Arkansas Hosts Turkish Delegation

The Arkansas General Assembly recently hosted a six-member delegation of Turkish lawmakers, visiting Arkansas through a program sponsored by Raindrop Turkish House and the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (TCAE). Raindrop Turkish House is an educational non-profit organization founded by Turkish-Americans to help facilitate and nurture an understanding of Turkish culture in this country, while also helping Turkish-Americans integrate into American society. TCAE is a non-profit whose main purpose is bringing people together with interest in the American and Turkish, Turkic and Eurasian cultures. While in Arkansas, the Turkish delegation visited state lawmakers and presented information about Turkey at a joint meeting of the House and Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committees. They were also received at a Turkish-Arkansan Friendship Reception, hosted by a committee of state and local leaders, which was co-chaired by Secretary of State Charlie Daniels and Speaker of the House Robbie Wills. Members of the Turkish delegation included Mr. Mustafa Atas, Congressman of Istanbul; Mr. Nurettin Canikli, Congressman of Giresun; Mr. Fatih Ozturk, Congressman of Samsun; Mrs. Ozlem Piltanoglu Turkone, Congresswoman of Istanbul; Dr. Mehmet Sahin, Congressman of Malatya, and Dr. Vahit Kirisci, Congressman of Adana.