Special Issues - turkofamerica.com

Bosnian Genocide Condemned with 8,372 Pairs of Shoes

The Srebrenica genocide, known as the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, was condemned in İstanbul's Taksim Square on Saturday by 8,372 pairs of shoes in front of a monument consist of two steel-framed pillars in the form of the letters U and N (United Nations).

A total of 8,372 Bosnians were killed in and around the town of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995 by units of the Bosnian Serb army under the command of Gen. Ratko Mladic during the Bosnian war.

Young Bosnians Association President Enisa Kezo stated that this monument serves as a metaphor for the “betrayal of the United Nations,” which failed to prevent the Srebrenica genocide from happening and to intervene to stop the mass killing of thousands.

“The whole world should remember this genocide and should see the United Nation's dishonor,” stated Enisa Kezo. She later criticized those who called the genocide a “massacre,” saying, “This cannot be a massacre because a massacre is nothing compared to genocide.” Kezo thanked Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu for their support in the project.

July 11, 2011
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Cultural Immersion Trips to Turkey

Trips to Turkey for Americans organized by the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians and the Atlas Foundation are more than just another vacation.

These US-based organizations strive to provide a deeper, more accurate understanding of Turkey by offering foreigners a unique cultural immersion experience.

The Turquoise Council is an independent umbrella organization that works to foster interactions between Americans of Turkish and Eurasian descent and the wider community.

The Atlas Foundation is one of its member organizations in Louisiana. Both organizations coordinate trips to Turkey for Americans who desire an authentic, well-rounded experience.

As far as cultural exchange programs go, these trips may appear short -- typically nine to 10 days -- but Turquoise Council President Kemal Öksüz said that “our trips provide an intensive, informative view of Turkish society on a broad scale.”

July 11, 2011
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Bon Jovi Shakes Istanbul Stage

Photo by AP

Bon Jovi came back to Istanbul to make the Turkish girls scream, as the frontman said during Friday’s show. And the American rock giant deservedly got what it asked for

Bon Jovi’s opening song was ‘Raise Your Hands,’ which was, in a way, the perfect way to kick start a stadium show. But the show was not only about songs. An eye candy screen and a light show also helped. AP photo

There is only one reason why Bon Jovi came back to Istanbul, “to make the Turkish girls scream.” After a triumphant performance, the band deservedly got what it wanted. Before Friday, the Bon Jovi show was dubbed as “the biggest concert of the year,” and it lived up to expectations, if not crushed them, as the 35,000 people present for the American rock giants’ performance at Türk Telekom Arena would tell you.

July 11, 2011
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A Turkish Choreographer Inspired by New York

Korhan Basaran and Dancers at the Ailey Citigroup Theater.Julieta Cervantes for The New York Times.

The Turkish choreographer Korhan Basaran isn’t interested in beating around the bush: the title of his evening-length show last Tuesday night at the Ailey Citigroup Theater was “I am Korhan, this is my dance!” He began “On Life,” the final section, which was inspired by New York, chatting with audience members while wearing an “I ♥ NY” T-shirt.

There’s something charming about this, even (or especially) if it might cause a grizzled New Yorker to raise an eyebrow or two: Mr. Basaran ended that section alone onstage, dripping with sweat, his intense mien slowly softening into an earnest smile. You want to root for this immigrant artist, whose breathless program biography describes him as “based in the mighty New York”; “On Life,” with its buckling, collapsing phrases set to Philip Glass, pushes the dancers to drenched exhaustion in a clear emulation of chaotic, at times alienating, urban life. (The dancer Jenna Otter is particularly effective here.)

June 30, 2011
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Angelina Jolie Visits Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Angelina Jolie, center, waves as she leaves from a Syrian refugee camp in the southern Turkish town of Altinozu in Hatay province on June 17th,2011. Umit Bektas/Reuters

ALTINOZU, Turkey — U.N. envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Turkey's border with Syria on Friday, sharing fruit and desserts with some of the thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled their government's bloody crackdown.

