ASA PR: ASA MARCHES IN TURKISH DAY PARADE IN NEW YORK CITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2006

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Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA)
P.O.Box 69, Lodi, New Jersey, 07644
email: press@azeris.org

ASA MARCHES IN TURKISH DAY PARADE IN NEW YORK CITY

The Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) participated in the annual Turkish Day Parade held on Saturday, May 20, 2006 in New York City organized by The Federation of Turkish American Organizations.

ASA officers and members proudly carried banners and flags as they marched on foot down midtown Manhattan’s wide Madison Avenue with an Azerbaijan Society of America float following them. The float, with the flags of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and the USA waving in the spring breeze, carried Azerbaijani-American children, some in traditional folk costume.

The float, which was sponsored by ASA also celebrated the BTC pipeline and featured an oil rig and barrel and a map highlighting the pipeline connection linking Azerbaijan and Turkey. A duo of traditional drummers sat at the top of the float and played to the crowds of people lining miles of New York City streets. The crowds, comprised of Turkish-Americans as well as New Yorkers of every persuasion, cheered loudly as the ASA delegation passed.

After almost of week of rain, the skies turned sunny on Saturday morning and viewers were treated to a long procession of marching bands, floats, traditional dancers, and music. As the ASA procession passed the reviewing stand, which was filled with Turkish and American dignitaries, ASA and members were acknowledged on loudspeaker and the dignitaries cheered and waved as they passed.

"The Azerbaijan Society of America has been participating in New York’s Turkish Day Parade for more than 25 years," said Tomris Azeri. "The ASA continues to acknowledge and celebrate the close relationship between the two countries, we always had strong ties with TheTurkish-American organizations in the United States, after all we are two nations with same nationality" she said.

Established in 1957, Azerbaijan Society of America is the oldest and leading nationwide non-profit Azerbaijani diaspora organization dedicated to enhancing knowledge about the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people, their culture and history.