Senate Resolution 7

A RESOLUTION WELCOMING AND SALUTING THE MEMBERS OF THE TURKISH DELEGATION TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ON THE OCCASION OF THE TURKISH COUNCIL OF AMERICANS AND EURASIANS (TCAE) TURKISH-MISSISSIPPIAN FRIENDSHIP RECEPTION.

WHEREAS, the Turkish Council of Americans and Eurasians (TCAE) is a leading, independent and an umbrella organization of Turkish, Turkic and Eurasian organizations in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi committed to advancing the interaction among American and Eurasian peoples to promote and encourage continuing good relationship and understanding through its member organizations; and

WHEREAS, the TCAE is sponsoring the "Turkish-Mississippian Friendship Reception" on February 16, 2010, to welcome the Turkish Delegation to Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, members of the Turkish Delegation are: Professor Dr. Vahit Kirisci, Mustafa Atas and Mehmet Sahin; and

WHEREAS, the Turkish-Mississippian Friendship Reception will offer an opportunity for the Turkish Delegation to meet different elected officials and community leaders in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Professor Dr. Vahit Kirisci is a member of the Justice and Development Party in Malatya, the Chairman on the House Committee on Agriculture and a European Democrat Group Assembly Member. Professor Kirisci graduated from Cukurova University Faculty of Agriculture and received his Ph.D. from Cranfield University in England. He has published 55 articles, books and commission reports. He has taken leadership positions in many nongovernmental organizations. He has served in Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission and currently serves as a member of the Commission of Agriculture and is President of the Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission. Professor Kirisci speaks English, is married and the father of three children; and

WHEREAS, Mustafa Atas is a member of the Justice and Development Party in Istanbul. He has been in politics for more than 30 years. In 2002, he was elected as Congressman from Istanbul's 1st District. He is currently serving as the Justice and Development Party's Group Board Member; and

WHEREAS, Mehmet Sahin is a member of the Justice and Development Party in Malatya. Congressman Sahin has a degree in theology. He has a special interest in Turkish-Islamic art. Congressman Sahin is a member of the Turkish group of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). He speaks English, Arabic, Persian and Russian. He is married and the father of four children; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we salute the members of the Turkish Delegation and welcome them to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby welcome and salute the members of the Turkish Delegation as the guests of the State of Mississippi on the occasion of the "Turkish Council of Americans and Eurasians Turkish-Mississippian Friendship Reception," and extend to them our greetings and best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this resolution be presented to Professor Dr. Vahit Kirisci, Mustafa Atas, Mehmet Sahin, forwarded to the Turkish Council of Americans and Eurasians and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.