The Gezi Park protests were widely covered among Turkish-American community. While Washington-based Turkish- American Associations Assembly (ATAA) President Ergun Kirlikovali has said that the protests proved Americans that Turkey was a democratic country where people can speak up their minds, Turkish- American Associations Federation (TAAF) President Ali Cinar said, Greek and Armenian lobbies could cause a decision similar to the one of European Parliament's to be passed by the Congress.
Leaders of Turkish-American community, attending Turkish Citizens Abroad Advisory Meeting in Ankara, replied Anadolu Agency's (AA) questions about the reflections of Gezi Park events in the US.
TAAF President Cinar pointed out that overall picture did not look good in the US as the media presented the events as civil war while ATAA President Kirlikovali stated, Turkey’s image might have even been improved because Americans saw Turkey as a democratic country where people can speak up their minds if they disagree with the government.
Both leaders expressed that they contacted several senators and congressmen to provide them with accurate information about the events.
Cinar said, the US officials were currently watching the events from the sidelines, while Kirlikovali mentioned that they were trying to figure the events out.
Kirlikovali also said, most of the Americans and Turks living there see the outbreak of the events as result of the government's "interference in private lives", and added, there have been pro-Gezi protests in 10 cities.
On the other hand, Cinar remarked the activities of Greek and Armenian lobbies, and said, "Unfortunately some Turks put an advertisement on New York Times for making 'bad-advertising' of their own country."
Cinar also warned against a possible resolution similar to the one by European Parliament to be passed by the Congress via the efforts of anti-Turkey lobbies. As a measure, noted Cinar, they sent letters to media organs and tell the truth behind the events to fix the damaged image.
Reporting by Selen Tonkus