The Hollywood celebrity and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in the Turkish province of Hatay on a private jet with boxes of toys for the refugee camps.

Jolie spent two-and-a-half hours with the refugees, asking how they were in Arabic and then speaking with them through an interpreter, Turkey's NTV television reported. It said she took notes, showing particular interest in the women and children.

Nearly 10,000 Syrians have sought refuge in camps in Turkey.

June 28, 2011
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Memo Excited About Playing With Kanter

When the Utah Jazz drafted Enes Kanter with the third pick in the 2011 NBA Draft it meant that for the first time in NBA history two Turkish players would play on the same team. Mehmet Okur who has been a member of the Utah Jazz for seven seasons, and the only Turkish player ever to win a NBA Championship and be an All-Star talked about the selection and other topics.

Memo13: What dou you think about the Jazz drafting counteryman Enes Kanter? What dou you expect from Enes and the Utah Jazz as well as yourself in the upcoming season?

Okur: As you know there are 6 Turkish players presently in the NBA. I feel that Zaza Pachulia is also Turkish as he has Turkish passport and he grew up in the Turkish system as he had been in Turkey since a very young age. If we count Zaza, with Hidayet Turkoğlu (Orlando Magic), myself, Ersan Ilyasova (Milwaukee Bucks), Omer Asik (Chicago Bulls) and Semih Erden (Cleveland Cavaliers) that makes six Turkish players. Now with the drafting of Enes this will make it seven players. I am very excited that we will be the first Turkish players to ever play on the same NBA team. This will be a major milestone. Since my first days in the NBA, I always hoped that Hidayet and I would play on the same team, and together perhaps win a NBA Championship. It was a dream of mine, and now hopefully we will get there with Enes. We have a very wide big men rotation. I think everyone knows this and everybody will come prepared to do battle in camp. As far as Enes goes, the adjustment he needs to make to the NBA and to Utah in general should be easier because not just myself but my entire family will be there to help him out. Enes has a home already in Utah and I think he is well beware of that. I finished my ninth season in the NBA and I believe that my experiences will benefit him greatly.

June 28, 2011
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2011 Young Photographers Award Results

On behalf of The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project, we are pleased to announce that the winner of the second Young Photographers Award is Tuncay Cetin from Akdeniz University, who will receive $5,000 for his award. In addition, honorable mentions will go to Emir Ozsahin of Bilgi University and Mahmut Koyas of Okan University, who will each receive $2,500. The awards will be used to cover the recipients' tuition and/or photography equipment purchases.

The Young Photographers Award was established by Elisa and Haluk Soykan in 2010 to encourage and support undergraduate students of photography in Turkey. The program is administered by the Moon and Stars Project and The American Turkish Society; and was made possible by a grant from Young Photographers Award Fund established by the donors, Elisa and Haluk Soykan at Turkish Philanthropy Funds. In addition, Moon and Stars Project makes an additional $1,000 contribution to the program to support exhibition expenses.

June 8, 2011
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Altintop Closes in on Real Madrid Transfer

Altintop Closes in on Real Madrid Transfer

MADRID — Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop's switch from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid is set to be completed on Monday, the Spanish sport daily Marca reported on Saturday.

"It is expected that his signing with Real Madrid will be officially announced on Monday," wrote Marca, without citing a source.

Another sport daily, As, also reported that Altintop's deal was nearing completion and said his arrival was "at the express request of (Real coach Jose) Mourinho".

May 14, 2011
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Turkish American Parade and Festival Will Take Place in Paterson, NJ

The sixth annual Paterson-Clifton Turkish American day parade and festival will take place Saturday, May 14. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. from Madison Avenue, Paterson along Main Street to Main Memorial Park in Clifton.

The post parade festival will take place at Main Memorial Park. The festival will feature stands where all can buy Turkish food and various Turkish goods. There will be children’s games, prizes and live musical performances including singers and folklore dancers.

