Today, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006
ATAA President: "Azerbaijani friendship society in America has
brought together only 17 Congressmen"
30 June 2006 [15:25] – Today.Az
"It is significant for Azerbaijan to strengthen in America and there
is a need for a serious support from inside of Azerbaijan. We are now
trying to establish relations with the Congress, America’s important
decision-making body."
"Frankly speaking, Turkey is in better condition than you in terms of
relationships with Congressmen. Turkey’s Friendship Society has
involved 70 congressmen while that of Azerbaijan has involved only 17
congressmen. It is significant to increase this number. Besides, we
intend to work on Turkish-Azeri joint cultural projects. We have had
talks with your Minister for Culture and Tourism. We are going to
organize joint festivals.
As APA reports, Boston Azeri-Turkish Festival will be held after that
instead of Boston Turkish Festival. And the last but the most
important issue is making money…," Vural Cengiz, president of the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) stated.
Mr.Jengiz said through the friendship society of Turkey and
Azerbaijan has brought together 87 Congressmen, the reason for not
annulling the Section 907 of Freedom Support Act against Azerbaijan
is related to the fact that in America only a powerful can achieve
his aim not a rightful.
"Injustice decisions are often made against Azerbaijan in most issues
and this process is on. We have launched talks with congressmen
regarding the Section 907 and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Before
arriving in Baku, I presented a congressman from Miami with a number
of materials on Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Garabagh and other issues. Our
talks were fruitful. He is now one of the members of the Turkish
friendship group," the ATAA president said.
Jengiz also said that they need to regularly work with the
congressmen but they cannot do it with 2/3 of the body. According to
the ATAA president the reason for Armenians being powerful in America
is their having a lot of money.
Stressing the importance of promoting to Turkish and Azerbaijani
businessman in America, Jengiz said they intend to organize Turkish
businessmen’s visit to Azerbaijan, "We would do more if we had the
Azerbaijan’s Diaspora policy. Turkey does not take this matter more
serious. Azerbaijan has achieved much in this field. The main thing
is that this is the state’s policy."
Jengiz said they also intend to organize Jewish Diaspora delegates
visit to Azerbaijan and have much closer relations with them. He
noted that the Assembly is implementing some joint projects with the
Turkish government to get financial allocation adding the Diaspora
work is funded by individuals. The Assembly president said he gets
salary in the cost of US$100.000 per month in the company he owns and
spends 50% of this sum to the Diaspora work.
The Assembly has collected $500 thousand now. In addition, the
donated money is spent on the Diaspora. Jengiz said this sum is many
times less than the money an Armenian businessman spends on lobbying.
He said they study the experience of Jewish and Armenian Diaspora
adding that Azerbaijan and Turkey is on the last stage of achieving
success in Diaspora work.
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