Programs and Events
U.S Consulate General in Istanbul Commemorates First Anniversary of Terrorist Attack
July 9, 2009
U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey, Consul General Sharon Wiener, Istanbul Governor Muammer Güler and Istanbul Chief of Police Hüseyin Çapkın led a memorial service today at 10:00 a.m. to mark the first anniversary of the July 9, 2008, terrorist attack against the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. In honor of the three police officers who were killed by terrorists in the attack – Erdal Öztaş, Mehmet Önder Saçmalıoğlu and Nedim Çalık – Ambassador Jeffrey, Consul General Wiener, Governor Güler and Chief of Police Çapkın delivered remarks and unveiled a memorial plaque as well as a street sign renaming the street in front of the Consulate “Üçşehitler Sokağı.” The sister of slain officer Nedim Çalık, Nurten Kabil, also delivered a moving tribute. The Consul General led those in attendance in a moment of silence and the American flag flew at half mast during the morning.
About forty members of the police officers’ families attended the ceremony. Other dignitaries in attendance included Prof. Dr. Erman Tuncer, Advisor to Istanbul Mayor Kadır Topbas, and Mr. Mehmet Hançer, the Muhtar of İstinye. Representatives of local businesses and American and Turkish employees of the U.S. Consulate General also paid their respects.
Consul General Wiener called the slain officers “a great credit to all Turkish National Police” and thanked them and injured police officer Osman Dağlı for saving the lives of 300 Turkish and American employees working in the Consulate, visitors, and those who live and work on the street outside the Consulate. She told the families, “I speak for everyone in this Consulate in saying we owe your sons, husbands, fathers and brothers a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay. Their courage reminds us all what is required by citizens of free nations like Turkey and the United States.”
Ambassador Jeffrey thanked the police on behalf of the United States of America for their bravery. “Thank you to the Turkish and American security personnel at the Consulate for everything they did flawlessly under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.” He added, “Everywhere – in Istanbul, in the Southeast, in Northern Iraq, and in Afghanistan – Turkey and America are cooperating against terrorists and this will continue.”
The memorial plaque reads as follows:
This plaque is dedicated to the memory of three brave police officers who lost their lives during a terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate General on 9 July 2008
Mehmet Önder Saçmalıoğlu
Nedim Çalık