Event Portfolioby Mae Sonmez

CONFERENCE WITH Prof OKTAY SINANOGLUProf. OKTAY SINANOGLU

October 22, 2008 – Havermeyer Hall, Colombia University, New York City

Oktay Sinanoğlu is a Turkish scientist of theoretical chemistry and molecular biology.He was the youngest person in the past century to attain a status of He was the youngest person in the past century to attain a status of professor when he earned the status at the age of 28. He has been nominated to Nobel award in chemistry twice. Discussion on the importance of the native language to protect

ti lit nationality.

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“OVERVIEW OF TURKISH-AMERICAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS” RELATIONS

Lecture - November 20, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City

Under the Auspices of The Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in New York Mustafa Akşin, and Ambassador and Mr. Naim Güleryüz, invited to a lecture. The discussion about “Overview of Turkish-American-Israeli Relations” and “Glimpses of Jewish Life in Turkish Society” The discussion about Overview of Turkish American Israeli Relations and Glimpses of Jewish Life in Turkish Society . 1992 marks the five hundredth anniversary of this most gracious welcome of Sephardim to Turkish lands. Turkish Jews felt it was both fitting and proper to launch an extensive celebration in Turkey, in the United States and in Europe. Jewish history is full of sad events which are marked by commemorations and memorial services. But now there was a major event to

l b t T l b t b th th 500th i f th l i f th S h di J t th Ott E i d th fi celebrate. To celebrate both the 500th anniversary of the welcoming of the Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire and the five centuries of continuous and peaceful life in Turkey. The Quincentennial Foundation was established in 1989 by a group of 113 Turkish citizens, Jews and Moslems alike. Founded andheadquarted in Istanbul the Quincentennial Foundation is planning a three year (1990 - 1992) cultural and academic program both within Turkey and abroad mainly in the U.S, Canada and Mexico on the American continent; France, United Kingdom and Italy in Europe.

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“OVERVIEW OF TURKISH-AMERICAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS” RELATIONS

(continued)

Lecture - November 20, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City

The Foundation embarked on a very ambitious program as befits the greatness of the occasion. What Turkish Jews lack in numbers they make up in enthusiasm and commitment. And they toward their p yvision with great excitement. This program has been designed to bring the diverse and rich legacy of Turkish Jewry to a greater audience.

http://www.jewishpost.com/news/jewish-turkey-israeli-relations.html

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WHO ARE AHISKA TURKS?

64. Anniversary – December 13, 2008 – Turkish Center, New York City

The event was organized under the Turkish Coalition of America. This year was the 64th year anniversary to exit Georgia. The purpose of the event was, to welcome to fifteen thousand Ahiska Turks to ,America. We would like to get to know Ahiska Turks better in Turkish world. Our goal was to show how strong human beings can be, how much they endure and not break We want to learn how you kept your they endure and not break. We want to learn how you kept your language, customs and identities as Turks under incredible torture and pressure. NY Former congressman and Turkish Coalition of America representative and Turkish Consul of New York attended the event representative and Turkish Consul of New York attended the event. The Mesketihan Turks came as a group of about fifty people with their traditional food

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ASALA MURDERS

Film Screening – March 17, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

“Asala Murders” film screening by Zeynep Kececiler and a lecture featuring Bruce Fein, Resident Scholar, Turkish Coalition of America, sponsored by Turkish Coalition of America.p y

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KOREAN WAR VETERANS

Remembrance – April 25, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

The Korean War Veterans from the Corporal Allan F. Kivlehan Chapter, Staten Island and the Central Long Island Chapter. In remembrance of the FORGOTTEN War - a full throttle of a In remembrance of the FORGOTTEN War a full throttle of a struggle for people and a country, most people never heard of South Korea. 90 minutes about the Korean War, the way these Honorable soldiers saw it and what they know of Turkish troops in Korea soldiers saw it and what they know of Turkish troops in Korea.

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“JOURNEY OF FAITH” PREMIERE

Film Screening – May 8, 2009 – Lighthouse Theater, New York City

Victoria Barrett, owner of Shenandoah Films, producer and screen writer, introduced New York City viewers to “Journey of Faith”, a documentary tracing the rich trail of Christianity through the ages in y g y g gTurkey. The film travels to fourteen biblical locations on this extraordinary journey. The event was organized and hosted by Istanbul University Alumni Association of USA (IUMEZUSA) at the Lighthouse Theater in New Association of USA (IUMEZUSA) at the Lighthouse Theater in New York City. A number of Turkish-Americans, as well as Americans attended the screening of “Journey of Faith”, made possible with the support of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, ATAA, TADF, FB USA and BICOM.BICOM.

