[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SPEECH BY AHMET ERTEGUN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2001

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place in the Congressional 
Record the following speech given by Ahmet Ertegun, Chief Executive 
Officer of Atlantic Records, on May 18, 2001, after receiving the 
Prestigious Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) Cultural 
Lifetime Achievement award during the FTAA's Turkish Cultural Week.
  As co-founder of the House Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations and 
Turkish-Americans, I believe there is no individual more deserving of 
the FTAA Cultural Achievement Award than Ahmet Ertegun who is a leading 
voice in the Turkish-American community and an extraordinary 
humanitarian.
  It would be an understatement to say that Mr. Ertegun is the epitome 
of the American dream. As a successful businessman and self-starter, he 
co-founded one of the most successful international recording studios, 
Atlantic Records. Mr. Ertegun has also been deeply involved in many 
worthwhile philanthropic activities. Thousands of individuals in the 
United States and throughout the world have benefited from his 
commitment and involvement in charities and civic organizations.
  The Turkish-American community should be extremely proud to have Mr. 
Ertegun as a leading spokesman to promote Turkish culture and history 
in the United States. He, along with the Federation of Turkish American 
Associations, are the heart and soul of a dynamic Turkish-American 
community. Finally, I want to thank Mr. Ertegun and the FTAA for their 
commitment to strengthening the relationship between the United State 
and Turkey. Like Mr. Ertegun and the FTAA, I believe that the 
friendship and strategic partnership between America and Turkey are 
essential to both countries and will grow even more important 
throughout the 21st century.
  Again, I join the Federation of Turkish American Associations and the 
Turkish-American community in celebrating Mr. Ertegan's extraordinary 
achievements and congratulate him on receiving the FTAA Cultural 
Lifetime Achievement award.

       Thank you.
       Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen:
       It is a great honor for me to be recognized by the 
     Federation of Turkish American Associations.
       I deem it a great honor to have been introduced by my dear 
     friend, Arif Mardin.
       Arif, as our musical director, has made the key monumental 
     record hits that have been the highlights of Atlantic's 
     history: ``Respect'' by Aretha Franklin, the Saturday Night 
     Fever album by the Bee Gees, and ``Wind Beneath My Wings'' by 
     Bette Midler just to name a few.
       I was recently invited to a white-tie gala banquet in 
     Nashville to get a music citation. This was a period when I 
     was using crutches to walk.
       As they called my name and I started to walk up to the 
     podium to receive the award, this southern lady turned to me 
     and said: ``You must be mahty proud. This is the first time 
     we've given this award to a foreign cripple.''
       But to be serious, it is wonderful to see such a large 
     group of Turkish Americans. Each and every one of you is an 
     important part of what has become the beginnings of a group 
     which could have some political influence in the near future, 
     both here in America and also in Turkey, through our family 
     and friends.
       It is most important that we, as Turkish Americans, 
     champion the causes of freedom and justice, both here and in 
     Turkey.
       As you all must know, Turkey is now going through a 
     terrible time because of economic mismanagement. We are all 
     aware of the rumors and accusations in the Turkish press, of 
     chaos and corruption, in both the public and the private 
     sector.
       But what has been the savior of Turkey has been the 
     selfless and honest dedication of so many of its citizens, 
     and the ever-present vigil of the Turkish Army, to protect 
     the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. They have been our 
     saviors through the many difficulties since the formation of 
     the Republic in 1923.
       With the coming of the current crisis and the devaluation 
     of the Turkish lira, President Bulent Ecevit sent for a top 
     economist from the World Bank, Mr. Kemal Dervis, to establish 
     reforms and to encourage economic help from our friends in 
     America and in Europe.
       He has been promised over 16 billion dollars, but with 
     stringent conditions, which require drastic changes in the 
     economic and political systems initiated by Ataturk at the 
     beginning of the Republic.
       Ataturk's dream was to bring his country and its people 
     into the modern world's mainstream, and shortly before he 
     died, he left this important message and I quote:
       ``I am leaving no sermon, no dogma, nor am I leaving as my 
     legacy any commandment that is frozen in time or cast in 
     stone. Concepts of well-being for countries, for peoples, and 
     for individuals are changing in time. In such a world, to 
     argue for rules that never change would be to deny the 
     reality found in scientific knowledge and rational 
     judgement''.
       It is my fervent hope that all of you support Mr. Kemal 
     Dervis' mission and support President Ecevit in this critical 
     moment. It is an important moment in Turkish history which 
     will disengage the economic system from the political, which 
     will bring about transparency and accountability in 
     government, and help Turkey reach its destiny as an important 
     member of the modern democratic world.
       May the army and the Turkish people persevere in their 
     pursuit of Ataturk's dream.

     

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