Turkish lobby
Encyclopedia
The Turkish
lobby in the United States
is a lobby that works on behalf of Turkey in promoting that nation's interests with the American government. The Turkish lobby is one of the many lobby
groups in the United States
working to promote their side of the story.
In 2009 the Turkish lobby spent almost $1.7 million lobbying American officials on Turkish issues and on behalf of the Middle Eastern policy concerns it shares with the Arab lobby in the United States
.. Lobbyists working on behalf of and paid by the government of Turkey include former Congressman Dick Gephardt
and former Congressman Bob Livingston
.
According to ProPublica
, in 2007-8 paid, professional lobbyists acting on behalf of the government of Turkey had more contacts with members of congress than lobbyists acting for any other foreign government.
The Turkish lobby worked "intensely" to prevent passage of HR 106, the United States resolution on Armenian genocide
. The New York Times writes that, "former Representative Robert Livingston (Bob Livingston) has been the main lobbyist for Turkey in blocking congressional efforts to pass an Armenian genocide resolution." In 2010 the Washington Post wrote that the Armenian Genocide resolution "prompted an aggressive push by the government of Turkey and its lobbying firm led by former House majority leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), who had urged recognition of the Armenian genocide when he was in Congress. Public-relations firm Fleishman-Hillard also has a contract with Turkey worth more than $100,000 a month, records show. A "contingent of members of the Turkish parliament visited Washington" to lobby on behalf of the Turkish view.
According to the Washington Post, "The Turkish government has spent millions on Washington lobbying over the past decade, much of it focused on the Armenian genocide issue. The country's current lobbyist, the Gephardt Group, collects about $70,000 a month for lobbying services from the government in Ankara, according to federal disclosure records. Another group, the Turkish Coalition of America
, has targeted the districts of committee members who are considered potential swing votes, including submitting op-eds to local newspapers from the group's president."
According to ProPublica
, Turkey is one of "The Top Players in Foreign Agent Lobbying," spending $3,524,632 lobbying the American government in 2007 and 2008 alone.
According to the Sunlight Foundation
, the government of Turkey "has consistently lavished millions each year on well-connected Washington lobbying firms."
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
lobby in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is a lobby that works on behalf of Turkey in promoting that nation's interests with the American government. The Turkish lobby is one of the many lobby
Lobby
Lobby may refer to:* Lobby , an entranceway or foyer in a building* Lobbying, the action or the group used to influence a viewpoint to politicians* Lobby , a thick stew made in North Staffordshire, not unlike Lancashire Hotpot...
groups in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
working to promote their side of the story.
In 2009 the Turkish lobby spent almost $1.7 million lobbying American officials on Turkish issues and on behalf of the Middle Eastern policy concerns it shares with the Arab lobby in the United States
Arab lobby in the United States
The Arab lobby in the United States is a collection of formal and informal groups and professional lobbyists paid directly by Arab governments that lobby the public and government of the United States on behalf of Arab interests. and/or on behalf of Arab-American rights in the United...
.. Lobbyists working on behalf of and paid by the government of Turkey include former Congressman Dick Gephardt
Dick Gephardt
Richard Andrew "Dick" Gephardt is a lobbyist and former prominent American politician of the Democratic Party. Gephardt served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from January 3, 1977, until January 3, 2005, serving as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995, and as Minority Leader from 1995 to...
and former Congressman Bob Livingston
Bob Livingston
Robert Linlithgow "Bob" Livingston Jr. is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist and a former Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana...
.
According to ProPublica
ProPublica
ProPublica is a non-profit corporation based in New York City. It describes itself as an independent non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. In 2010 it became the first online news source to win a Pulitzer Prize, for a piece written by one of its...
, in 2007-8 paid, professional lobbyists acting on behalf of the government of Turkey had more contacts with members of congress than lobbyists acting for any other foreign government.
The Turkish lobby worked "intensely" to prevent passage of HR 106, the United States resolution on Armenian genocide
United States resolution on Armenian genocide
The proposed Armenian Genocide resolution is a measure currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives that would recognize the 1915 Genocide. It is officially called H. Res 106 or the Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution...
. The New York Times writes that, "former Representative Robert Livingston (Bob Livingston) has been the main lobbyist for Turkey in blocking congressional efforts to pass an Armenian genocide resolution." In 2010 the Washington Post wrote that the Armenian Genocide resolution "prompted an aggressive push by the government of Turkey and its lobbying firm led by former House majority leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), who had urged recognition of the Armenian genocide when he was in Congress. Public-relations firm Fleishman-Hillard also has a contract with Turkey worth more than $100,000 a month, records show. A "contingent of members of the Turkish parliament visited Washington" to lobby on behalf of the Turkish view.
According to the Washington Post, "The Turkish government has spent millions on Washington lobbying over the past decade, much of it focused on the Armenian genocide issue. The country's current lobbyist, the Gephardt Group, collects about $70,000 a month for lobbying services from the government in Ankara, according to federal disclosure records. Another group, the Turkish Coalition of America
Turkish Coalition of America
Based in Washington, D.C., The Turkish Coalition of America is an educational, lobbying, and charitable organization incorporated in February 2007.-Mission:...
, has targeted the districts of committee members who are considered potential swing votes, including submitting op-eds to local newspapers from the group's president."
According to ProPublica
ProPublica
ProPublica is a non-profit corporation based in New York City. It describes itself as an independent non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. In 2010 it became the first online news source to win a Pulitzer Prize, for a piece written by one of its...
, Turkey is one of "The Top Players in Foreign Agent Lobbying," spending $3,524,632 lobbying the American government in 2007 and 2008 alone.
According to the Sunlight Foundation
Sunlight Foundation
The Sunlight Foundation is a 501 educational organization founded in April 2006 with the goal of increasing transparency and accountability in the United States government....
, the government of Turkey "has consistently lavished millions each year on well-connected Washington lobbying firms."