ATAA President: "Azerbaijani friendship society in America has brought together only 17 Congressmen"

"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.