Cyprus Action Network of America
2578 Broadway
#132
New York, NY 10025
ph: 1-917-699-9935
cana
Action Alerts
URGENT!: Community Action Alert: Protest NY Times Sales for Illegal Turkish-Military Occupation
For Immediate Release: April 22, 2009
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK--The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) encourages all activists, supporters and readers to participate in the following Community Action Alert, forwarded from "Hellenic Organization of University Graduates of America" <houga@usa.com>:
Community Action Alert
THE NEW YORK TIMES GREAT HOMES & DESTINATIONS SECTION PROMOTES SALE OF PROPERTY IN OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS - PLEASE WRITE YOUR LETTER OF PROTEST TODAY!!!!
In response to an article in The New York Times Great Homes & Destinations section on April 22, 2009 promoting property for sale in occupied northern Cyprus , we encourage everyone to write a letter of protest. For your information, below please find:
1. Points that may be used in your letter
2. Email addresses at the NY Times
3. The article itself
Points that may be noted in your letter or email:
*The northern part of the Republic of Cyprus , under Turkish military occupation since the Turkish invasion of 1974 and as such, the illegal secessionist entity in the occupied area of Cyprus does not have jurisdiction to perform valid transfers of property ownership
*Thus, foreign citizens interested in purchasing property in the area under Turkish military occupation are strongly advised to thoroughly examine the legal ownership status of the property concerned, through the Lands and Surveys Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus, in order to ascertain, at first, that no violation of the property rights of the legal owners will be effected through the transaction, and, second, to safeguard that the purported seller is the true owner of the property and can transfer a valid title. Given that more than 4/5 of the property in the areas situated in the north of the buffer zone belongs to forcibly displaced owners (the term ‘owners’ includes the Republic of Cyprus), one can reasonably reach the conclusion that this advertising material relates to illegal activities, even if at the time of its discovery there is no evidence linking the object of the advertisement to specific displaced owners.
*The European Court of Human Rights, in its Judgment of 18 December 1996, on the individual application of the Greek Cypriot displaced owner from Kyrenia, Mrs. Titina Loizidou, against Turkey , and in the Fourth Interstate Application of Cyprus against Turkey of 10 May 2001, upheld the rights of the refugees to their properties. In the Loizidou case, the Court ordered the Government of Turkey to compensate the applicant for the time period of deprivation of use of her property and to provide full access and allow peaceful enjoyment of her property in Kyrenia. The right of the displaced owners to their properties was reconfirmed in the most recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights (Dec. 2005) regarding the application of Myra Xenides- Arestis v. Turkey.
*Greek Cypriot owners may also bring civil action against usurpers of their property before the competent civil Courts of the Republic of Cyprus . In its judgment of 15 November 2004 in the case of Meletios Apostolides v David and Linda Orams, the Nicosia District Court found the Defendants liable for trespass in the property of the Plaintiff, ordering them to demolish the villa and other buildings erected on the property, surrender vacant possession to the Plaintiff and pay damages.
*Under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus , the exploitation of property registered in the name of another, constitutes a criminal offence, for which a European arrest warrant, executable in any of the 27 EU countries, and an International arrest warrant could be issued.
*In reference to travel to and from occupied Cyprus -- The so-called “ERCAN” airport is not recognized by ICAO, which is the highest international authority on legal issues relating to civil aviation in general. ICAO’s policy on matters relating to Cyprus is in conformity with that of the United Nations and the international community. Consequently, ICAO recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus and its Government as the sole representative of the whole island. Any possible use by international traffic, of the illegally operating airports, such as “ERCAN” (TYMBOU), violates International law, U.N. Security Council resolutions, E.U. positions and contravenes the ICAO and the EUROCONTROL Conventions, and their respective norms, standards, procedures and recommended practices. This means there are problems in air safety as there is no interface between the illegal airport and legitimate entities, and that the airline industry and the pilots express concern over the existence of the illegal airport (Ercan), which confuses pilots and threatens air safety.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO:
Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Chairman & Publisher: publisher@nytimes.com
Scott H. Heekin-Canedy, President, General Manager: president@nytimes.com
Letters to the Editor : letters@nytimes.com
International: Foreign@nytimes.com
-------------------------------------------------------
THE NY TIMES ARTICLE IN THE GREAT HOMES & DESTINATIONS SECTIONS PROMOTING PROPERTY FOR SALE IN OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS :
April 22, 2009 (published April 21, 2009)
International Real Estate, NY Times
For Sale In... Cyprus
By LISA KEYS
19TH CENTURY PROPERTY IN NORTHERN CYPRUS
£919,000 ($1,337,329)
Built in the 19th century by a wealthy Ottoman family, this property offers a 350-square-meter (3,767-square-foot) main house and two guest cottages. It is in the center of Ozankoy, a village in the foothills of the Kyrenia mountains, five miles east of the coastal town of Kyrenia , whose historic harbor is a popular destination.
