LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2015 - Azerbaijani Society of America (ASA) Western Region organized the first ever major celebration of Nowruz - Vernal Equinox Spring Holiday - in Southern California. The event was organized at the Orange County Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa, California. Among the nearly 250 mostly Azerbaijani-American guests were also the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, California Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), Mayor of Irvine, CA - Steven Choi, Mayor of Fountain Valley, CA - Steve Nagel, all of whom addressed the audience. Speaking to the community, Congressman Royce highlighted the importance of Azerbaijan and recalled his recent visit to the country.
Vowing that ?we will not be silenced,? television?s Dr. Oz is fighting back against critics who are trying to get him removed from a faculty position at Columbia University. Dr. Mehmet Oz will air an episode of his syndicated talk show Thursday that specifically takes on the group of 10 doctors from around the country who wrote to a Columbia dean about him. The group suggested last week that Oz promotes ?quack treatments? of weight-loss supplements with no scientific proof that they work.
Ambassador Serdar Kilic assumed Turkey's top diplomatic post in the U.S. in April 2014, after previously serving as Turkey's Ambassador to Japan, the Secretary General of Turkey?s National Security Council, Turkey's Ambassador to Lebanon and other positions handling public policy matters, including NATO and Euro-Atlantic security and defense. This is Ambassador Kilic's second posting in the U.S., having served 26 years ago in 1989 as Vice Consul in Los Angeles. Today, Ambassador Kilic leads the largest diplomatic mission of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and pursues a dynamic diplomatic agenda for the Republic of Turkey. Below, Ambassador Kilic answered our questions about U.S.-Turkish relations and current events.
The New York Times has rejected an advertisement from a Turkish-American advocacy group calling for the reconciliation between Turks and Armenians on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the 1915 incidents. The newspaper said the advertisement would be seen as a denial of "great historical events that re [sic] generally accepted as facts." The full-page open letter from the Turkish American National Steering Committee urges the U.S. government to refrain from politicizing the issue and instead promote peace and solidarity between the two nations.
A Turkish businessman and educator has pledged $10 million towards the establishment of a university for Syrian refugees that have been displaced by the war and continuing violence in their homecountry. Enver Yucel, who has opened a number of private univiersities and operates K-12 private schools in Turkey, is hoping to attract the goodwill of international investors to fund the rest of the project. He recently sent a delegation to Reyhanli, where a large refugee camp is located, to meet with Syrian educators. 
The presidents of Turkey and the U.S. will open the Turkish-American Culture and Civilization Center in Maryland, Turkey's foreign minister said Sunday. Mevl 
Chobani LLC founder Hamdi Ulukaya settled a lawsuit by his ex-wife over her bid for control of the yogurt maker. Ayse Giray sued Ulukaya in 2012, saying she was entitled to as much as 53 percent of the biggest Greek-style yogurt company in the U.S. Details of the agreement weren?t disclosed in a filing Tuesday in state court in Manhattan. 
American Turks have launched the 'Let History Decide' campaign in the U.S. to counter Armenian allegations over the events of 1915 involving the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The campaign has been organized by the Turkish American Steering Committee, which consists of 145 Turkish American organizations. Several events have been planned under the campaign that will take place in different parts of the U.S., including Washington DC, New York and Texas. 
TripAdvisor users love Marrakech. They chose the Moroccan city as the No. 1 place to visit in 2015. Istanbul is ranked #3. TripAdvisor says, "The mosques, bazaars, and Turkish baths of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip: an eyeful of breathtaking architecture here, a good-natured haggle over a carpet there. Kick your trip off at the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), which is visible from many points of the city. Stroll the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniaturk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to browse, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits."
TAV Airports Holding's joint venture, ATU Duty Free, has been awarded the tender to operate the duty free shops in United States of America, Texas at Houston George Bush International Airport. The operating period of the duty free area is 10 years. The project covers the operation right of 700 square meters of duty free area in the airport which in total, served more than 41 million passengers in 2014.
TCA hosted the first ever business forum on the American political system in Washington, D.C. for executives of Turkish-owned companies in the U.S., major Turkish American businesses, and interested American companies. Over 30 representatives from companies and business associations took part in the program, which provided an opportunity for participants to learn how to effectively communicate their business issues and interests to elected officials. 
TCF has provided a major grant to underwrite Access Orpheus, a program of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra that will bring 250 public school students from throughout New York City to a performance of Fazıl Say with the Orpheus Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The concert will take place in April. An acclaimed Turkish pianist and chamber artist, Say will join the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for a series of performances and audience engagement programs in New York in April. The program aims to expand audiences' awareness of Turkey's ongoing contribution to western classical music. Through Access Orpheus and TCF's support, students will have their first experience with live classical music and will be provided with a study guide about Fazıl Say and the music-making process used by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. 
The Great Synagogue of Edirne renevoted by the Prime Ministry General Directorate of Foundations will be opened on Thursday, 26 March 2015 at 14:00 with a ceremony to be honoured by the participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson Mr. Bulent Arinc. Nearly 100 guests from abroad, high level bureaucrats from the country, and a group of 500 members of the Turkish Jewish Community are expected to participate in the opening ceremony. 
