Monthly Newsletter
June 26, 2010
Issue 7

Assembly of Turkish American Associations

1526 18th St., NW Washington, DC 20036
202.483.9090, 202.483.9092 fx
www.ataa.org, assembly@ataa.org

In This Issue

ATAA Hosts Dinner for Washington DC Local Leaders

ATAA President, TACC Members Meet

ATAA Welcomes New US Southern Europe Chief Baily

ATAA Hosts ODNI Council

Congressman McCaul met with Turkish Americans

Uyghur Leader Kadeer Visits ATAA

ATAA meets with Ahiskali Turks

MP Turkes Visits ATAA

Saying Goodbye to Press Counselor Hasturk

Intern Iskarpatyoti's Contributions to ATAA

American Turkish Association of Indiana

ATA-DC Screens Dersimiz Atatürk

The ATAA serves as an information resource center for its members and component associations throughout the United States, while working locally and nationwide to develop an informed and effective Turkish American citizenry. The ATAA is a major resource for experts, policy makers, and media who seek a deeper and broader understanding of U.S.-Turkish relations. The ATAA is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed under the laws of the District of Columbia. To learn more about ATAA, please visit us at www.ataa.org

President's Message

Dear ATAA Members and
Friends of Türkiye:

June 2010 was a sad month. A PKK terror attack killed seven Turkish soldiers at the Iskenderun NATO Naval Base, and an Israeli naval operation killed eight Turks and one American on the Mavi Marmara cruise ship that was carrying humanitarian aid to Gazze.

The ATAA public statement regarding these tragedies reached over 40,000 people. No one wrote to ATAA regarding the PKK attack, while 40 wrote to ATAA regarding the Mavi Marmara incident. Half of the writers thought the statement was too strong and pro-AKP, while the other half thought the statement was too weak and pro-Israel. ATAA believes that a full investigation by a commission of inquiry comprising Israeli, Turkish and other participants would be a sound approach to gaining an objective understanding of this tragic chapter in our history and moving forward.

The month of June was also a good month. The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Humanitarian Aid Project v. United States, that freedom of speech does not include providing assistance to the PKK or any other group listed as a terrorist organization by the US Department of State, even if the assistance is for the non-violent activities of the group. In addition, the ATAA Türk Evi hosted leaders from the Ahiskali and Uyghur Turkish American communities, as ATAA deepens relations with broader Turkish American society. Furthermore, the ATAA met with Jewish American groups, including the Conference of Presidents, American Jewish Committee, and Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs to keep lines of communication open between Turkish Americans and Jewish Americans. Finally, the ATAA met with the new director of the US Department of State Office of Southern Europe, Mr. Jess Baily, as a part of ATAA's periodic meetings with divisions of the federal government.

The ATAA office will be going through some changes. Our Programs Coordinator, Ms. Gamze Ergür, will be leaving us as she pursues her career in Istanbul. However, she will continue to be a key member of the team, as ATAA forges a strong presence in Turkey. On the other hand, we would like to welcome Mr. Yenal Küçüker who will be directing the ATAA Turkish American Broad Advocacy Network (TABAN) grassroots program from Washington DC. I must also mention our incredible interns, each of whom are providing three-weeks of service and gaining exposure to Turkish American advocacy at the nation's capital. Following Merve Gürakar, Troy Iskparpatyoti helped with our membership and component organization drive. Following Troy, we welcome Begüm KardeŞler in July and Merjan Bubernack who will join us in August. These young people and others like them are the future of the Turkish American community, and we are proud of them and confident for the years ahead!

On July 18, ATAA will hold its 2010 Assembly of Delegates Meeting at the ATAA Türk Evi in Washington DC. We will approve the 2010-11 budget, and chart the next year. Importantly, in October, ATAA is planning to hold a National Leadership Conference in Washington DC, which will be followed by an ATAA Delegation visit to Turkey and Northern Cyprus in November.

Bizi izlemeye devam edin! Bize katılın!

Sevgi ve saygılarımla,

Günay Evinch
President
Assembly of Turkish American Associations

ATAA ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES MEETING
July 18, 2010, Washington DC

ATAA Hosts Dinner for Washington DC Local Leaders

On June 1st ATAA hosted a dinner for the local Turkish American Community leaders' to assess the "Vanguard" protests that were held during April. President Gunay Evinch welcomed the local leaders at the Turk Evi. The group shared their ideas and decided to establish committees to lead the counter protests in the future.

