Dear Governor Seigelman:

  I was deeply disappointed to learn of your plan to sign a proclamation declaring August 30, 2001 as a "Day of Remembrance of the Tragedies of Citizens of Asia Minor and the Independence Day of the Republic of Turkey."

 As a State Senator in Rhode Island, I have encountered numerous attempts by the Turkish government and its allies to promote revisionist history at the state level. This proclamation represents another attempt to re-write the historic record and gloss over the Turkish government's disturbing record of human rights abuses.

 I certainly appreciate your desire to reach out to what may be an important constituency in your state, but I would respectfully suggest that such efforts can be undertaken without misrepresenting the truth.

 I hope you will take the opportunity to reconsider this proclamation and send a strong message that the State of Alabama does not condone propaganda at the expense of historic facts.

 Sincerely,

 RI State Senator Leonidas Raptakis