Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Turkic Group Welcomes Leaders

By Polly Summar
Journal Staff Writer

      There are only some 500 members of the Turkish community in New Mexico, but they're throwing a “friendship reception” tonight for legislators and state leaders at the Eldorado Hotel.
       “We want the leaders to know about our community,” said Resul Aksoy, an Albuquerque resident who's vice president of the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians.
       With that in mind, the council plans to present public service awards to Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Secretary of State Mary Herrera and House Speaker Ben Lujan — while also serving them Turkish coffee, homemade baklava and stuffed grape leaves at the 5:30 p.m. event.
       Asked about the timing of the event during the legislative session, Aksoy said the Turkish community is not lobbying for any legislation. “The Turkish community is a small community in New Mexico — about 500 of us.
       “But our impact is bigger than our number in the state,” Aksoy said. “We want to have our voices reach out to the legislative leaders.”
       Aksoy said the council is also expecting State Auditor Hector Balderas, State Treasurer James Lewis and Attorney General Gary King to attend. The nonprofit Turquoise Council represents eight states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Aksoy said other regions have different councils.
       The council's purpose is to bring people together with interest in the American and Turkish, Turkic and Eurasian cultures, often through hosting public programs and private events involving task forces, forums, luncheons, conferences, studies and leadership dialogues.
       The Turquoise Council is establishing a Raindrop Turkish House in Albuquerque, like the one in Houston. Every year that house invites representatives from Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and others from the Turkic world to showcase their cultures at the popular Turkic Cultures and Children's Festival.