Florida Senate - 2016                            (NP)    SR 1748
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       38-00394-16                                           20161748__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the long-standing
    3         relationship between this state and the Republic of
    4         Turkey, and encouraging initiatives that build upon
    5         this time-honored friendship to promote the academic,
    6         cultural, economic, educational, and political ties
    7         between Florida and the Republic of Turkey.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey and the United States of
   10  America are long-standing allies, both dearly cherishing the
   11  universal values of democracy, freedom, and human rights, and
   12         WHEREAS, in its alliances with the United States, the
   13  Republic of Turkey has demonstrated its commitment to liberty
   14  and world peace as well as its secular and religious tolerance
   15  of others, and
   16         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey has the world’s 15th
   17  largest economy and Europe’s 6th largest economy, is a valued
   18  trading partner with this state, and is to be commended for its
   19  contributions to the global economy, and
   20         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey and this state have enjoyed
   21  a strong, vibrant, and mutually beneficial economic relationship
   22  with the prospect of further growth, and
   23         WHEREAS, it is the custom of this state to welcome all who
   24  come, especially those who come in the interest of friendship
   25  and commerce, and
   26         WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of this state to
   27  further cultivate the good relationship between Florida and the
   28  Republic of Turkey, and
   29         WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize
   30  the contributions of our nation’s allies and the value of
   31  maintaining beneficial relationships with those allies, and
   32         WHEREAS, the Turkic American Federation of Southeast (TAFS)
   33  is an independent, nonprofit organization that facilitates the
   34  mutually beneficial economic relationship between Florida and
   35  the Republic of Turkey, and
   36         WHEREAS, the organization’s mission is to promote cultural,
   37  educational, academic, business, social, and arts relations and
   38  to organize events and activities to bring together the
   39  American, Turkish, Turkic, and Eurasian communities in the
   40  United States, and
   41         WHEREAS, TAFS represents nine member organizations in five
   42  states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and
   43  Tennessee, and
   44         WHEREAS, TAFS brings people together by hosting public
   45  programs and private events featuring leaders and experts with
   46  diverse views on a wide range of global and regional topics, as
   47  well as through task forces, executive forums, luncheons,
   48  conferences, studies, and leadership dialogue, and
   49         WHEREAS, a Turkish-Floridian Friendship Day reception will
   50  be held in Tallahassee on February 9, 2016, NOW, THEREFORE,
   51  
   52  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   53  
   54         That we recognize the Turkic American Federation of
   55  Southeast for its efforts to promote intercultural understanding
   56  and goodwill, and we extend our best wishes on the occasion of
   57  the Turkish-Floridian Friendship Day reception.
   58         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage the continuing
   59  work of the Turkic American Federation of Southeast to promote
   60  and foster goodwill between this state and the Republic of
   61  Turkey, build upon time-honored friendships, and promote
   62  mutually beneficial academic, cultural, economic, educational,
   63  and political ties.