Past TCA Issue Papers

On 25 August, representatives from 28 countries and 7 international organizations met in Istanbul for an extraordinary meeting of the Libya Contact Group. During the meeting, political consultations were held addressing recent developments in Libya as well as plans for the country’s transition to a stable democracy in the post-Gaddafi era. Partcipants in the Libya Contact Group meeting included diplomats from several European and Arab governments in addition to representatives from Turkey and the United States. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America’s (TCA) 10th Congressional Delegation visit to Turkey concluded this week. Commencing with an inaugural trip in May 2009, TCA has since taken more than 100 Representatives and senior staffers to Turkey to help strengthen the US-Turkey relationship. read more

A letter by Republican Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Mark Kirk of Illinois to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta voiced objections to the stationing of a NATO missile defense radar system in Turkey. The Senators preposterously allege that Turkey is not a reliable US ally and, hence, demand that unless Turkey is completely removed from the system’s operation and its data collection and sharing, it should not be positioned in Turkey. read more

Two Turkish cargo planes carrying 50 tons of humanitarian aid flew to drought-hit Somalia on Monday while officials confirmed that more flights would soon follow as a nationwide campaign to help millions facing famine gathered steam. read more

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Turkish rescue and peace operation on Cyprus on July 20, 1974 to protect the lives and liberty of the island’s Turkish community. The dispute over Cyprus did not begin in 1974. The independent Republic of Cyprus was born in 1960 as a partnership state based on the political equality of the co-founding Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples. read more

America clearly faces sharp constraints in fully resourcing its military and civilian missions in Iraq. In this era of limited means, reinforcements need to be found to complement investments of American blood and treasure. This requires a revamped regional strategy that starts by asking which of Iraq’s neighbors share US interests in a strong and stable Iraq that can contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East. At present, Turkey stands out as the only neighbor that has the incentive to actively work toward this outcome. read more

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Turkey on July 15-16 to participate in meetings of the fourth international contact group on Libya. During her visit, Secretary Clinton will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and other top officials to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the conflicts in Libya and Syria. read more

State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland commended the Turkey for the humanitarian work it has undertaken to shelter Syrian refugees and added that the Turkey-Syria border should remain open despite concerns over potential clashes near the border. read more

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Benghazi on July 2 and met with Libyan Rebel Leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil, where he issued a public recognition of Libya’s Transitional National Council by Turkey. Davutoglu stated that he was visiting Benghazi “to express solidarity with the Libyan people,” and that Turkey sees the Transitional National Council as the “legitimate representative of the Libyan people to achieve their goals." "Public demand for reforms should be answered, Gaddafi should go and Libya shouldn't be divided," said Mr. Davutoglu. The Foreign Minister also stated that Turkey has given the Transitional National Council $ 100 million in aid and pledged an additional $ 200 million. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has contributed the final installments of a $100,000 grant to provide humanitarian aid to Iraqi Chaldean Christian refugees in Turkey. The TCA grant is being administered through the Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) and the Chaldean-Assyrian Solidarity Association (KADER) in Turkey. read more

57 middle school and high school teachers are visiting Turkey this summer on two Teacher Study Tours, organized and sponsored by the Turkish Cultural Foundation in partnership with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA), 18 WACA chapters and the Birmingham International Center. The teachers hail from Dayton (OH), Montana, Peoria (IL), Hawaii, Birmingham (AL), Santa Fe, Brookings (SD), Riverside (CA), Greater Reading (PA), Harrisburg (VA), Houston, Las Vegas, Maine, Mid Hudson Valley (New York), New Hampshire, Seattle, Saint Louis, Washington DC, and Boston. read more

Nearly 5,000 Syrian refugees crossed the Syrian-Turkish border last week, fleeing violence and a crack-down by Syrian forces in the town of Jisr al-Shughour. The refugees massed on the border after government forces began attacking dissidents who demonstrated against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. read more

A Congressional delegation led by Representative Brad Miller (D-NC) returned Tuesday from Turkey after spending four days meeting with the country's political, academic, business, NGO and cultural leaders to develop a better understanding of U.S.-Turkey relations. read more

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey announced a major restoration and preservation project of the medieval Armenian city of Ani in northeastern Turkey. The conservation will focus on the strengthening the Ani Cathedral and the Church of the Holy Savior. The project will be undertaken by the Ministry of Turkish Culture in cooperation with the New York based World Monuments Fund (WMF). read more

