"Politicians from Turkey and the U.S. comment two countries relationship and current problems, foresight future relations... Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers and Members of Parlement all speak to TURKOFAMERICA, share their experiences and views with our readers. All exclusive interview from Ankara and Washington, D.C...
View items...
Last November, 98 Congressional Freshmen were elected in the 2018 midterm elections. This was the most diverse Freshmen group ever to be elected to Congress! Turkish American Steering Committee calls Turkish-Americans to invite Congress' new members to join Turkey Causus.
Pennsylvania's 7th District representative invited a Lehigh Valley small-business owner to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night. Rep. Susan Wild invited Murat Guzel, who owns a health foods company, to the president's speech, Wild's communications director Zoe Wilson-Meyer said. Guzel immigrated from Turkey three decades ago and works with the state's elected, appointed and non-profit leaders on mentoring and empowerment programs for girls, Wilson-Meyer said.
By Ali Cinar - The annual Interfaith Breakfast brought together faith leaders from across New York City and aimed at helping our city's most underserved residents. NYPL President Tony Marx made the first opening remarks at the breakfast. NYPD Commissioner and many NYPD Officials James P. O'Neill also attended the program to suppport the Clergy Leaders.
By Ali Cinar - Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker and Chief of Department Terrence Monahan’s Holiday Party and many NYPD Officers enjoyed the Holiday Party that was held on Russo's on the Bay. NYPD Middle East & Turkic Society Members were also present at the Holiday Party. The members were great to see so many colleagues come together to support the great leadership that they have at the NYPD.
The Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) commenced a new program "TASC Media Watch", following misinformed writings by the Boston Globe regarding the extradition of FETO leader, Fethullah Gulen, and by the Armenian Weekly promoting the censorship of free speech that questions the Armenian allegation of genocide.
The FBI has launched nationwide operations against FETÖ, the terror group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, said Turkey’s foreign minister on Monday. Speaking to lawmakers in parliament, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that FBI started to see the true nature of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). "There is a serious investigation into FETÖ launched by the FBI in 15 states," said Çavuşoğlu. "Moreover, arrests started in some states, including New Jersey."
By Ali Cinar- NYC - NYC Mayor de Blasio was with the Faith Leaders from across New York City to stand the against hate in all of its forms. Mayor made the following remarks during a press conference at the Upper East Side’s Temple Emanu-el. “We will defend with our lives the synagogues of this city and the community of this city. We stand with you. We will not let anyone harm you. The NYPD “will be present in force to protect Jewish community institutions. New Yorkers don't look away from hatred and try to pretend that it doesn't exist. We confront it and we confront it together. Our hearts, our prayers and our solidarity go out to the people of Pittsburgh "
By Murat Güzel - In the aftermath of the NATO Summit in Brussels, I have reflected on the importance of strong trans-Atlantic bonds and how this critical alliance has paved the way for economic growth which has benefitted both sides of the Atlantic. In an unstable world, we need strong trade alliances like the U.S.-Turkey one. We need a robust NATO as well. This week also marks the tragic anniversary of the darkest chapter in Turkey’s recent history, the July 15 failed coup. I am not a politician or an expert on international relations. I am a first-generation Turkish American who has built a multinational business. I am a “commercial” diplomat.
Washington, DC - AA - American experts on Wednesday warned of the threat posed by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in the country. "I believe that the Gulen movement in the U.S. presents a unique and unusual security threat," said Mark Hall, producer, screenwriter and director of the documentary, "Killing Ed", which probed the financial practices of FETO-linked charter schools in the U.S. Speaking at the panel, "July 15 Coup attempt: Two Years Later", organized by the Turkish Heritage Organization (THO), a Washington-based think tank, Hall said FETO threatens the U.S. mainly by bringing in unqualified employees from other countries, especially from Turkey, as well as through money laundering and forgery of documents, deceiving local and federal authorities.
Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli denies reports that Daron Acemoglu – a Turkish born economist of Armenian descent – has been offered a post in Turkey’s new government. According to him, no one from the Turkish government has contacted the world famous economist despite rumors that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been considering to propose him to take the reins of Turkey’s economy in his new cabinet. “Daron Acemoglu does not even know about such a thing,” the Haberturk columnist writes.
Dear Ms. Viner: I read "Turkey’s Attack on Syrian Kurds Could Overturn the Entire Region" (Jan. 27, 2018). You may recall our prior letters calling out the Guardian on its deep anti-Turkish bias, in particular articles legitimizing the hatred-inducing and unproven (even by the British, via the abortive 1919-21 Malta Tribunal probe) "Armenian genocide" charge.
The Turkish community living in the United States voiced their reactions against the U.S. support to the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian affiliate PYD in a press conference in front of the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. Representatives of the U.S. branch of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), the Cihannuma Solidarity and Cooperation Platform Association and the Turkish-American National Steering Committee (TASC) were present at the press conference protesting the U.S. Congress for using taxpayer money to support the terrorist group.
![Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army fighters hold flags on Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria on January 28 [Reuters/Khalil Ashawi]](/media/k2/items/cache/9b299f7dbd2b96202ef61cdbe6bdce1f_XS.jpg)
* By Leonid Issaev - On January 20, Turkey launched an air and ground offensive, which it called "Olive Branch", against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin in northern Syria. As the offensive progressed rapidly, it became obvious that such an ambitious operation could not have been possible without Russia's explicit approval. First of all, the operation required the Turkish Air Force to enter Syria's airspace - something Ankara could not have done without consulting Russia. Furthermore, before rechannelling Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces to Afrin, Ankara needed assurances from Russia that Bashar al-Assad would not take advantage of the situation and attempt to seize Turkish-controlled positions in the province of Idlib.
On Saturday, Turkey launched an operation in the northern Syrian enclave of Afrin aimed at rooting out armed Kurdish groups, which Ankara considers a threat to its security. Turkish ground troops followed a day after, crossing the border into Syria alongside thousands of Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters, as part of the so-called Operation Olive Branch. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said that the operation in Afrin would be followed by a push into the northern town of Manbij, which the US-backed Kurdish forces captured from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in 2016.
