Dear Friends of TACAM and Turkiye (Turkey),
Today, we are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the most tragic terror incident of the 21st century – 9/11!
Turkish-Americans are deeply saddened by the horrific act of 9/11 terror and the loss of over 3000 innocent people’s lives! After the 9/11 incident, the U.S. Embassy/Consulates in Turkey were visited via thousands of Turks with thousands of flowers which united us even more together – and today is again of these days to share our sadness and to be “One Voice”!
Turkey is the 15th biggest economy on the world a key ally and strategic partner of the U.S. in the Middle-East. Due to this critical
position, we would like to re-commit any leadership and operational support for ensuring “GLOBAL PEACE” as Turkey successfully did it up to now as same examples are shown below (high level):
- Turkey is as democratic, secular, unitary, constitutional republic and an active member of the NATO since 1952 (with the
second largest standing armed force after the U.S). Turkey is one of the founding members of the United Nations since 1945 and has been fighting strongly for global peace and democratization with providing significant resources. - Turkey’s support, also in providing the Incirlik American Air Base in Turkey, played a key role during the Gulf War.
- Turkey’s military troops in Afghanistan have been playing a key role during the stabilization and democratization process. In 2004, NATO appointed Minister Hikmet Çetin, of Turkey, as the Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan and he is primarily responsible for advancing the political-military aspects of the Alliance.
- Turkey is one of five NATO member nations which are part of the nuclear sharing policy of the alliance. Now, Turkey will host NATO’s “(U.S. designated) Nuclear Anti-missile Radar Program’ to protect from nuclear missile attacks (which put Turkey’s national security in great danger)!
- Turkey has maintained forces in diverse international missions under the United Nations and NATO since 1950, including
peacekeeping missions in Korea with over 5,000 soldiers (1950), in Somalia and former Yugoslavia, and support to coalition forces in the First Gulf War. In 2006, the Turkish parliament deployed a peacekeeping force of Navy patrol
vessels and around 700 ground troops as part of an expanded United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and more. Turkey had previously been a member of the U.N. Security Council in 1951–1952, 1954–1955, 1961 etc. - Turkey is strongly fighting against “Global Terrorism” and for “Global Peace” and has been undertaking key initiatives
against Hamas and other terrorist groups.
Once again, TACAM calls on the community at large today, to pause and remember the men, women and children whose lives were senselessly and tragically lost to terrorism.
As previously announced, today TACAM has organized an event and we hope to see
everyone there (see link: http://tacam.org/2011/events/victory-day-ramadan-9-11/)!
Kindly regards,
Feridun Bek
President
On behalf of the TACAM Board of Directors