This year the American-Turkish Council’s Congressional Staff trip to Turkey took place the week of August 2-10. Eight Staffers from the offices of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Representative C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-2nd MD), Representative Zach Wamp (R-3rd TN), Representative David Hobson (R-7th OH), Representative Heath Shuler (D-11th NC), Representative Brad Miller (D-13th NC), and the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee participated. The Corporate sponsor of the trip was the Turkish Coalition of America with Bank Pozitif and NTF Construction as the Associate sponsors.
The group’s first stop was Istanbul for dinner in the Galata section of Pera, at a restaurant adjacent to the Galata Tower. Each member of the group was exhilarated by the magnificent 360° view of the old city and the Bosphorus. Over breakfast Monday at the offices of the Turkish Cultural Foundation and Turkish Coalition of America, the group was briefed by the Chairman of both organizations, Dr. Yalcin Ayasli; TCA’s President, G. Lincoln McCurdy, and the Executive Director of TCF, Guler Koknar, on the work of TCF and TCA, and the value of their efforts on behalf of US-Turkey relations.
Later the Staffers met with and were briefed by the representatives of TEMA (the Environmental Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion & Reforestation), ACEV (Mother & Child Education Foundation) and KAGIDER (Women Entrepreneur Association of Turkey). We reconvened at the famous Asitane Restaurant in the Yenikapi district of Old Istanbul, specializing in Ottoman cuisine. The lunch, hosted by Bank Pozitif, put the Staff delegation in contact with the President of the Jewish Community, Mr. Siylvio Ovadya, and Bishop Atesyan representing the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, and illustrated some of the diversity of Turkey and its inhabitants. Following the lunch the group visited the Chora (Kariye) Museum, where some of the best-preserved frescoes from the Justinian times can be seen. The rest of the afternoon was spent at Sultanahmet - the old section of Istanbul - visiting the historical sites including the Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. That evening the Turkish American Business Association (TABA) hosted a special dinner for the Turkish-American business community. The Chairman of TABA, Mr. Ugur Terzioglu, hosted the event together with members of his Board. The event took place at the wonderfully located Bizim Tepe (Bosphorus University Alumni Association locale).
Early Tuesday morning, the group headed to the US Consulate General for a breakfast briefing. The Consul General, Sharon Wiener, and Senior Political Officer, Sandra Oudkirk, briefed the group on Turkey and US-Turkish relations from the Istanbul perspective. Following the briefing, the group took a few minutes to visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, and then joined the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) for lunch at their headquarters.
The group then departed for Istanbul Airport and their flight to Ankara. Dinner Tuesday evening was hosted by TABA at the Cengelhan Museum Restaurant, located at Ankara Castle. The dinner was attended by a large group of business representatives from TABA and ATC membership. The beautifully “Han”, renovated by the Koc Group, now serves as a museum as well as restaurant displaying an elite selection of artifacts from Anatolia and life in Anatolia in the ancient times.
A breakfast briefing Wednesday morning was hosted by the US Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, at his residence in Cankaya. Flanked by the President’s Palace and the Prime Minister’s residence on two sides, the residence is an Ankara landmark where US Ambassadors display different art from the United States. One of the main pieces at the residence that caught the attention of the group was the official letter sent by then-President Abraham Lincoln to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire informing him of the selection of the United States Ambassador appointed to the Empire. Ambassador Wilson and his staff gave the group a comprehensive background on the extensive and vital US-Turkish relationship and the complexities of Turkish politics.
A visit to Anitkabir, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s Mausoleum, is a protocol requirement for any official visit to Ankara. The delegation laid a wreath at the Mausoleum, and a representative of the Congressional Group signed the visitors’ book. The museum, a part of the Mausoleum and grounds that overlook Ankara, impressed all in the group. Next stop was Ankara Palas, the official guest house of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a historical building restored to its old glory, for a luncheon hosted by the Deputy Undersecretary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haydar Berk. Officers from the MFA, representing different departments involved in US-Turkish relations, joined Ambassador Berk at this briefing.
Deputy Undersecretary of the Defense Industries, Mr. Ismail Tohumcu, and his team, briefed the group on the important aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries. After these two briefings, the delegation went on to ASAM, the Eurasian Strategic Research Center, where Dr. Sadi Cayci of ASAM and Dr. Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute presented on the history, future and significance of US-Turkish Relations. This informative session was followed by a small reception.
Wednesday evening the group had a lovely dinner of Turkish seafood delicacies at the famous Trilye Restaurant. Mr. Greg Peppin, The Boeing Company representative who has been living in Turkey for many years, shared his stories and delighted the group with his enthusiasm.
Thursday morning the group departed Ankara for Kalkan via Istanbul. It was a long day filled with both air and land travel. The only thing that would take away the fatigue of a long day of travel was a dip in the warm blue waters of the Mediterranean. That evening the group went in to the village of Kalkan, where they dined alfresco on delicious Turkish cuisine.
Friday was spent visiting the ancient city of Patara, the capital of the ancient Lycian civilization. The lead archeologist, Dr. Gul Isin, gave the group a lecture on the history of the Lycians and Patara and the importance of the Lycian League in US Constitutional history. After the lecture and tour of the ruins, the group went to the Patara beach where the endangered loggerhead turtles lay their eggs. The beautiful white beach was the perfect way to cool off from the heat of the day. After being fed, the delegation visited several organic farms in the region. Throughout the Aegean and the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, farmers have begun planting organic farms, producing everything from vegetables and fruits to herbs and tea. The delegation was treated to different samples of teas grown at an herbal tea farm called Lycos, a successful new venture and new experience for the group.
Friday evening, the group dined at the Patara Prince Hotel, and were joined at dinner by the Mayor of Kalkan Mustafa Salvarli and the owners of the organic farm. A pleasant dinner overlooking the small harbor of Kalkan was a nice ending to a long trip.
Saturday morning the group left Kalkan early, driving to the Dalaman Airport where they boarded a flight back to Istanbul. That afternoon, the delegation went back to the historic district of Istanbul, Sultanahmet, to see some of the many sites which they did not have time to see earlier in the week. Saturday evening the delegation enjoyed a seafood dinner on the Black Sea coast of the Bosphorus, and watched as ships, large and small, criss-crossed from the Marmara to the Black Sea and back, illuminated by the rays of the full moon.
The ATC extends its deep thanks to the Turkish Coalition of America for its exceptional support of the entire visit, and to the Bank Pozitif and NTF Construction for their generous sponsorship. ATC is also most grateful to our event hosts TABA, TUSKON, US Embassy and Consulate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ASAM, SSM and everyone else who made this trip another outstanding success.