This week, Turkish Americans across the US are celebrating April 23, Turkish National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. The day marks the inauguration of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) on April 23, 1920, proclaimed in 1929 as a Turkish national holiday dedicated to children. read more

State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland commended the Turkish government for the humanitarian work it has undertaken to shelter Syrian refugees and added that the Turkey-Syria border should remain open despite concerns over potential clashes near the border. read more

Nearly 5,000 Syrian refugees crossed the Syrian-Turkish border last week, fleeing violence and a crack-down by Syrian forces in the town of Jisr al-Shughour. The refugees massed on the border after government forces began attacking dissidents who demonstrated against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. read more

On April 4, Turkey evacuated 321 wounded and 108 accompanying Libyans on a humanitarian aid ferry. According to Turkish government sources, the humanitarian mission was carried out under the cover of 12 Turkish F-16 fighter jets and a military frigate, while maintaining coordination with NATO. The ferry-turned-hospital brought wounded residents from the besieged Libyan city of Misrata and from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi for treatment in hospitals around western Turkey. The boat carried medical supplies to Libya and brought to Turkey also 29 foreign nationals and dozens of Turks. read more

According to an article by Metehan Demir, Ankara Bureau Chief of the Turkish Hurriyet daily, published on March 24, France’s action in Libya foiled Turkey’s negotiations with Muammar Gaddafi and rebel forces, which had reached a critical phase the day before France began aerial strikes. The article details a plan which reportedly had been shared by Turkey with the United States and included a three-month phase for an interim government that leads to elections and the writing of a new constitution. read more

Turkey's parliament on March 24 approved sending ships to join a NATO operation to enforce a U.N.-sanctioned arms embargo on Libya. The Turkish government obtained a one-year parliamentary authorization for deployment as part of “multidimensional contributions to international efforts aimed at restoring stability and security in Libya.” The vote was held in a closed session by a show of hands, with opposition deputies also lending support to the governing party. read more

On March 22, the U.S. State Department announced that Turkey has agreed to be the “protecting power” for the U.S. in Libya and that the U.S. was “very grateful to Turkey for assuming that role.” Turkey’s role as a protecting power for the US includes acting as consular officers on behalf of US citizens in Libya and looking after American diplomatic facilities in the country. Turkey can also pass messages between the United States and Libya, since there is little communication left between the two countries. read more

Senior representatives of Turkey, Afghanistan, Japan and the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan concluded a groundbreaking agreement for the training of Afghan police officers in Turkey. Bismullah Khan Mohammedi, Afghanistan’s Interior Minister, signed a bilateral agreement establishing joint procedures for the Police Officer Candidate School in Sivas, Turkey, along with Turkish Ambassador Basat Ozturk. read more

President Obama spoke to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 25 on the crisis in Libya and to coordinate efforts to respond to developments in that country. According to the White House, President Obama and Prime Minister Erdogan expressed their deep concern about the Libyan government's use of violence against its people, and discussed appropriate and effective ways for the international community to immediately respond. They affirmed their strong support for the universal rights of the Libyan people, including the right to peaceful assembly, free speech and the ability of the Libyan people to determine their own destiny and agreed that these rights must be respected. read more

The following is excerpted from an opinion article posted on Armenian Weekly on January 17, 2011,, titled “Changing Strategy: On the Survival of Armenia and its Diaspora” by Berge Minasian. read more

On February 7, the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) presented a $ 50,000 donation to Operation Helping Hands to help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. TCA had previously donated $50,000 to Operation Helping Hands and to Cross International, another relief organization, bringing the total TCA donation for the Haiti relief efforts to $100,000. read more

The following are excerpts from an article bye Landon Thomas Jr., published in the New York Times on February 5, 2011. read more

Stefano Sannino, the European Commission's Deputy Director-General for External affairs, stated that recent violent protests in Tunisia and Egypt demonstrated once again that relations with Turkey were of crucial importance for the European Union. read more

The following are excerpts from an article by Dr. Joshua W. Walker, post-doctoral fellow at the Crown Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University, published on Foreign Policy online, on February 3, 2011. read more

The following are excerpts from an article by J. Freedom du Lac, published in the Washington Post on February 3, 2011. read more

The following are excerpts from an article by Patrice Hill, published in the Washington Times on January 23, 2011. read more

The following are excerpts from articles published in the New York Times and the Seattle Time, respectively, on January 4 and 5, 2011, by Anthony Shadid. read more

