UNESCO’NUN ATATÜRK YILI İLANI (1981): MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK’ÜN ABD’DE ANILMASI
UNESCO'S DECLARATION OF THE YEAR OF ATATÜRK (1981): COMMEMORATION OF MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK IN THE UNITED STATES

Summary/Abstract: In accordance with the decision taken at the conference held between October 24 and November 28, 1978, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared 1981 the Atatürk Year, corresponding to the 100th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's birth. Atatürk's universal ideas, which advocated for world peace and human ideals, played a significant role in this decision. In response, the Turkish government promulgated the "Law on the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Atatürk's Birth" on September 23, 1980, designating 1981 as Atatürk Year and instructing embassies to organize celebrations and events to commemorate this milestone. The United States was among the nations that observed Atatürk Year. A variety of celebrations were meticulously organized as a result of the collaborative efforts of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy in Washington, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, and the Turkish-American Association. To that end, commissions were established, and a variety of programs, panels, conferences, and international symposiums related to Atatürk were organized. Exhibitions were also opened at universities, museums, and cultural institutions in the United States. These events, which took place in the United States, saw the participation of numerous scientists, intellectuals, politicians, and ambassadors from Turkey and the United States. This study utilizes original documents from the Turkish Diplomatic Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as original documents concerning the Atatürk Year celebrations held in the United States, to examine official correspondence documents. The present study examines the high image-building qualities of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Republic of Turkey on an international level, using the example of their reflection in the United States.

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