The main house, built of Cypriot stone and with a timber roof, has three bedrooms and three baths, a large kitchen and dining room. Though it has been renovated several times, and now has air-conditioning and heating, it retains its rustic charm, including high ceilings with exposed beams and Ottoman windows. It is being sold furnished, with antique furniture and Turkish carpets.
The first guest cottage has about 130 square meters (1,399 square feet) of space, with two bedrooms; the second covers 50 square meters (538 square feet) and has one bedroom. Also on the property are a swimming pool, gardens with mature avocado and orange trees, original stone paths, and a small structure with a Turkish bath and two earthen ovens for outdoor cooking.
The 3,000-square-meter (0.75 acre) property, surrounded by stone walls, is reached through a large wooden door. Restaurants and cafes are within walking distance, and a beach is three miles away. Ercan International Airport is about 30 minutes away.
MARKET OVERVIEW
Real estate prices in the northern portion of Cyprus are relatively low compared with those elsewhere in the region, said Cameron Deggin, a director at Place Overseas, a London-based real estate firm. This is partly because of the complicated political situation on the island, which has been divided since 1974.
The southern two-thirds of the island is internationally recognized as the Republic of Cyprus and is predominantly Greek Cypriot. The northern third, which is home to a Turkish Cypriot community, calls itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , though it is recognized by Turkey alone. Clashes over the years led the United Nations to set up a buffer zone, also known as the green line.
From 2002 to 2007, the real estate market in the northern part of Cyprus was “extremely buoyant,” Mr. Deggin said. Before the boom, a typical three-bedroom villa with a garden and pool cost £40,000 to £50,000 ($58,208 to $72,760); today it might run £80,000 to £100,000 ($116,416 to $145,520), he said. Most real estate in north Cyprus is priced in British pounds, Mr. Deggin said.
In 2003 the increase was fueled by the easing of travel restrictions across the green line.
Peace talks to unite the island have resumed recently, though parliamentary elections held in northern Cyprus on April 19 suggest a tough road ahead. And since the start of the global recession, prices have softened 10 to 15 percent, said Mark Unwin, managing director at Unwin Estates, a real estate company based in Karaoglanoglu, a suburb of Kyrenia.
WHO BUYS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CYPRUS
Cyprus is a former British colony; the majority of foreign buyers in the northern part of Cyprus are British, but there is a growing population of Russian buyers, Mr. Unwin said.
BUYING BASICS
Foreign buyers are limited to new properties smaller than one donum (14,400 square feet) or pre-existing homes built on five donums (72,000 square feet), said Mustafa Sener, a lawyer in Kyrenia who handles real estate. Buyers are also limited to owning one property, he said. They are required to obtain a special ownership permit, in a process involving many local agencies and Interpol, and sometimes lasting as long as two years, according to Mr. Sener. (While awaiting approval, buyers can take occupancy, Mr. Unwin explained.)
Lawyers’ fees are about £1,350 ($1,965), Mr. Sener said. (The use of a lawyer is generally recommended.)
Given the delicate political situation, newcomers to the market in northern Cyprus should also be aware of the type of title deed they buy. If the island were reunified, Greek Cypriots who owned property in northern Cyprus before fleeing south might come forward to seek compensation, Mr. Sener said.
To avoid complications, he advises cautious buyers to seek a property with a Turkish title deed, which indicates ownership by a Turkish Cypriot before 1974. This title is internationally recognized and carries no risk to the buyer.
Still, Mr. Sener believes that any property developed since 1974 carries minimal risk, as potential compensation to Greek Cypriots would be based on the pre-1974 value of the land alone, which is likely to be nominal.
Other costs include a 0.5 percent stamp duty, a 5 percent value-added tax and a 6 percent land-registry fee, which can be reduced to 3 percent for first-time buyers, Mr. Sener said. Real estate agents’ fees are paid by the seller and typically range from 3 to 5 percent, Mr. Deggin said; mortgages are uncommon, and a majority of foreigners pay in cash.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Travel and business guide: www.turkishcyprus.com
Travel guide: www.cyprus44.com
LANGUAGES AND CURRENCY
Turkish; Turkish Lira (1 Turkish lira equals 60 cents)
TAXES AND FEES
Property taxes are about £2,500 ($3,638); the house has a caretaker, whose annual salary is about £5,000 ($7,276), said Mr. Deggin.
CONTACT
Cameron Deggin, Place Overseas, www.propertycyprussales.com, 011-44-20-8371-0059
####
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address, with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
You may post any CANA article, press release or action alert on the internet as long as you credit CANA and the author(s).