The following are excerpts from an interview with President Barack Obama, published in the Turkish daily, Hurriyet Daily News, on Sunday, December 19, 2010. read more

The following is excerpted from a New York Times op-ed titled “Europe Look Outward Again,” published on December 10, by Carl Bildt, Franco Frattini, William Hague and Alexander Stubb, foreign ministers, respectively, of Sweden, Italy, Britain and Finland. read more

The Washington Times reported on the basis of US State Department cables disclosed by Wikileaks that the government of Armenia had supplied Iran with rockets and machine guns which were later used to kill American troops in Iraq. read more

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan today to thank Turkey for coming to Israel’s aid, as the country is trying to combat the worst wildfire in its history. read more

“In a visit to London last week, Turkish President Abdullah Gül declared his country to be a bright spot amid Europe’s gloom: “It wouldn’t be surprising if we start talking about BRIC plus T [for Turkey].” The boast was more symptomatic of Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions than its real economic heft—in cash terms, its GDP is only half of Russia’s, the poorest BRIC nation. Still, it’s clear Turkey wants to box above its weight internationally: Gül reaffirmed Turkey’s determination to join the EU, and promised support for a NATO missile-defense system aimed at securing the continent against attack from Tehran. read more

During the 2007-08 election cycle, David Krikorian, an Armenian American candidate, challenged Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for Ohio’s 2nd district seat. In the waning hours of the campaign with no time for a response, Krikorian alleged that Schmidt had accepted illegal contributions from supposed Turkish government-sponsored political action committees. read more

*Excerpts from an editorial published in the Haaretz Daily Newspaper, November 2, 2010. The decision by the Turkish National Security Council to include Israel on its map of strategic threats is serious and a subject of concern. This is the first time Israel, which until recently was Turkey's close ally and a strategic partner, has been tagged with a definition that befits an enemy state. read more

On his visit to Turkey, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, head of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (NTM-A), told reporters that Turkey has made significant gains in efforts to train the Afghan national police. General Caldwell was in Ankara to brief Turkish officials on the one year progress of the NTM-A in developing a stable force of Afghan security professionals who will help protect Afghanistan as an independent country. read more

On October 14, Armenian gangsters were indicted by federal grand juries for allegedly perpetrating the largest fraud in Medicaid’s 45-year history, a sophisticated variation of the 1963 Great Train Robbery in England. The initial estimated United States government loss exceeds $163 million. read more

According to a report by U.S. News and World Report, Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) ranks third in the list of American organizations sponsoring trips for members of Congress and staff in 2009-2010. The list is headed by the American Israel Education Foundation... read more

According to a report released by the UN Human Rights Council, Israel's military broke international laws during a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31. Eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American were killed, while 30 activists from different countries were injured after Israeli commandoes boarded the Mavi Marmara, sailing in international waters as part of a six-ship convoy. The convoy's passengers were detained and later deported by Israel. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) expresses its support for the Turkish Government's decision to open the historical Armenian church of Akdamar in Van, Turkey for a religious service on September 19. read more

A congressional delegation of 18 senior staffers sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) completed its visit to Turkey on Sunday, August 22nd. Prior to visiting Turkey, the delegation visited the Republic of Macedonia. read more

A delegation of 18 senior Congressional staffers sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has completed its visit to the Republic of Macedonia and is currently visiting Turkey. The delegation visit to Macedonia was organized with the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) with a view to educate senior advisors about the current state of political, economic and social affairs of Macedonia and the country’s relationship with the United States and Turkey. read more

Israel has announced it will co-operate with a UN investigation into its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May. Until now Israel had declined to take part in the inquiry and had set up its own investigation into the raid. read more

The British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the Gaza problem, Turkish-Israel relations and the recent crisis erupting between the two countries. read more

David Cameron, Britain’s new Prime Minister paid a landmark 2-day official visit to Turkey this week. Stating that he had come to Ankara to establish a new partnership between Britain and Turkey, Cameron said that he regards Turkey’s relations with Britain as “a vital strategic relationship,” adding that Turkey is “vital for our economy, vital for our security and vital for out politics and diplomacy.” read more

July 24 marks the 87th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne, the international treaty that established peace between Turkey and the nations that occupied the decimated Ottoman Empire, and recognized the international boundaries of the Republic of Turkey, which was proclaimed shortly after the Treaty was signed, on October 29, 1923. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America joins all Americans in mourning the passing of legendary West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd. Senator Byrd was one of Turkey’s most enthusiastic supporters in Congress, and a friend to Turkish Americans. read more

