House Resolution 42

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION WELCOMING AND RECOGNIZING VISITING MEMBERS OF THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY.

WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey, a beautiful country that connects Europe and the Middle East, is often referred to as the "cradle of civilization" because of its rich history as home to a variety of nations of people since 6500 B.C.; and

WHEREAS, Turkey is an important ally of the United States of America, and America's friendship and diplomatic and economic relationships with the Republic of Turkey have become more and more important in the context of current events that are occurring in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, Turkey is a democratic, secular and constitutional republic that is governed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, a unicameral legislature known as Parliament, and it is a country that has demonstrated its commitment to world peace and liberty and its tolerance of others in secular and religious venues; and

WHEREAS, Turkey's Parliament is composed of 550 members, who are elected for five-year terms from 85 electoral districts, and under the Turkish Constitution, it is the sole body that may exercise the country's legislative function; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi House of Representatives is honored on March 2, 2011, by a visit from three (3) members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey--Congresswoman Fatma Salman Kotan, Congressman Mehmet Muezzinoglu and Congressman Ahmet Oksuzkaya--all of whom are members of the Justice and Development Party; and

WHEREAS, Congresswoman Kotan, educated in business and economics, worked as an independent financial advisor and member of the Clerk's Office of the Parliament before her election to office, and she is married and the mother of three children; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Muezzinoglu is a physician specializing in internal medicine diseases and the founder of a private hospital and of several democratic, educational and cultural associations, and he is married and the father of two children; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Oksuzkaya, educated in journalism and economics, worked as a financial advisor, which included serving in leadership positions in an organization of Certified Public Accountants, and he is married and the father of three children; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to welcome and recognize distinguished legislative counterparts from other democratic countries:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby welcome and recognize these visiting legislators from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and extend best wishes for their continued success in leading the people of the Republic of Turkey.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to each of the visiting legislators, to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.