------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release: April 22, 2009
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK--The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) encourages all activists, supporters and readers to participate in the following Community Action Alert, forwarded from "Hellenic Organization of University Graduates of America" <houga@usa.com>:
Community Action Alert
THE NEW YORK TIMES GREAT HOMES & DESTINATIONS SECTION PROMOTES SALE OF PROPERTY IN OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS - PLEASE WRITE YOUR LETTER OF PROTEST TODAY!!!!
In response to an article in The New York Times Great Homes & Destinations section on April 22, 2009 promoting property for sale in occupied northern Cyprus , we encourage everyone to write a letter of protest. For your information, below please find:
1. Points that may be used in your letter
2. Email addresses at the NY Times
3. The article itself
Points that may be noted in your letter or email:
*The northern part of the Republic of Cyprus , under Turkish military occupation since the Turkish invasion of 1974 and as such, the illegal secessionist entity in the occupied area of Cyprus does not have jurisdiction to perform valid transfers of property ownership
*Thus, foreign citizens interested in purchasing property in the area under Turkish military occupation are strongly advised to thoroughly examine the legal ownership status of the property concerned, through the Lands and Surveys Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus, in order to ascertain, at first, that no violation of the property rights of the legal owners will be effected through the transaction, and, second, to safeguard that the purported seller is the true owner of the property and can transfer a valid title. Given that more than 4/5 of the property in the areas situated in the north of the buffer zone belongs to forcibly displaced owners (the term ‘owners’ includes the Republic of Cyprus), one can reasonably reach the conclusion that this advertising material relates to illegal activities, even if at the time of its discovery there is no evidence linking the object of the advertisement to specific displaced owners.
*The European Court of Human Rights, in its Judgment of 18 December 1996, on the individual application of the Greek Cypriot displaced owner from Kyrenia, Mrs. Titina Loizidou, against Turkey , and in the Fourth Interstate Application of Cyprus against Turkey of 10 May 2001, upheld the rights of the refugees to their properties. In the Loizidou case, the Court ordered the Government of Turkey to compensate the applicant for the time period of deprivation of use of her property and to provide full access and allow peaceful enjoyment of her property in Kyrenia. The right of the displaced owners to their properties was reconfirmed in the most recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights (Dec. 2005) regarding the application of Myra Xenides- Arestis v. Turkey.
*Greek Cypriot owners may also bring civil action against usurpers of their property before the competent civil Courts of the Republic of Cyprus . In its judgment of 15 November 2004 in the case of Meletios Apostolides v David and Linda Orams, the Nicosia District Court found the Defendants liable for trespass in the property of the Plaintiff, ordering them to demolish the villa and other buildings erected on the property, surrender vacant possession to the Plaintiff and pay damages.
*Under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus , the exploitation of property registered in the name of another, constitutes a criminal offence, for which a European arrest warrant, executable in any of the 27 EU countries, and an International arrest warrant could be issued.
*In reference to travel to and from occupied Cyprus -- The so-called “ERCAN” airport is not recognized by ICAO, which is the highest international authority on legal issues relating to civil aviation in general. ICAO’s policy on matters relating to Cyprus is in conformity with that of the United Nations and the international community. Consequently, ICAO recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus and its Government as the sole representative of the whole island. Any possible use by international traffic, of the illegally operating airports, such as “ERCAN” (TYMBOU), violates International law, U.N. Security Council resolutions, E.U. positions and contravenes the ICAO and the EUROCONTROL Conventions, and their respective norms, standards, procedures and recommended practices. This means there are problems in air safety as there is no interface between the illegal airport and legitimate entities, and that the airline industry and the pilots express concern over the existence of the illegal airport (Ercan), which confuses pilots and threatens air safety.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR LETTERS TO:
Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Chairman & Publisher: publisher@nytimes.com
Scott H. Heekin-Canedy, President, General Manager: president@nytimes.com
Letters to the Editor : letters@nytimes.com
International: Foreign@nytimes.com
-------------------------------------------------------
THE NY TIMES ARTICLE IN THE GREAT HOMES & DESTINATIONS SECTIONS PROMOTING PROPERTY FOR SALE IN OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS :
April 22, 2009 (published April 21, 2009)
International Real Estate, NY Times
For Sale In... Cyprus
By LISA KEYS
19TH CENTURY PROPERTY IN NORTHERN CYPRUS
£919,000 ($1,337,329)
Built in the 19th century by a wealthy Ottoman family, this property offers a 350-square-meter (3,767-square-foot) main house and two guest cottages. It is in the center of Ozankoy, a village in the foothills of the Kyrenia mountains, five miles east of the coastal town of Kyrenia , whose historic harbor is a popular destination.
