On May 22, 2012, the board directors of the Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California (ATASC), Javid Huseynov and Ahmet Önerbay, met with President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, who was visiting San Francisco, California. This was a first-ever visit by a highest-ranking Turkish official to the U.S. West Coast. In a separate meeting with the Turkish community leaders, President Gül was also informed about the activities of ATASC, specifically about the grassroots advocacy and outreach efforts by the organization. President Gül highly commended these activities. The Ambassador of Turkey to the United States, Namik Tan, and the Consul General of Turkey in Los Angeles, Aydin Topcu, took part in the meeting as well.
A photo from this meeting is available below. This and other photographs and information about President Gül’s visit to San Francisco are also available on the website of Turkish Presidential Administration:
http://www.tccb.gov.tr/haberler/170/83067/cumhurbaskani-gule-san-francisconun-anahtari-verildi.html
ATASC representatives further joined the reception held at Fairmont Hotel in honor of President Gül. During the reception Mayor of San Francisco, Edwin M. Lee, presented the keys of the city to the President.
