WASHINGTON - Ataturk Society of America (ASA) presented on Sunday Ataturk Award to Turkish history expert Andrew Mango.
A ceremony was held in Turkey's Embassy in Washington to give the award to Professor Mango.
Speaking in the ceremony, ASA President Metin Camcigil said that Mango was ''one of those who could understand Ataturk the best.''
Mango said that receiving the award was meaningful for him and stressed that he was proud to be presented that award.
Stating that receiving that award a few days before the Republic Day was also important for him, Mango said that Republic Day was a good opportunity to review what Turkey had gained.
Mango summarized Ataturk's vision for Turkey as ''an independent Turkey living in peace and prosperity and being a part of civilized countries.''
Stating that some circles unjustly defined and criticized Ataturk's policies as ''authoritarian'', Mango said that however, Ataturk succeeded in creating a freedom within the framework of security and legitimacy.
Drawing attention that education policies in Turkey were works of Ataturk, Mango said that those who criticized Ataturk forgot that leaders who administered Turkey for years had a very modest past. Mango noted that former presidents Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were children of such modest families and were outputs of education systems of the Republic.
Mango said that Turkey guaranteed ''a better life'' after foundation of the Republic although it had not reached the level desired by Ataturk yet.
Historian Mango later signed his book named ''Ataturk'' which tells about Ataturk's policies.
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE BOOKS IN WASHINGTON D.C. TO COVER INFORMATION ABOUT ATATURK
High school course books in Washington D.C. will also cover information about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Turkish Republic, and the things he did for Turkey and for world peace.
The high school course books will include information about policies and world view of Ataturk as a result of the meetings which American Turkish Association in Washington D.C. (ATA-DC) and the Ataturk Society of America (ASA) did with regional education officials.
ASA Chairman Metin Camcıgil said that the political and social reforms of Ataturk were also included in the education curriculum of high schools in Washington D.C., thanking American teacher Catherine Boyden for writing the information in the education programme. ATA-DC presented thank-you documents to Boyden and education council for their efforts.
(ÖŞ-AÖ) 27.10.2003