MONTHLY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2012

University of Utah Publication, War and Diplomacy, Now Available

A new book, War and Diplomacy: The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and the Treaty of Berlin, published by the University of Utah Press is now available. Edited by Hakan Yavuz and Peter Sluglett, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the Treaty of Berlin and sheds new light on contemporary conflicts in the Balkans and Caucuses. The publication of War and Diplomacy was published with support from a TCA grant that underwrites the Turkish Studies Project at University of Utah. Libraries can order a free copy of this resource from the TCA.

Article by TCA Resident Scholar Published in Huffington Post

An article by TCA Resident Scholar Bruce Fein, “Squinting at Religious Discrimination”, was published in the Huffington Post on December 2, 2011. The article highlights double-standards found in the recently released 2010 International Religious Freedom Report which ignores serious instances of religious discrimination against Turks by Greece and Greek Cyprus.

TCA Denounces Passage of H.Res. 306

TCA strongly denounced the passage of H.Res. 306, which unfairly and hypocritically targets Turkey for alleged religious discrimination against Christian communities within its borders. To view the TCA position and fact sheets on H.Res. 306, please visit here.

TCA Grant Supports Iraqi Christian Refugees in Turkey

TCA has contributed the final installment 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. Approximately 1,150 refugee families and 1,000 refugees living alone in Turkey have received assistance through this grant.

TCA Sponsors Three Congressional Delegations in 2011

In 2011, TCA sponsored three senior Congressional staffer delegations to Turkey. Participants in the June, July and September 2011 trips met with the country's political, academic, business and religious minority leaders to gain a better understanding of issues critical to the US-Turkey relationship. The September trip also included a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Since its first congressional trip in May 2009, TCA has organized and sponsored a total of eleven congressional trips, taking 117 Members of Congress and senior staff toTurkey. According to a report by US News and World Report, TCA has been ranked as the second largest ethnic/regional group sponsoring congressional travel, after the American Israel Education Foundation.

TCA to Sponsor Youth Congress

For the third year, TCA will sponsor the "Fifth Annual Turkish Canadian Youth Congress" organized by the Council of Turkish Canadians scheduled to take place on January 20-22, 2012 in Ottawa-Gatineau. TCA Resident Scholar, Bruce Fein will speak at the Congress and TCA Project Manager, Beril Unver will participate in the Youth Panel.

Congressional Caucus on Turkey Reaches 131 Members

The Congressional Caucus on US-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans reached 131 members with Rep. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) joining in December. The Caucus on Turkey is a bipartisan platform for Members of Congress to focus on issues that relate to Turkey, U.S.-Turkey relations and the Turkish American community. Contact the TCA office to learn more about the Caucus and find out how you can ask your Representative to join.
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