Blues and Jazz Artists Bring Down the House in Mersin and Adana

April 7- 8, 2008  --  The Consulate hosted two concerts by celebrated American blues vocalist Bettie Mae Fikes and her band -- George Johnson (percussion), Robert Watson (bass guitar), and Eugene Blacknell (keyboard) -- and famed Turkish blues guitarist Mehmet Ali Acet.  Bettie Mae’s flawless vocals and vigor won over more than 750 audience members in Mersin and Adana while displaying U.S.-Turkish synergy at its finest, both on the stage and off as the Consulate held the concerts in collaboration with local partners dedicated to supporting the arts.  This concert tour is being held in honor of the eminent Turkish-American Ahmet Ertegun, who was a giant in American music for several decades prior to his death in 2006.  Sharing American Blues, one of Ertegun’s favorite genres, with a wider Turkish audience is a fitting way to honor his memory.
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Adana Principal Officer Green is Keynote Speaker at Gaziantep Foundation School’s Annual English Conference

April 5, 2008  --  Principal Officer Eric Green was the keynote speaker at Gaziantep Foundation School’s annual English-language teaching conference on April 5.  At the end of the presentation, which featured a slide show on key moments captured on film over 85 years of U.S.-Turkish relations, audience members asked questions on U.S. history, culture, elections and current policy.

Veteran Journalist Deborah Potter Underscores in Two-Day Mersin-Adana Program: “A Free Press is the Oxygen of Democracy”

March 19 - 20, 2008  --  With over 36 years of media experience, Ms. Deborah Potter captivated audiences in Adana and Mersin with presentations covering the basics of good journalism, universal standards of responsible reporting, media’s role in a democracy, the impact of online news and blogging, and future media trends.

Building Dreams: Visiting Fulbright Professor and Architect Inspires Adana-Mersin Students

March 11, 2008  --  U.S. Fulbrighter Tarik Orgen, an architecture professor at Auburn University, inspired over 225 students and faculty at Mersin and Cukurova Universities with his lecture and slide show presentation on the “Rural Studio.” Rural Studio is Auburn’s internationally acclaimed program that teaches future architects about social responsibility and the benefit of involving communities in construction projects using recycled and renewable material. In Adana, Professor Orgen appeared live on Cukurova Television’s morning show, answering questions on his own journey from Istanbul to the United States 27 years ago and encouraging students, civil society, and government to expand their horizons when thinking about civil construction projects. Professor Orgen also spoke at the Chamber of Architects.

Ambassador Wilson getting information about  a column base belonging to an ancient palace dating back to 8th century B.C. at the Archeological and Mosaics Museum of Hatay.

Ambassador Ross Wilson's Visit to Hatay 

February 07, 2008  --  Ambassador Ross Wilson visited Hatay province on February 7 for meetings with local leaders and to explore the region's historic sites.  He paid calls on Governor Ahmet Kayhan and Antakya Mayor Mehmet Yeloglu and met with about 50 representatives of the Antakya Chamber of Commerce.  He visited a number of sites, including the St. Peter's Grotto Church, the Habibi Naccar Mosque, the Hatay Archeological and Mosaics Museum and the Roman-era Titus-Vespasianus Tunnel at Samandag.