Turkish ambassador in Washington welcomes new leaders of Turkish American federation

Türkiye's Ambassador to the United States Sedat Önal received Cevdet Özdemir, the newly elected president of the Federation of Turkish American Associations, and the federation's Executive Board, the Turkish Embassy in Washington said. The New York-based umbrella group, founded in 1956, is best known for organizing the annual Turkish Day Parade in Manhattan.

Türkiye's Ambassador to the United States Sedat Önal has received Cevdet Özdemir, the newly elected president of the Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA), together with members of the federation's Executive Board, the Turkish Embassy in Washington said on Saturday.

Önal congratulated the new board and wished it success in its endeavors, the embassy said in a bilingual post on X. The photo it shared shows the ambassador with the delegation in a marble hall, between the U.S. and Turkish flags, with portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the background.

An umbrella group since 1956

Founded in 1956 and based in New York, the FTAA is one of the oldest umbrella organizations of the Turkish American community. Its member associations are concentrated mainly in the Northeastern United States, and its aims include uniting and supporting the Turkish American community and introducing Turkish culture to the American public.

The federation is best known as the force behind New York's Turkish Day Parade. According to Türkiye's Directorate of Communications, the parade was first held in 1981 in response to the assassination of Turkish diplomats in the United States by the Armenian terrorist group ASALA, and was later turned into a tradition by the FTAA. This year's parade, the 43rd, marched down Madison Avenue on May 16.

Elected as the sole candidate

Özdemir, a businessman originally from the Black Sea province of Giresun, was elected FTAA president for the 2026–2028 term at the federation's ordinary general assembly in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the Turkish regional newspaper Yeşilgiresun reported in September. He ran as the only candidate, on a single slate, and succeeded Gülay Aydemir, who had led the federation for two terms. Several members of the new Executive Board also come from Giresun, the paper noted.

Ambassador's community outreach

The meeting is the latest in a series of contacts between Önal and Turkish Americans. The ambassador recently hosted a business delegation from the Kayseri branch of MÜSİAD, the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association, during its visit to Washington and pledged the support of the embassy and Türkiye's consulates for its members' U.S. business ties.

In Atlanta, Önal met Turkish business people, academics and students, saying Turkish-American relations are going through a very positive period and stressing the need for the community to act in unity and solidarity.

Photo: Embassy of Türkiye in Washington, D.C.

Turkish ambassador in Washington welcomes new leaders of Turkish American federation