NEW YORK STREETS TO BE COLORED

The Turkish Day Parade organized annually in May will be held on May 20th this year. Accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Hon. Mehmet Ali Sahin, Mr. Bagis will head a delegation of five members of Parliament (Hon. Sukru Elekdag, Hon. Reha Denemec, Hon. Zeynep Damla Gurel and Hon. Mevlut Cavusoglu) as guests of honor of the parade and festival which carries double significance this year.

The first significance is that this year is the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Turkish American Associations which annually organize the Turkish Day Parade and Turkish Cultural Festival. Mr. Bagis had served as President of the Federation for two terms consecutively.

The second significance is the 25th anniversary of the Turkish Cultural Festival.

The parade that attracts more crowds every year, due to its 25th anniversary, is expected to draw approximately 20,000 Turks this year.

Parades of various ethnic groups are a part of the New York urban culture and are watched by New Yorkers with fascination. However, with the integration of the parade into a cultural festival that begins on April 23rd and continues to May 19th during Mr. Bagis's term, active participation of New Yorkers has been secured and hence, has become an extraordinary opportunity for the promotion of Turkey.