Cyprus-Forum.com

[magikthrill]

LOS ANGELES - Mr. Mehmet Mustafaoglu, has been chosen as the TRNC's (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) first honorary consul general (representative) in L.A., it was announced officially. Diplomatic sources from the TRNC have stated today that the TRNC will soon open an honorary consulate general in the Southern California city of Los Angeles.

TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a written statement that the post of honorary consul in L.A. was created ''within the framework of cooperation between the TRNC and the USA to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots following the acceptance of the United Nations plan for the reunification of the island in April 2004. The post is akin to a Consul General; however, it has been named as 'Representative' because the U.S. does not formally recognize the TRNC.''

In his letter proclaiming Mr. Mustafaoglu's appointment, the President of TRNC, Mr. Rauf Denktas, stated:

''In view of the friendly relations felicitously existing between the TRNC and the United States of America and the desire to develop further the economic and cultural relations between our peoples and respective countries and to intensify the efforts aimed at eliminating the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, we have, upon the proposition of our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, have chosen Mr. Mehmet Mustafaoglu and appointed him as Honorary Representative of the TRNC.''

In his letters sent to President Denktas, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas, accepting his post, Mr. Mustafaoglu has expressed his determination to exert all effort necessary to educate the American public about the just cause of the Turkish Cypriots and to help expedite the removal of the restrictions on and the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Mr. Mustafaoglu is a distinguished businessman and a community leader. On May 11, 2002, he was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor and his name entered into the Congressional Record. He received his award because of his successful business career and civic service to the United States. Six Presidents of the United States have received this award, as well as many Members of Congress, Nobel Prize winners, prominent scientists, distinguished businessmen and outstanding military heroes such as Generals Norman Schwartzkopf and Colin Powell. In 1994, in recognition of his entrepreneurial accomplishments, Palm Beach Atlantic University has awarded him the companion American Free Enterprise Medal.

Mr. Mustafaoglu's affiliations include Omricon Delta Kappa (Leadership Honorary), Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honorary), Phi Eta Sigma (Electrical Engineering Honorary). He is a former member of the Board of Directors of National Petroleum Refiners Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the World Affairs Council.

Because of Mr. Mustafaoglu's activities and investments to increase Internet access by Latinos living in the U.S., he was asked by California's Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante to serve on the Board of Trustees of California-Mexico Fellowship Program.

Turkish Press



http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=38196

Does anyone know of this person? I think it's good that a TC is having influence in the US as well. Not that I mind a hellenic influence but this uneven balance of influences in US government is what screwed over the Palestinians. Of course TCs have Turkey but that's a different story...

[garbitsch]

The Turkish Cypriot representatives abroad had very little, if not no influence over the countries that are located in. These representative offices are there to help the Turkish Cypriots related to issues like passport renewing etc. Since they have no official recognition (except the one in Turkey) they do not account for lobbying... However, there's this other side of the story that, sometimes the American officials do visit these offices and even invite Turkish Army officials to their representative office in TRNC.