Turkey’s state-run airline is one of the fastest-growing and most profitable in Europe. It also sponsors the European basketball league and European soccer clubs FC Barcelona and Manchester United. Turkish Airlines is scheduled to begin new non-stop flights Los Angeles from the airlines’ largest hub, Istanbul... New four times weekly flights to Los Angeles will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and set to begin on 3rd March 2011
The tension, though, stems from Turkey's denial that about 1.5 million Armenian deaths from 1915-19 constituted genocide. Turkey instead describes the deaths as the result of civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Mavi Boncuk |
Mavi Boncuk |
Turkish Airlines announced that Lakers star Kobe Bryant is its new global brand ambassador. That has many from the Armenian American community outraged. Bryant has yet to issue a statement regarding the Armenian-American community's reaction. A Lakers spokesperson stated the controversy wasn't a team issue and referred further inquiries to Bryant's representatives.
Prior to the controversy, Bryant said on the Turkish Airlines' website that "Turkey is a country rich in natural beauty and thousands of years of cultural history, and I'm proud to partner with Turkish Airlines to bring that majesty to people around the world."
While no American president has recognized the Armenian Genocide, many of the 300,000 Armenian Americans in Los Angeles would like to see the city's sports celebrity do so.
Los Angeles-born Armenian-American socialite and reality television star Kim Kardashian urged her more than 5.5 million followers on Twitter earlier this week to call on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to schedule a vote on House Resolution 252, which would recognize the Armenian deaths as genocide.
Bryant’s teammate Lamar Odom is married to Kardashian’s sister Khloe. The couple visited Istanbul earlier this year while Odom played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2010 FIBA world championships hosted by Turkey. Bryant was not part of the U.S. team. The Turkish squad finished second.
Prior to the controversy, Bryant said on the Turkish Airlines' website that "Turkey is a country rich in natural beauty and thousands of years of cultural history, and I'm proud to partner with Turkish Airlines to bring that majesty to people around the world."
While no American president has recognized the Armenian Genocide, many of the 300,000 Armenian Americans in Los Angeles would like to see the city's sports celebrity do so.
Los Angeles-born Armenian-American socialite and reality television star Kim Kardashian urged her more than 5.5 million followers on Twitter earlier this week to call on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to schedule a vote on House Resolution 252, which would recognize the Armenian deaths as genocide.
Bryant’s teammate Lamar Odom is married to Kardashian’s sister Khloe. The couple visited Istanbul earlier this year while Odom played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2010 FIBA world championships hosted by Turkey. Bryant was not part of the U.S. team. The Turkish squad finished second.
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