[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15147]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING KEMAL ATATURK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2012

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, as countries in the Middle East undergo 
drastic change, they are redefining their political systems, looking to 
other countries in the region, like Turkey, to serve as examples of 
positive transition. In Turkey, November 10th is a date remembered for 
the premature death of Kemal Ataturk, the leader of modern Turkey who 
transformed that country from an agrarian society caught in the past to 
a modern, secular and forward looking western model. While the changes 
were recognized at the time as stunning, given recent developments in 
the region, Turkey's transformation is even more relevant and 
noteworthy today.
  President John F. Kennedy noted:

       The name of Ataturk reminds people of the historical 
     successes of one of the great individuals of this century, 
     the leadership that gave inspiration to the Turkish nation, 
     farsightedness in the understanding of the modern world and 
     courage and power as a military leader. It is without a doubt 
     that another example can't be shown indicating greater 
     successes than the birth of the Turkish Republic and ever 
     since then Ataturk's and Turkey's broad and deep reforms 
     undertaken as well as the confidence of a nation in itself.

  His leadership contributions were noted internationally. Prime 
Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, also wrote:

       Ataturk's death is not only a loss for the country, but for 
     Europe is the greatest loss, he who saved Turkey in the war 
     and who revived a new the Turkish nation after the war. The 
     sincere tears shed after him by all classes of people is 
     nothing other than an appropriate manifestation to this great 
     hero and modern Turkey's Ata.

  As Co-chair of the Congressional Turkey Caucus and on behalf of 
Turkish Americans, I join my friends in paying tribute to a great man 
and a great leader. I congratulate the people of Turkey, and continue 
to work to remember Ataturk's legacy and his contributions to world 
peace and to the region.

                          ____________________