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TURKISH PARADE

May 24, 2009, New York City

The 27th Annual Turkish Day Parade organized by the Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) took a place in New York City on May 24th.yThousands of Turkish people traveled to New York on Saturday from the neighboring cities and states to take part in the parade. Among the participants were parliamentarians, mayors and governors from Turkiye along with Mehmet Samsar the New York Turkish Consul Turkiye along with Mehmet Samsar, the New York Turkish Consul General and Turkish Ambassador to United States, Nabi Sensoy.Parade participants, including students and teachers from Turkish schools in the area, carried Turkish flag all along the walk from Madison Avenue to 56th street leaving the area covered with red Madison Avenue to 56th street, leaving the area covered with red and white.Turkish soccer fans in the US showed their support for their teams in Turkiye dragging along big flags during the parade. The participants looked excited about the event as they had a chance to come together in such a huge number, representing Turkiye and the Turkish culture. The event has been a great experience and also an opportunity to

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enjoy their time as some of the famous singers from Azerbaijan and Turkiye sang for the crowd.

TURKISH PARADE (continued)(continued)

May 24, 2009, New York City

The two hour parade organized by Federation of Turkish American Associations symbolized the solidarity among the Turkish people in the United States. The parade ended with speeches related to the significance of the day and its importance in terms of bringing the Turkish Americans together.

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“REMEMBERING EDWARD TASHJI”

Educational Lecture – June 10, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

A remembrance program organized in in honor of Edward Tashji, for the first time since his death in 2005. Called "A Friend of Turks“ Edward Tashji was a man of principle who Called A Friend of Turks , Edward Tashji was a man of principle who refused to follow the safe, familiar pro-Armenian drumbeat; he made up his own mind, and turned into a Truth-Seeker of the first order. Learning to speak Turkish after 50, Tashji was buried in a Turkish cemetery His house full of memorabilia is now called “Museum of cemetery. His house, full of memorabilia, is now called Museum of Turkish Friendship”Prof. Dr. Ömer Turan gave a detailed speech about Tashji’s dedicated life along with a video of Tashji’s personal photographs documenting hi fi ht i t th A i li b t th ll d “ id ” his fight against the Armenian lie about the so-called “genocide” and his love of the Turks.

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CULTURAL HERITAGE OFMACEDONIA & TURKEYMACEDONIA & TURKEY

Turkish-Macedonian Cultural Evening – October 9, 2009 – Turkish Center, NYC

Over 200 Turkish-Americans and Macedonian-Americans and friends gathered to experience the rich cultures of Turkey and Macedonia. Attendees enjoyed Turkish and Macedonian foods, j y ,folklore, and music.IUMEZUSA was proud to partner with United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) to link our communities and learn about each other’s cultures Many Turks have roots in Macedonia including the cultures. Many Turks have roots in Macedonia, including the Founder of modern-day Turkey, Kemal Mustafa Ataturk. Both organizations pledged to work together to strengthen U.S.-Turkish-Macedonian relations.Th U it d St t d T k M d i ’ t t i it The United States and Turkey are Macedonia’s top supporters in its efforts to join NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions.

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“ATATURK ALIVE IN HIS OWN WORDS”

71ST Commemoration of Ataturk – November 10, 2009 – Turkish Center, New York City

Held under the auspices of the Consulate General Republic of Turkey, the commemoration was organized by IUMEZUSA, the Turkish-American Architects and Engineers Society (MIM) and the Federation g y ( )of Turkish-American Associations (FTAA)Prof. Talat Halman of Bilkent University honored our commemoration of the founder of our Republic . The very first Minister of Culture of our homeland presented a dramatic reading of Minister of Culture of our homeland presented a dramatic reading of scores of Atatürk’s well-known and seldom-quoted statements. The slides, featured authentic photographs, an exciting dimension to the experience of the great leader’s thoughts coming alive.The slide program consisted entirely of quotations from Atatürk’s The slide program consisted entirely of quotations from Atatürk s speeches and statements about his ideas and ideals.

