23 April 2002 Announced As Turkish Day In New Orleans

WASHINGTON (A.A) - 16.04.2002 - Marc H. Morial, the mayor of New Orleans, in Louisiana state of the U.S. announced April 23, 2002 as the Day of Commemorating Turkish Inheritance and Children Day.
The decision published by Morial noted that Turkish people headed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the Turkish Republic on October 29, 1923 after the war of independence and added that Ataturk announced April 23 as national day for Turkish children and that that day was also celebrated as international children's day.
Noting that Turkey is the only secular democracy in the Muslim world, the decision also stressed that Turkey contributed significantly to the U.S. foreign policy in the Balkans, Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus and it played an important role in international efforts launched for peace and stability.
Pointing out that Turkey is the close ally of the U.S. and the Americans of Turkish origin in New Orleans contributed a lot to the educational, cultural and economic development of the city and they enriched the cultural inheritance. April 23, 2002 has been declared as the Day of Commemorating Turkish Inheritance and Children's Day in the city.
Officials of Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) welcomed the decision of New Orleans mayor.