On June 7th, the Turkish Coalition of America’s fifth Congressional delegation trip to Turkey returned home after a week-long visit that included cultural, business, and political events. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America, which seeks to foster friendship, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Turkey, is gravely concerned over the still unfolding crisis between Israel and Turkey and its potentially severe repercussions upon the region, as well as its impact on US-Turkey relations. read more

The international community has pronounced the May 23 parliamentary elections in the break-away region of Nagorno-Karabakh as illegal. read more

The visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Turkey this week resulted in the signing of 17 important agreements between the two countries in energy, trade and tourism. On his first official visit to Turkey, the Russian President met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul... read more

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD,4th) submitted a statement into the Congressional Record on May 3, 2010, commemorating the founding of Turkey’s first Jazz Department at Hacettepe University State Conservatory. Congresswoman Edwards was a guest of honor at the inauguration of the Department on April 2nd, along with Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY 1st) and Congressman James P. Moran (D-VA 8th), during a TCA-sponsored congressional delegation visit to Turkey. read more

Prospects for new rounds of talks on Iran’s nuclear program have risen after meetings between Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on May 7. Davutoglu had proposed such a meeting to Iran during his visit to the country last month. read more

On this day in 1982, a gunman murdered Turkish Honorary Consul General Orhan Gunduz in Boston, while he was waiting in his automobile in rush-hour traffic. An Armenian terrorist organization, Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) claimed responsibility. read more

According to Armenian media reports, Armenia’s leading business association and three civic groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 28 to work together in enhancing contacts between Armenian and Turkish societies with a view to supporting normalization efforts between the two countries. read more

President Barack Obama issued a presidential statement on April 24, marking "Armenian Remembrance Day." Turkish Americans share the grief of Armenian Americans who lost their family members during those dreadful events nearly a century ago. read more

This week, Turkish Americans across the US are celebrating April 23, Turkish National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. The day marks the inauguration of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) on April 23, 1920, proclaimed in 1929 as a Turkish national holiday dedicated to children. read more

Li Changchun, a senior Chinese official and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, paid an official visit to Turkey... read more

According to Halim Fidai, Governor of the Afghan province of Wardak, Turkey has completed aid development projects worth $37 million since 2006 in the province. Turkey heads the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Wardak province. read more

Turkey’s first jazz department has been established at Hacettepe University in Ankara with an enthusiastic high-profile backing from the homeland of jazz, the United States. read more

A Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) sponsored congressional delegation visited Turkey this week to meet with Turkey’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Ahmet Davutoglu, and senior government officials, the US Ambassador to Turkey, as well as civic and business leaders. read more

The British House of Lords has rejected to further a measure to recognize as “genocide” the Armenian-Ottoman tragic events of 1915. read more

Amnesty International (AI) has accused Greece of forcibly returning refugee boats to Turkey and for deporting others who arrive in Greece via land. Greece’s refugee policy has also been criticized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and in US State Department Human Rights reports. AI has appealed to Greece to secure the safety of refugees and stop the forced deportation procedures. read more

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has won this year's prestigious Chatham House prize for improving international relations, the British foreign policy think-tank announced Friday. read more

The recent resolution adopted by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs-to officially recognize actions against the Armenians in 1915 as genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks-has less to do with the US government's pursuit of historical accuracy, than political theater that has come at a strikingly inopportune time. read more

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi visited Ankara on March 15 at the invitation of General Ilker Basbug, the Chief of Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces. read more

The top NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal hailed Turkey’s role in Afghanistan during a meeting with visiting Turkish reporters. Praising Brigadier General Levent Çolak, the top Turkish commander in Afghanistan and current commander of the ISAF force that is guarding Kabul, he added: “Turkish forces are exactly where I think they should be. I think American forces and all forces in the coalition have learned a lot by watching them, emulating the way they operate in this environment,” said Gen. McChrystal. read more

Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley said at a news conference last week that the United States values Turkey’s role as a “bridge between the between the west and the region”, and that Turkey and the United States have a close dialogue on issues regarding Iran, Syria and Turkey’s broad efforts... read more

The Turkish Red Crescent’s humanitarian aid team in Haiti has set-up 200 tents near Port-Au-Prince, providing shelter to nearly 1,200 earthquake victims. Shelter has been identified as one of the most crucial needs after the earthquake. The Turkish Red Crescent team is also coordinating the distribution of food and other humanitarian needs to Haitians in the settlement and others through a distribution system via trucks from the Dominican Republic. The team reportedly distributed aid to nearly 7,000 people since its arrival. read more

