The Georgia Senate honored the Istanbul Center March 8 with a resolution recognizing the Atlanta non-profit group's contributions to the state.

Also on March 8, the center held Turkish Cultural Day at the Capitol, with cultural artifacts, Turkish food and displays illustrating center activities.

Resolution 919, sponsored by State Sen. Renee Unterman of Buford, states that the center "has facilitated greater cultural understanding between the Turkish people and the people of Georgia." 

The center sponsors a monthly "dialogue night" where members of different communities can meet. It also holds a monthly speakers series featuring government leaders, ambassadors, best-selling authors, CEOs and civic leaders.

"The Turkish government has decided to increase trade with the U.S. through six states, Georgia being one of them," Tarik Celik, executive director of the center, told senators in accepting the proclamation. He told the legislators about a recent trade mission the center hosted ...