expressed the value of their experience visiting Turkey as well as the hospitality they received when interacting with the Turkish people. Sheriff Brown highly recommended that the audience visit Turkey and stated, “Turkey is good for America. We need to cultivate that relationship and continue that relationship. Take that experience. You will understand on the other side of the world on how valuable that particular ally is to us here in America.”
The Turkic American Federation of Southeast (TAFS) is a regional federation organized under the umbrella organization, the Turkic American Alliance (TAA). TAFS aims to foster dialogue between the U.S. and the Turkic-American community by developing programs that encourage and improve cross-cultural relations. Organizing trips to Turkey and hosting State Capitol Receptions are a key part of its activities and its affiliate organizations.
For more information [in Turkish]visit here: http://zamanamerika.com/index.php/tr/yerel-haberler1/dogu-yakasi/item/12244-georgia-da-tuerk-guenue-kutlamalar-bueyuek-ilgi-goerdue.