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34 MILLION FRIENDS OF UNFPA

Lecture by Jane Roberts & Nuriye Ortayli – December 8, 2009 – Lighthouse Theater, New York City

Jane Roberts and Nuriye Ortayli from the United Nations Population Fund spoke about UNFPA’s programs and women's status, reproductive health, population and development , p , p p pissues in western Asia to alumni of Istanbul University and to the Turkish-American New York area community. Jane Roberts is a co-founder of 34 Million Friends of UNFPA in 2002 when the Bush Administration first announced they 2002 when the Bush Administration first announced they would withhold the $34 million that Congress allocated to UNFPA. Today the total amount of blocked funds stands at over $200 million. The idea behind this project is to ask 34 million Americans to donate at least $1 and in turn, send a million Americans to donate at least $1 and in turn, send a message that Americans support UNFPA.

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FIRST UN ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 18, 2009 – United Nations, Conf. Room C, New York City

The event was organized by the Permanent Mission Of Turkey to the United Nations and IUMEZUSAVamik D Volkan M D is a Turkish-Cypriot emeritus professor of Vamik D. Volkan, M.D. is a Turkish Cypriot emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine. He spoke about his psychoanalysis on the personality of Ataturk and the motives of his actions that changed the history of Turkey.Justin A McCarthy is a professor of history at the University of Louisville Justin A. McCarthy is a professor of history at the University of Louisville. He concentrated on the “Without Ataturk there would be no Turks” topic. Prof. Arnold Reisman is a great fan of ATATURK and Modern Turkey. His f th t l ti i i d b At t k i th R bli f focus was on the art revolution inspired by Ataturk in the Republic of Turkey, and its phenomenal impact on science in general and Turkish universities in particular.

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FIRST UN ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 18, 2009 – United Nations, Conf. Room 2, New York City

TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

George Gawrych is an associate professor of Middle East history at Baylor University . His speech was focused on Atatürk and the Turkish War of Independence from 1919 to1923. In 1989 he won pthe Biennial Award for the Best Published Article in Turkish Studies, awarded by the Turkish Studies Association of North America. Umut Uzer, the moderator of this symposium, is an assistant professor at University of Maryland University College and a professor at University of Maryland University College and a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University . Dr. Uzer is the author of several books and scientific journals on International relations and diplomacy.

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OUR LESSON: ATATURK

Movie Premiere – May 18, 2010 – Manhattan School of Visual Arts, New York City

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JEWISH-TURKISH RELATIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

Conference – November 14, 2010 – Northwestern UniversityThe McCormick Tribune Center, Evanston, IL

HISTORY

Jewish-Turkish Relations Throughout History: From the 15th century Spanish Inquisition to the HolocaustA discussion about remarkable — and widely unknown — events that shaped Jewish-Turkish relations throughout history at the hands of visionaries like Sultan Bayezid II, Einstein, Ataturk, and Turkish Diplomats, Behiç Erkin, Namık Kemal Yolga, Necdet Kent, and Selahattin ÜlkümenSpeakers:

Arnold Reisman, Ph.D. PE. “Jewish Refugees from the Spanish Inquisition and from Nazism: Albert Einstein, Ataturk’s Vision, and q , ,Turkey’s Modernization”Mesut Ilgim, “Contribution of the Expelled (heimatlos) Jewish German Professors to the Turkish Republic’s University Reform”Emir Kivircik, “A letter to the Ambassador: The Story of Behic Erkin in V h F ”Vichy, France”

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SECOND UN ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 7, 2010 – United Nations, New York City

The Second Annual Atatürk Symposium, "Atatürk: Leader of a Nation" program's director Mehves Sonmez, and former president of Istanbul University Alumni Association of U.S.A., made a welcoming remark at y , gthe United Nations, Conference Room 2, and thanked to each of the speakers of the symposium.Mediator: Umut Uzer, Ph.D., Research Professor in Turkish Studies, Department of Political Science University of Utah was the mediator of Department of Political Science, University of Utah was the mediator of the programPanelist 1: Arnold Reisman, Ph.D., Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceP li t 2 R b t W Fi Ph D F U it d St t A b d t Panelist 2: Robert W. Finn, Ph.D., Former United States Ambassador to Afghanistan, Associate Research Scholar in the Liechtenstein Institute of the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs, Princeton UniversityPanelist 3: Heath W. Lowry, Ph.D., Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Professor of Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies, Princeton UniversityPanelist 4: Prof. Arnold Reisman, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); Ambassador Robert P. Finn, Former United States Ambassador to Afghanistan

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SECOND UN ATATURK SYMPOSIUM: TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION'S CONSCIENCE TRANSFORMATION OF A NATION S CONSCIENCE

Symposium – December 7, 2010 – United Nations, New York City

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