Today, TCA welcomed Egemen Bağış, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Ambassador Haluk Ilıcak, Undersecretary of Ministry for EU Affairs, and Ekim Alptekin, president of the Turkish American Business Association (TABA/AmCham), to its Washington office for a discussion on TCA's leadership in engaging the Turkish American community.
During the meeting, TCA president G. Lincoln McCurdy and Alptekin explained the importance of a politically active Turkish American community in building greater US-Turkey relations. During the meeting, TCA president G. Lincoln McCurdy and Alptekin explained the importance of a politically engaged Turkish American community in building greater US-Turkey relations.
"We are honored to receive the minister at our Washington office and appreciate his support of our efforts to promote Turkish American political activism and strengthen U.S.-Turkey relations," said G. Lincoln McCurdy, president of the Turkish Coalition of America.
The group went on to discuss TCA's robust scholarship program as well as ways that the Turkish and Turkish American business communities could get involved to help improve US-Turkey trade relations. After briefing Minister Bağış on the success of its scholarship program, he encouraged collaboration with the ERASMUS Programme and offered his support to increase the number of American students studying in Turkey.