ATAA President, TACC Members Meet

ATAA President Gunay Evinch, joined by ATAA staff, met with members of the Turkish American Community Center (TACC) in Maryland to discuss issues effecting Turkish Americans. Evinch stated that broadening activism and civic engagement and empowering the Turkish American community means ATAA must reach out to all Turkish Americans at the local levels. Evinch, who hosted lunch at the TACC Mosque, expressed, "The future of the Turkish American community depends on cooperation and solidarity now. Evinch explained that the recent successes of Turkish American Congressional visits on Capitol Hill, media letter campaigns, and counter-protests are owed to Turkish Americans who were able to set aside their differences and join in support of the common cause of promoting US-Turkish relations and Turkish American empowerment. Imam Cahit Kara lead a prayer for good health, prosperity, and happiness for the Turkish American community.

ATAA Welcomes New US Southern Europe Chief Baily

As a part of ATAA's periodic meetings with the federal government, President Gunay Evinch met the new Southern European Affairs Director, Jess Baily at the State Department. Evinch congratulated Director Baily, and discussed issues important to the Turkish American community, including reconciliation between Armenian and Turkish Americans, the Armenian occupation of western Azerbaijan, the self-determination of Turkish Cypriots who are seeking a bizonal, bicommunal federation on the island of Cyprus, and recent federal court decisions that support Turkey's struggle against PKK terrorism. Evinch also expressed that following the Mavi Marmara tragedy, he was meeting with Jewish American organizations in order to maintain active ad open lines of communication between Turkish Americans and Jewish Americans, with a view toward productive relations.

ATAA Hosts ODNI Council

ATAA hosted the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Heritage Council Members to discuss issues facing United States diplomacy and security policy. The Council includes leaders from America's diverse communities, including but not limited to Pakistani, Iranian, Afghani, Indian, Chaldean, Arab, Egyptian, Somali, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese American associations. The Council was created in response to issues leading to and arising from the 9/11 terror attack and the effectiveness of America's anti-terrorism program at home and worldwide. The Council gave a farewell gift to Dr. Ronald Sanders who served the ODNI for many years. The gift included a group picture with former Director, Admiral Dennis Blair at the National Counter-Terrorism Center in Virginia.

Congressman McCaul met with Turkish Americans in Washington DC

Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District, TX), a ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), stressed the multi-dimensional importance of Turkey to the United States, including its democracy, robust economy, security assets, cultural heritage and location. ATAA President Gunay Evinch stated that during the Armenian Resolution 252, many HFAC members expressed concern that the executive branch was not providing sufficient leadership and guidance. Evinch pointed out two new problems which warrant much better awareness, cooperation and intelligence between the legislature and executive branch. First, the passage of the resolution will encourage courts to uphold existing Armenian reparation laws which in turn will harm the private sector, as well as damage trade and foreign affairs with Turkey. Secondly, the passage of the resolution will violate the dignity (in Arabic and Turkish, "haysiyet") of the Turkish and Muslim people because it would amount to a trial by legislature and deprive Turks and Muslims of justice and fairness. The haysiyet problem would have severe implications for US-Turkish relations, as well as for rehabilitating America's credibility in the Muslim world.

Uyghur Leader Kadeer Visits ATAA

Rebia Kadeer, President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), met with ATAA President Gunay Evinch to discuss the situation of the Uyghur Turks in the Eastern Turkistan region of western China. Ms. Kadeer, who was released from Chinese prison and brought to the United States following U.S. State Department intervention, stated that she was working hard to bring attention to the dire situation of the Uyghurs. She stated that the American media now rejected denial terminology as "Turcophone Chinese Muslims" and referred to the Uyghurs as "Turkic". President Evinch pointed out that ethnic denial plagued Turks in other countries as well, such as Greece where Turks are referred to as "Turcophone Hellenic Muslims." Evinch further observed that communist China contrasted with the Soviet Union where the Turkic peoples of Central Asia and Caucuses evolved countries out of their autonomous statuses, whereas China and the Soviet Union were tragically similar with respect to the fate of the Uyghurs and Tatars. Ms. Kadeer pointed out the geostrategic and energy importance of the East Turkistan region. Evinch questioned the political and economic access Uyghurs in China. Ms. Kadeer explained that the access was superficial, and that China had even offered her the governance of the Uyghur region if she agreed to support China's regional demographic alteration policies and the mass execution of Uyghur activists as terrorists. Evinch also asked regarding the situation of Uyghurs who were wrongly arrested and detained in Afghanistan, and who are awaiting release from Guantanamo to the United States. Ms. Kadeer and President Evinch agreed that the Turkish American community requires broader education on these and related aspects of the Uyghur question.