The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan met in Istanbul on Monday for a trilateral summit hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. The talks are the fourth round sponsored by Turkey between the two countries since 2007 and take place ahead of the London Conference on Afghanistanwhich begins tomorrow. read more

The Governor of Van in eastern Turkey, Munir Karaloglu, announced on December 24 that the historical church of Akdamar, located on a small island in Lake Van, will be opened to Armenian worship services in 2010. The Ministry of Culture of Turkey had renovated the church in 2006 and it was inaugurated as a museum in 2007 with the participation of Mesrob II, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey. There are currently 55 active Armenian churches in Turkey, serving the Armenian Turkish community. read more

On December 1, 2009, at the United States Military Academy at West Point, President Barack Obama announced his long-deliberated strategy for fighting the war in Afghanistan. Ultimately, Obama's decision could make or break his presidency. read more

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon announced today that Turkish security forces prevented a Hezbollah attack on an undisclosed Israeli target in Turkey, adding that he thanked Ankara for the successful operation. read more

President Obama laid out his new Afghanistan strategy on Tuesday night, announcing an additional 30,000 US troops for the country in support of a new counter-insurgency strategy. While the majority of the analysis and discussion in Washington has centered on the levels of US forces or the President’s reasoning for it, the President emphasized that the “burden is not ours alone to bear.” read more

Archibald Wavell himself could scarcely have imagined how horribly accurate his prediction would prove to be. Having watched in dismay as the victorious European powers carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I—"the war to end war"—the British officer commented that they had instead created "a peace to end peace." And sure enough, the decades since have spawned a succession of colonial misrule, coups, revolutions, and an epidemic of jihadist violence. read more

Ever since the Turkish and Armenian governments have taken courageous steps to address their long-standing disputes, radical elements in the Armenian Diaspora have started a full-blown campaign in opposition to the normalizing of relations between the two countries. read more

On November 1, Turkey has assumed the Regional Command Capital of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul for the third time. The Turkish force presence in Afghanistan will be increased to 1,700 and the Turkish command will oversee forces by Albania, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Georgia. Turkey also operates the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Wardak Province. read more

After a two-day official visit by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to the country, Turkey and Pakistan signed a protocol to strengthen economic, political, educational, cultural, tourism and military relations. This was Prime Minister Erdogan’s third visit to Pakistan. The protocol was signed by Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Raza Gilani and enhances cooperation between the two countries with the objective of promoting regional and international peace, stability, freedom and prosperity, according to the joint declaration. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America welcomes the initialing of two important protocols between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia, which lay out a framework and time table for the two governments to establish diplomatic relations and develop bilateral relations. read more

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Turkish rescue and peace operation on Cyprus on July 20, 1974 to protect the lives and liberty of the island’s Turkish community. read more

The following are excerpts from an article by Bruce Fein, Resident Scholar of the Turkish Coalition of America, published in The Huffington Post, on May 8, 2009. The full article can be read on the Huffington Post website. read more

On this day in 1982, a gunman murdered Turkish Honorary Consul General Orhan Gunduz in Boston, while he was waiting in his automobile in rush-hour traffic. An Armenian terrorist organization, Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) claimed responsibility. Orhan Gunduz was not a career diplomat, but held an honorary title and was a member of the Turkish American community. read more

The foundation of the Republic of Turkey was laid on April 23, 1920 with the inauguration of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in Ankara. It was the first step toward a new state in Anatolia whose roots were laid by the Turkish National War of Liberation led by Mustafa Kemal, later to be given the name Ataturk – father of Turks. The Turkish national liberation struggle began on May 19, 1919 and culminated in the liberation of Anatolia from foreign occupation, the international recognition of modern Turkey’s borders by the Treaty of Lausanne, and the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923. read more

President Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey at the end of this week has been hailed “historical” by many observers of US-Turkish relations. Lincoln McCurdy, President of the Turkish Coalition of America stated, “Turkish Americans and friends of Turkey are very excited about the President’s visit to Turkey and hope that it will be the beginning of a new era in US-Turkey relations. We are particularly happy to see emphasis on public diplomacy and expanding civic contributions to this relationship. read more

March 25 is celebrated by Greeks as their national day, and marks the beginning of the Greek rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. read more

