Florida Senate - 2014                            (NP)    SR 1332
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       38-01587-14                                           20141332__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution encouraging the creation of a Turkish
    3         Floridian Friendship Task Force to further the long
    4         standing relationship between this state and the
    5         Republic of Turkey, build upon time-honored
    6         friendships, and promote the cultural, educational,
    7         academic, political, and economic ties between these
    8         two great nations.
    9  
   10         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey and the United States of
   11  America are long-standing allies, both dearly cherishing the
   12  universal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, and
   13         WHEREAS, in its alliances with the United States, the
   14  Republic of Turkey has demonstrated its commitment to world
   15  peace and liberty as well as its secular and religious tolerance
   16  of others, and
   17         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey has the world’s 15th
   18  largest economy and Europe’s 6th largest economy, is a valued
   19  trading partner with this state, and is to be commended for its
   20  contributions to the global economy, and
   21         WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey and this state have enjoyed
   22  a strong, vibrant, and mutually beneficial economic relationship
   23  with the prospect of further growth, and
   24         WHEREAS, it is the custom of this state to welcome all who
   25  come, especially those who come in the interest of friendship
   26  and commerce, and
   27         WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of this state to
   28  further cultivate the good relationship between Florida and the
   29  Republic of Turkey, and
   30         WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Florida Legislature to
   31  recognize the contributions of our nation’s allies and the value
   32  of maintaining beneficial relationships with allies, and
   33         WHEREAS, the Turkic American Federation of Southeast (TAFS)
   34  is an independent, nonprofit organization that facilitates the
   35  mutually beneficial economic relationship between Florida and
   36  Turkey, and
   37         WHEREAS, the organization’s mission is to promote cultural,
   38  educational, academic, business, social, and arts relations and
   39  to organize events and activities to bring together the
   40  American, Turkish, Turkic, and Eurasian communities within the
   41  United States, and
   42         WHEREAS, TAFS represents 12 member organizations in five
   43  states: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and
   44  Alabama, and
   45         WHEREAS, TAFS brings people together by hosting public
   46  programs and private events featuring leaders and experts with
   47  diverse views on a wide range of global and regional topics
   48  through task forces, executive forums, luncheons, conferences,
   49  studies, and leadership dialogue, and
   50         WHEREAS, the bipartisan Turkish-Floridian Friendship Task
   51  Force was created in 2014, with Senator Rene Garcia and
   52  Representative Reggie Fullwood serving as the initial network
   53  coordinators, for the purpose of providing members of the
   54  Legislature with the opportunity to strengthen Florida-Turkish
   55  relations, address issues that concern Turkish Americans in
   56  Florida, promote cultural, educational, academic, political, and
   57  economic relations between the people of this state and the
   58  Turkish people, and coordinate hospitality and educational
   59  events and exchanges with TAFS, and
   60         WHEREAS, a Turkish-Floridian Friendship Day reception will
   61  be held in Tallahassee on April 1, 2014, NOW, THEREFORE,
   62  
   63  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   64  
   65         That we recognize the Turkic American Federation of
   66  Southeast for its efforts to promote intercultural understanding
   67  and goodwill, and the Turkish-Floridian Friendship Task Force
   68  for its cooperation with TAFS, and extend best wishes on the
   69  occasion of the Turkish-Floridian Friendship Day reception.
   70         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage the creation of a
   71  Turkish-Floridian Friendship Task Force by members of this body
   72  and the House of Representatives to further the long-standing
   73  relations between this state and the Republic of Turkey, build
   74  upon time-honored friendships, and promote cultural,
   75  educational, academic, political, and economic relations between
   76  Florida and Turkey.