ATAA meets with Ahiskali Turks at the ATAA Türk Evi

On June 10, 2010 ATAA had a meeting with Ahiskali Turk representatives Tiyenson Muradoglu, Bahreddin Iskanderov and Ravshan Muradoglu at the ATAA Turk Evi. As the leading umbrella organization of the Turkish American community in the United States, President Gunay Evinch briefed Ahiskali Turks on ATAA's history in the last three decades, and our experience in becoming an umbrella organization. Evinch discussed possible ways to unite Ahiskali Turks under a single roof and made suggestions to deepen ATAA's relations with the broader Turkic-American community.

MP Turkes Visits ATAA

MHP (National People's Party) Ankara MP Tuğrul TürkeŞ met with ATAA President Günay Evinch, Project Director Gamze Ergür and BOT member Oya Bain, during his general US visit to reconnect with government and civil society leaders. Mr. Turkes, son of the late Alparslan Turkes, commented that he appreciated President Evinch' reference to "laptop patriotism" in characterizing millions of Turks who spend vast amounts of time emailing each other about how to improve Turkey, rather than investing their energy into actually improving Turkey. Mr. Turkes commended ATAA for embracing Turkish Americans nationwide under the principle of "solidarity within diversity" and channeling Turkish American energy to support US-Turkish relations.

Saying Goodbye to Press Counselor Necmi Hasturk & Welcoming His Successor

On June 16th ATAA hosted a farewell reception for Turkish Embassy Press Counselor Necmi Hasturk. President Gunay Evinch presented Mr. Hasturk an appreciation award for his support of the Turkish American community during his term. Counselors, diplomats and military attache staff were also present at this reception. On this occasion ATAA also welcomed new Press Counselor Bilge Ilter.

Intern Troy Iskarpatyoti's Contributions to ATAA's Central Office

During June 2010, Troy Iskarpatyoti, worked with the ATAA office staff and Secretary General Aylangan to update our component association and membership list and compile the student association listing.

After spending his freshman year at Tufts University, Troy will be attending Vanderbilt University next fall to pursue a BA degree in Economics. At Tufts, Troy was an active member of the football team as well as the stock-market club. He has served many hours of community service in both the United States and Cyprus, volunteering at both the Saunders Retirement Home in Philadelphia and the UN-sponsored Doves Peace Movement Camp in Agros, Cyprus. In the future he hopes to purse his interest in business and political science as he enters the work-force. He is extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as an intern for the ATAA, and looks forward to becoming a more active member in the Turkish-American community.

	Opportunities to Advertise in the ATAA E-Newsletter The ATAA e-Newsletter reaches approximately 16,000 individuals throughout the United States, Canada and Turkey. The ATAA is now accepting banner ads from businesses that wish to reach the Turkish-American community. For advertising rates and options or other advertising-related inquiries, please e-mail to advertising@ataa.org.

ATAA Component Association Spotlight

American Turkish Association of Indiana - ATA-IN

Founded in 2001, the American Turkish Association of Indiana (ATA-IN) is a non-political, non-profit (tax-exempt) organization founded to promote better understanding between the American and Turkish peoples through social, educational, cultural and charitable activities. ATA-IN also initiates and carries out various community-service projects. ATA-IN is primarily dedicated to enriching Turkish-American community members' lives through statewide recreational, social, educational, and cultural activities. ATA-IN organizes picnics, youth parties, get-togethers, monitors and responds to any misinformation about Turkey and maintains close relations with ATAA and other area organizations.

President: Gunay Lynch
Address: PO Box 44213, Indianapolis, IN 46244
Website: www.ata-in.org