On Thursday, May 12 the Turkish flag will be raised in front of Paterson City Hall at 10 a.m. and at noon at Clifton City Hall.

May 9, 2011
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Turkey Renovates Armenian Monuments As Gesture

In this Sept. 11, 2008 file photo, the Church of Tigran Honents at Ani is seen in the Turkey-Armenia border province of Kars, Turkey. Turkey has launched a project to conserve an ancient cathedral and a church in what is seen as a gesture of reconciliation toward neighboring Armenia. Photo: Burhan Ozbilici / AP

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has launched a project to conserve an ancient Armenian cathedral and church in what is seen as a gesture of reconciliation toward its neighbor.

Turkey and Armenia have been locked in a bitter dispute for decades over the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in the last years of the Ottoman Empire. Efforts to normalize relations have been dealt a setback by the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan is a close Muslim ally of Turkey.

Turkey, however, says it is committed to improving ties with Armenia, and has already restored the 10th century Akdamar church, perched on a rocky island in Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It has also allowed once-yearly worship at the site as a gesture to Armenia and its own ethnic Armenian minority.

May 4, 2011
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"Harmony Iraq", A Project for the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, Launches Kickstarter Campaign

"Harmony Iraq", an Open Goldberg Project, is using the fundraising website Kickstarter to help send young Iraqi musicians to an intensive 2-week summer orchestra camp. The goals of the Kickstarter project include filming the orchestra for a multimedia DVD, and raising money to help directly finance the orchestra. Supporters include Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Master of the Queen's Music.

The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq (NYOI) consists of musicians from all ethnic and religious backgrounds. They come together each summer for two weeks of intense musical training, learning to trust each other and work together.

A teaser video featuring footage from 2009 and 2010, as well as an interview from Sir Peter Mawell Davies, can be seen on the project's Kickstarter page.

May 3, 2011
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2011 Arif Mardin Music Fellowship Recipient

The American Turkish Society's fifth Arif Mardin Music Fellowship has been awarded to Emir Demirdag, a 19-year-old percussionist from Mersin, Turkey. Emir will be attending the Five-Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music taking place July 9 - August 12, 2011.

Throughout his high school career, Emir, who taught himself to play the drums with only the aid of instructional DVDs and books, enjoyed remarkable local and national success in Turkey. He is the recipient of his high school's "Best Music Student" and "Most Promising Musician" awards, and has won numerous titles from local talent shows. Most significantly, out of 2,500 bands, Emir's band qualified for the semi-final of the nationwide "Fanta Stage Music Contest for Amateur Rock Musicians."

On behalf of The American Turkish Society, we congratulate Emir and wish him success this summer at Berklee College of Music.

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
Launched by The American Turkish Society in memory of Arif Mardin (1932-2006), world-renowned producer/arranger and vice chairman of the organization for many years, the Arif Mardin Music Fellowship aims to further the education of promising musicians from Turkey and give them a chance to study in the United States. The program is conducted in partnership with Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where Mardin's successful music career began as the first recipient of the Quincy Jones Scholarship. Past recipients of the Fellowship, from earliest to most recent, include Sirma Munyar (piano/vocal), Canberk Kargi (drums), Erol Balci (guitar) and Olgun Acar (percussion).

April 26, 2011
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Turkish Violinist Virtuoso to Perform at Carnegie Hall in May

Young Turkish violinist Burcu Göker, known as the "new diva of the violin," will perform at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall in May. Göker will perform at Carnegie Hall together with American pianist Eric Jenkins on May 2, a statement from the Turkish Culture Ministry said Wednesday. After their concert in New York, the two musicians will come to Turkey and stage performances in five provinces as well as northern Cyprus starting May 9, the statement said.

Göker, a native of Istanbul, started her musical education at the age of eight at the University of Istanbul State Conservatory, where she graduated the high school division at the age of 14.