TURKISH AMERICANS PREPARE "MASTER PLAN" FOR 2015
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 5 2014
Tolga TanıÅ~_ WASHINGTON
The largest Turkish group in the United States has prepared a plan
to counter efforts by Armenian lobby groups on the eve of centennial
anniversary of the 1915 events.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
1915 and 1916 by the forces of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died and denies
this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation
during World War I.
The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), a
Washington-based group founded in 1979, has prepared a "master plan"
to "respond to the Armenians' claims on every front."
The Turkish campaign, which will include "both proactive and reactive
responses," will be introduced to all Turkish groups that will be
invited to Washington in September.
"Proactive" measures include the forming of "activist committees" who
will visit lawmakers in each state, conduct social media campaigns,
keep in touch with traditional media outlets, prepare online courses
and organize countrywide networking meetings for Americans.
One part of the initiative consists of the organization of at least
20 "day-long conferences" in partnership with local universities and
with the participation of famous Turkish-Americans like Dr. Mehmet
Oz and Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent.
"Reactive" responses will include immediately countering when the
claims from Armenians are published or featured in panels, conferences
and exhibitions organized by the Armenian lobby groups. The ATAA will
request from the writers and publishers to include the Turkish claims
in their books or documentaries based on the Armenian claims.
Another aspect of the Turkish campaign will focus on Capitol Hill. The
ATAA will cooperate with PaxTurcica for a joint educational program
for the members of Congress. Members of the U.S. Congress will be
instantly informed when they are presented with an anti-Turkish bill.
Meanwhile, "ghost websites" that have been set up by the Armenian lobby
to manipulate search engine results on the web will be countered more
effectively, according to the ATAA document.
The Turkish-American community will also hold a fundraising event
for every such event that the Armenian lobbies organize in the U.S.
July/05/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-americans-prepare-master-plan-for-2015.aspx?pageID=238&nID=68698&NewsCatID=339
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 5 2014
Tolga TanıÅ~_ WASHINGTON
The largest Turkish group in the United States has prepared a plan
to counter efforts by Armenian lobby groups on the eve of centennial
anniversary of the 1915 events.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
1915 and 1916 by the forces of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died and denies
this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation
during World War I.
The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), a
Washington-based group founded in 1979, has prepared a "master plan"
to "respond to the Armenians' claims on every front."
The Turkish campaign, which will include "both proactive and reactive
responses," will be introduced to all Turkish groups that will be
invited to Washington in September.
"Proactive" measures include the forming of "activist committees" who
will visit lawmakers in each state, conduct social media campaigns,
keep in touch with traditional media outlets, prepare online courses
and organize countrywide networking meetings for Americans.
One part of the initiative consists of the organization of at least
20 "day-long conferences" in partnership with local universities and
with the participation of famous Turkish-Americans like Dr. Mehmet
Oz and Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent.
"Reactive" responses will include immediately countering when the
claims from Armenians are published or featured in panels, conferences
and exhibitions organized by the Armenian lobby groups. The ATAA will
request from the writers and publishers to include the Turkish claims
in their books or documentaries based on the Armenian claims.
Another aspect of the Turkish campaign will focus on Capitol Hill. The
ATAA will cooperate with PaxTurcica for a joint educational program
for the members of Congress. Members of the U.S. Congress will be
instantly informed when they are presented with an anti-Turkish bill.
Meanwhile, "ghost websites" that have been set up by the Armenian lobby
to manipulate search engine results on the web will be countered more
effectively, according to the ATAA document.
The Turkish-American community will also hold a fundraising event
for every such event that the Armenian lobbies organize in the U.S.
July/05/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-americans-prepare-master-plan-for-2015.aspx?pageID=238&nID=68698&NewsCatID=339