It's almost April, so Washington is gearing up for another performance of the "Armenian Genocide Resolution Spectacular," a regular event since 1984(…) Before staging this year's performance, however, Congress should note that hitherto frozen relations between Armenia and Turkey are now showing signs of melting... read more

The past week saw several key developments in US-Turkey relations that highlighted the new Administration’s and President Barack Obama’s perspectives on advancing the relationship between the two countries. read more

During the Senate confirmation hearings of the newly confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Robert Menendez (D. N.J.) lobbied the Obama administration to characterize the tragic events of World War I as a “universally recognized” Armenian “genocide”. That official verdict was said necessary to “move forward.” The Secretary of State demurred on the characterization question, but concurred with the idea of moving beyond the contentious status quo. read more

While America is currently engaged in two wars, faces the continued threat of international terrorism and the possible advent of nuclear-armed rogue nations, and struggles with an economic crisis of historical proportions, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) chose to use his valuable time at the confirmation hearing of newly confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to pander to the Armenian and Greek lobbies. read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), in cooperation with the United Negro College Fund Special Programs, National Congress of American Indians and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, has organized a visit to Turkey for a delegation of faculty from Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities. The visiting delegation arrived in Turkey on January 7 and will remain in Turkey through January 17. read more

Turkish President Abdullah Gul will host Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardali and Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai for talks in Istanbul. read more

The influential Green Party of Germany elected Cem Ozdemir, 43, as the first ethnic Turk to lead a mainstream German political party. read more

The Turkish Caucus in the US House of Representatives will begin the new legislative year with 71 members, down from its record number of 80. read more

Washington, DC - The Turkish American Legal Defense Fund (TALDF) yesterday requested from Attorney General of Ohio, Nancy H. Rogers, to open a criminal investigation against David Krikorian, an Armenian American independent candidate against Representative Jean Schmidt. read more

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried stated that the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan could be resolved within the next two months. Fried has recently held talks in Yerevan with President Serzh Sarkisian, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian and Armenian opposition leaders. Reportedly, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was high on the agenda. read more

Turkey was seated as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council by the UN General Assembly vote on October 17. In the first and only round of voting, 151 countries of the 192 participating members voted in favor of Turkey to take one of the two seats on the Security Council allocated to Western Europe and Other States. In the same vote, Austria took the second seat, while the third candidate, Iceland, lost. Japan, Mexico and Uganda were elected to take the remaining non-permanent seats. The new members’ terms will start on January 1, 2009 and last through 2010. read more

As the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considers the nomination of James F. Jeffrey to become the next U.S. Ambassador to our NATO ally Turkey and the Committee and the full Senate undertake their respective vetting of the nominee, the Turkish Coalition of America (ATAA) and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) wish to share facts about Turkey... read more

Following his visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan last week, Turkish President Abdullah Gul stated that he “observed the same sincere desire for a solution” for the Karabakh conflict in both Yerevan and Baku. read more

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul has accepted an invitation from the President of Armenia, Serj Sarkisyan, and will travel to Yerevan this Saturday on the occasion of the Turkey-Armenia qualifying match for the World Soccer Cup. Ali Babacan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister will accompany the President on the visit which will include a private meeting between the two heads of State, after which they will attend the game together. read more

July 24 marks the 85th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne, the international treaty that established peace between the new Republic of Turkey and the nations that occupied the decimated Ottoman Empire, and recognized the international boundaries of the newly established Turkish state. read more

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) voted 55-1 to support a joint historic commission to research the Armenian allegation of genocide. Armenia was the only member that voted against the resolution. read more

The following is an excerpted version of a speech by Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, delivered at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s ninth Turgut Ozal Memorial lecture on June 24, 2008. read more

An official document in Russia’s State Military History Archives has been discovered by a researcher from Istanbul University and is reported to be a new piece of evidence on large scale atrocities committed by Armenians against Ottoman Muslims in 1915. read more

The Swedish Parliament in a June 12 vote rejected legislation aimed at recognizing Armenian genocide claims. The measure was rejected by a 245 to 37 vote, with nearly 70 percent of the Parliament voting against the legislation. read more

A millennia-old Georgian church in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum is about to undergo a major restoration under the auspices of an agreement between the Turkish and Georgian governments. read more

The President of the Turkish Historical Society Professor Yusuf Halacoglu offered a $20 million grant to the classification and opening of the Armenian archives in Boston, which remain sealed to scholars. read more

