ATAA Hosts Turkish - Somalian American Friendship Night

On December 7, more than 240 guests from around the country filled Bamian Restaurant in West Falls Church, VA for a Somali-Turkish Friendship Dinner Reception. Among the guests were Turkish and Somali dignitaries, business leaders, civic leaders, and student leaders from various universities in the D.C. area.

Both communities recently experienced disastrous events in their home countries. Turkey had been a victim of two consecutive earthquakes and PKK terrorist attacks claiming the innocent lives of hundreds while Somalia is suffering through endless drought, hunger, famine and civil war.

Ambassador Abukar Arman expressed his gratefulness for the Republic of Turkey and Turkish people and stated that both fate and faith brought the two nations together. A young Somali student and Co-Founder of Wakeup Somalia, Bashir Warsame, recited a poem especially written for this special evening. Dr. Hodan Isse, spouse of Somali Prime Minister, mentioned in her speech the “brotherly visit” of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his wife. Dr. Isse said that it was this act that made Somalians love the Turkish people so much:

“By visiting a land that so many in the world have forgotten for decades, Turkish Prime Minister provided a glimmer of hope to the most terrible Somalis- the poor, the youth, the elderly and the women who lived through 20 years of poverty, civil war, internal displacement, political inequality, and unequal access to economic resources which culminated to massive employment of youth that now we call pirates, terrorists, failed migration and miserable youth. In fact, I call them unemployed youth as a weapon of mass destruction. You have inspired many nations and created a new interest for Somalia and for Somalians living outside of the country in helping rebuild their country. Your visit to Somalia is the most unifying act that occurred in Somalia in over two decades."

Tears filled the eyes of the many distinguished guests as keynote speaker, Ambassador Namik Tan, expressed his gratitude for the hospitality of the Somali community:

“I am fascinated to be one of you tonight. What a welcome you have given to me and to my wife. What a warmth we are receiving from you. We feel like we have been together for ages, believe me. What makes us feel this way? Why is it that we are here together for the first time? It is a big embarrassment for all of us, by the way, I should underline that these unfortunate developments shouldn’t be the reason for us to come together. We should have done this a long ago. What makes me optimistic about the future is this manifestation of your incredible closeness tonight. I mean, everyone is sitting intermingled around those tables are like a joint family from different diasporas. Moreover, I think there is one other factor that you must not have noticed. I have to tell you this; obviously, there is a little professional competition between our own non-profit organizations. You can understand that. However, they have left all of their differences and have put the competition aside and they came from all over the United States to come and support you and they are sitting all around you.

By your presence here tonight, I think this is an unnecessary way of saying showing your appreciation. We did not deserve anything because this is in our tradition; this is something that I know you would do if we were in the same condition. Would you be indifferent? I know you would do the exact same thing. You did not ask anything from us. Even if you do not want us to help, we will come and help you.”

The Association for Somali American Nationals (AFSAN) representatives, Hassan Warsame and Mariam Osman teamed with Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), Past President Gunay Evinch, ATAA Programs Director Secil Goksu, and ATAA Civic Engagements Director, Yenal Kucuker, to organize this unprecedented event. The two organizations have promised to continue to support one another in humanitarian and local community efforts.

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