Erdogan in Washington
"I recognize the value of pluralism, diversity and toleration"
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the ruling AKP (Justice and Development) party in Turkey, has paid a short but productive visit to Washington on December 9 and 10 during which he met with all the major figures of the Bush Administration, including President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and Secretary of State Collin Powell. More

Thank You Dr. Kaymakçalan!
Ercument Kilic, President, ATAA - During ATAA's recent convention, I spoke of Sultan Yildirim Bayezit as the caregiver, and the merciful. Dr. Orhan Kaymakcalan is the modern day caregiver, and the merciful. That is how we, his friends, his city Chicago, and his Turkish-American community in America came to know him. More

ATAA Elects New Board of Directors
Ercument Kilic is ATAA's new President
The Turkish Times - ATAA's new Board of Directors started their 2-year tenure with an official ceremony that took place during ATAA's 23rd Annual Convention, December 12-14, in Washington D.C. More

Vural Cengiz elected Next President of ATAA
The Turkish Times - Vural Cengiz, a long-time ATAA official, a tireless community activist and a successful businessman, was elected ATAA's President-Elect during ATAA's nationwide 2002 elections and took over his position at the ATAA's 23rd Annual Convention. His presidency will begin in two years following Ercument Kilic. More

Miss Turkey Wins Miss World Competition
Ed Johnson, The Associated Press, LONDON (AP) - With a gleaming smile and a graceful bow, Miss Turkey won the Miss World contest Saturday, bringing to a close an international pageant that incited deadly rioting in Nigeria. Azra Akin stood proudly to attention while her national anthem was played, after she accepted the glittering tiara and $156,000 prize from last year's winner, Nigeria's Agbani Darego. More

Leader of Turkish Nationalist Church Dies
The Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Selcuk Erenerol, leader of a nationalist Turkish Orthodox church that fervently denounced links to Greek Orthodoxy, has died. He was 76. Erenerol, who died from a heart attack late Thursday, headed the Independent Turkish Orthodox Church, which broke away after World War I from the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate, widely considered the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians. More

Turkish leader: "Turkey will press forward with EU path
despite summit letdown"
Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 15 - Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday Turkey was determined to press forward with its drive join the European Union despite the 15-nation bloc's refusal to grant Turkey a definite date for membership talks. "We'll continue this journey with the same seriousness and determination. It's a period in which Turkey can make leaps in opening to the world," Erdogan, chairman of the governing party, told reporters. More

Last Tango in Cyprus
Sami Kohen, Milliyet - The two leaders of Cyprus, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, will in the end have to return to the negotiations table. With the entire world waiting for their next moves, they can't avoid getting back together. They will hold a series of meetings to discuss UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Cyprus plan. More

Gul: Government Will Resist Till The End To
Protect Rights Of Turkish Cypriots
Turkish PM on Iraq: "We have no commitments at the moment" to the U.S.
Anatolian News Agency, December 21, 2002, ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that "if a result that does not satisfy Turkey emerges in Cyprus, we will resist till the end to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots." More