In focusing on the emotional blood feud between the Turks and the Armenians, Armenian-Americans neglect their homeland's deeper and more immediate problems. read more

”The way China is treating the Tibetan uprising has outraged the West. The suffering of the Uighurs, on the other hand, receives little attention. read more

Cyprus is perched for a voluntary and mutually beneficial reunification between Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north after decades of division. New Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat have agreed to direct negotiations within three months. read more

The General Assembly on March 14 adopted a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in which it called for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces "from all the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan." read more

It has been nearly two months since the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) sparked an international crisis with a major attack inside Turkey (…) President Bush promised Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Washington would aid Turkey's fight against terrorism. Heady talk of intelligence sharing and cooperation followed and, indeed, may have been a factor in Turkish air strikes on PKK targets in Iraqi Kurdistan. read more

Contrary to media reports, the Marxist-Leninist terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) ambition is not regional autonomy in Turkey. read more

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyib Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis officially inaugurated a pipeline on November 18 carrying the first natural gas from the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The 300 km pipeline project was hailed as the start of a new period of bilateral co-operation between Greece and Turkey. read more

On November 16, the Turkish Republic on Northern Cyprus (TRNC) celebrated the 24th anniversary of its establishment. read more

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Bush met on November 5 in the White House to discuss recent developments concerning Turkish-American relations and the PKK / KONGRA-GEL terrorism against Turkey. Intelligence sharing, cutting off logistical support and apprehension of the PKK terrorist leaders were discussed between the two leaders along with other diplomatic, political and military level cooperative efforts. read more

The most extraordinary spectacle of the past week has been the apparent desire of the US Congress to pronounce as genocide the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Turks, even though there is nothing more provocative to Turkey, and no worse time at which to do it. read more

All the world knows what the end of an empire looks like: hundreds of thousands of people fleeing down dusty paths, taking what was left of their possessions; crammed refugee trains puffing their way across arid plains; and many, many people dying. For the Ottoman Empire that process began in the Balkans, the Crimea and the Caucasus as Russia and her satellites expanded. Seven million people -- we would now call them Turks -- had to settle in Anatolia, the territory of modern Turkey. read more

IT'S EASY to dismiss a nonbinding congressional resolution accusing Turkey of "genocide" against Armenians during World War I as frivolous. Though the subject is a serious one -- more than 1 million Armenians may have died at the hands of the Young Turk regime between 1915 and the early 1920s -- House Democrats pushing for a declaration on the subject have petty and parochial interests. read more

The following is an excerpted version of a speech delivered by R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, DC on September 13, 2007. For a full version of the speech, visit www.state.gov. read more

The police and civilian mob came for them in the night, forcing them at gunpoint into the streets, stripping them of their property on the spot before shipping them to internment camps for expulsion. The lucky ones were put in boxcars, but most had to trudge on foot for hundreds of miles under the watchful eyes of sadistic guards that tormented their every step. read more

In the 20th century, Britain's national security came under threat from hostile nations. Today, the threat is from terrorist groups, such as al-Qa'eda, operating within failed states, seeking to fracture the world along religious lines. read more

All nations have sacred memories and traditions surrounding their creation and their sacrifices. These are national legends that take on mythic proportions about the nations' founding fathers and the circumstances of the nations' formation. Sometimes, and often after difficult introspection, citizens recognize that their histories and heroes are not all black-and-white, and that a true national narrative involves a rich palette of greys as well. But that realization requires a national maturation, one that also demands the cognitive involvement of all parties to the narrative. read more

The following is a reprint of an article by Hugh Pope, published in the Wall Street Journal on August 20, 2007. Mr. Pope is a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, which has just published a report on Turkey and the EU. Based in Istanbul for 20 years, he is author most recently of "Sons of the Conquerors: The Rise of the Turkic World" (Overlook Duckworth, 2005). read more

According to Turkish authorities and international news agencies, members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) killed a villager, Ikram Oner,55, on July 28 in southeast Turkey for refusing to supply the terrorists with food. The attack occurred in the southeastern province of Siirt, near the border with Iraq. Three terrorists came to Oner’s village and demanded food and supplies. When Oner refused, they forcibly took him outside the village and killed him execution style. read more

Today marks the 84th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne, the international treaty that established peace between the new Republic of Turkey and the nations that occupied the decimated Ottoman Empire, and recognized the international boundaries of the newly established Turkish state. read more

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Turkish military intervention in Cyprus on July 20, 1974 to protect the lives and the liberty of the island’s Turkish community. read more

The Turks are getting cranky, and who can blame them? Since recovering from a fiscal crisis in 2001, the country has racked up one of the best growth rates in the world, and today it is the 17th largest economy. Last year the budget deficit fell to less than 1% of Gross Domestic Product, while inflation has been in single-digit territory for the past three years. read more

The Turkish company KORDSA is the leading supplier of nylon and polyester industrial yarn, tire cord and industrial fabrics in the world. It is owned by the Turkish industrial giant Sabanci Holding based in Istanbul. Sabanci is one of the most prominent holding companies in Turkey with interests in a number of sectors including the automobile and tire industry, cement, chemicals, education, energy, finance, international trade and textiles. read more

49 teachers from 12 US cities are visiting Turkey this summer on study tours organized by the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF). read more

William “Billy” Hayes, the “hero” of the movie Midnight Express, visited Turkey last week and in a widely publicized press conference stated that the movie was a gross exaggeration and one-sided misrepresentation of his experience in Turkey. He expressed his regret and accepted responsibility for the damage the film inflicted on Turkey’s image worldwide for decades. read more

On June 28, 2007, Congressman Bud Cramer (D-AL), Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) sent the following letter to their fellow members of Congress. TCA thanks the co-signers for highlighting Turkey’s contributions to US and international efforts to fight global terrorism, secure stability and peace in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in the world. read more

The following are excerpts from a review essay by Masaki Kakiszaki, University of Utah, on a newly released book by Guenter Lewy, titled “The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman Turkey: A Disputed Genocide” University of Florida Press, 2005. The full review is published in Critique: Critical Middle Eastern Studies, Spring 2007. read more

The PKK has recently increased its attacks inside Turkey, including suicide bombings, killing more than eighty people since the beginning of 2007. Most of these attacks involve improvised explosive devices (IEDs) similar to those being used against U.S. troops in Iraq. Given the escalated PKK-related violence, how likely are Turkish incursions into Iraq at this stage? read more

Lycia is a gentle peninsula that lies along the southern coast of Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to being one of the most scenic landscapes of Turkey, Lycia in ancient times was the home of a famous league of republics. read more

The recent saber-rattling by Iraq’s Kurdish leaders toward Turkey is disappointing and does injustice to the support that Turkey has given to the Kurdish population in northern Iraq for nearly 40 years. read more

May 19 marks the 88th anniversary of the beginning of the Turkish War of National Liberation, a turning point in Turkey’s history. On May 19, 1919, a young Ottoman general, Mustafa Kemal, arrived in Samsun. The man, who would later be known to the world as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, stepped ashore on this small Black Sea Coast town to embark on a journey, which would ultimately create the Republic of Turkey and a new nation. read more

On May 4, 1982 a gunman assassinated Turkish Honorary Consul General Orhan Gunduz in Boston, while he was waiting in his automobile in rush-hour traffic. An Armenian terrorist organization, Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) claimed responsibility. read more

On this date three years ago, the inhabitants of the island (Cyprus) participated in a referenda put forward by the United Nations under Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Annan Plan (…) foresaw a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation based on political equality. We recall that the Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island voted by an impressive majority in favor of the Annan Plan. Unfortunately, this support was not reciprocated by the Greek Cypriots and a comprehensive settlement was not, nor has been since, agreed to. read more

The foundation of the Republic of Turkey was laid on April 23, 1920 with the inauguration of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in Ankara. It was the first step for the birth of a new state in Anatolia whose roots lay in the national... read more

The recent saber-rattling by Iraq’s Kurdish leaders toward Turkey is disappointing and does injustice to the support that Turkey has given to the Kurdish population in northern Iraq for nearly 40 years. read more

Turkey is a vital partner for the United States. As a predominantly Muslim country, Turkey is unique for several reasons for U.S. policymakers. Turkey is a pro-western, secular state with a thriving free-market economy that fully embraces democracy. And Turkey is a country where Islam preaches peaceful coexistence with the west, developed during thousand of years of coexistence of Turks with Christians and Jews first in Anatolia and then in Europe during the Ottoman Empire. read more

Speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 27, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stepped into a diplomatic minefield when she referred to the Iraqi-Turkish frontier as "the border between Turkey and Kurdistan." Turkish newspapers and television across the political spectrum condemned her remarks Turkish newspapers and television across the political spectrum condemned her remarks. read more