The main house, built of Cypriot stone and with a timber roof, has three bedrooms and three baths, a large kitchen and dining room. Though it has been renovated several times, and now has air-conditioning and heating, it retains its rustic charm, including high ceilings with exposed beams and Ottoman windows. It is being sold furnished, with antique furniture and Turkish carpets.
The first guest cottage has about 130 square meters (1,399 square feet) of space, with two bedrooms; the second covers 50 square meters (538 square feet) and has one bedroom. Also on the property are a swimming pool, gardens with mature avocado and orange trees, original stone paths, and a small structure with a Turkish bath and two earthen ovens for outdoor cooking.
The 3,000-square-meter (0.75 acre) property, surrounded by stone walls, is reached through a large wooden door. Restaurants and cafes are within walking distance, and a beach is three miles away. Ercan International Airport is about 30 minutes away.
MARKET OVERVIEW
Real estate prices in the northern portion of Cyprus are relatively low compared with those elsewhere in the region, said Cameron Deggin, a director at Place Overseas, a London-based real estate firm. This is partly because of the complicated political situation on the island, which has been divided since 1974.
The southern two-thirds of the island is internationally recognized as the Republic of Cyprus and is predominantly Greek Cypriot. The northern third, which is home to a Turkish Cypriot community, calls itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , though it is recognized by Turkey alone. Clashes over the years led the United Nations to set up a buffer zone, also known as the green line.
From 2002 to 2007, the real estate market in the northern part of Cyprus was “extremely buoyant,” Mr. Deggin said. Before the boom, a typical three-bedroom villa with a garden and pool cost £40,000 to £50,000 ($58,208 to $72,760); today it might run £80,000 to £100,000 ($116,416 to $145,520), he said. Most real estate in north Cyprus is priced in British pounds, Mr. Deggin said.
In 2003 the increase was fueled by the easing of travel restrictions across the green line.
Peace talks to unite the island have resumed recently, though parliamentary elections held in northern Cyprus on April 19 suggest a tough road ahead. And since the start of the global recession, prices have softened 10 to 15 percent, said Mark Unwin, managing director at Unwin Estates, a real estate company based in Karaoglanoglu, a suburb of Kyrenia.
WHO BUYS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CYPRUS
Cyprus is a former British colony; the majority of foreign buyers in the northern part of Cyprus are British, but there is a growing population of Russian buyers, Mr. Unwin said.
BUYING BASICS
Foreign buyers are limited to new properties smaller than one donum (14,400 square feet) or pre-existing homes built on five donums (72,000 square feet), said Mustafa Sener, a lawyer in Kyrenia who handles real estate. Buyers are also limited to owning one property, he said. They are required to obtain a special ownership permit, in a process involving many local agencies and Interpol, and sometimes lasting as long as two years, according to Mr. Sener. (While awaiting approval, buyers can take occupancy, Mr. Unwin explained.)
Lawyers’ fees are about £1,350 ($1,965), Mr. Sener said. (The use of a lawyer is generally recommended.)
Given the delicate political situation, newcomers to the market in northern Cyprus should also be aware of the type of title deed they buy. If the island were reunified, Greek Cypriots who owned property in northern Cyprus before fleeing south might come forward to seek compensation, Mr. Sener said.
To avoid complications, he advises cautious buyers to seek a property with a Turkish title deed, which indicates ownership by a Turkish Cypriot before 1974. This title is internationally recognized and carries no risk to the buyer.
Still, Mr. Sener believes that any property developed since 1974 carries minimal risk, as potential compensation to Greek Cypriots would be based on the pre-1974 value of the land alone, which is likely to be nominal.
Other costs include a 0.5 percent stamp duty, a 5 percent value-added tax and a 6 percent land-registry fee, which can be reduced to 3 percent for first-time buyers, Mr. Sener said. Real estate agents’ fees are paid by the seller and typically range from 3 to 5 percent, Mr. Deggin said; mortgages are uncommon, and a majority of foreigners pay in cash.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Travel and business guide: www.turkishcyprus.com
Travel guide: www.cyprus44.com
LANGUAGES AND CURRENCY
Turkish; Turkish Lira (1 Turkish lira equals 60 cents)
TAXES AND FEES
Property taxes are about £2,500 ($3,638); the house has a caretaker, whose annual salary is about £5,000 ($7,276), said Mr. Deggin.
CONTACT
Cameron Deggin, Place Overseas, www.propertycyprussales.com, 011-44-20-8371-0059
####
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address, with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
You may post any CANA article, press release or action alert on the internet as long as you credit CANA and the author(s).
URGENT: ACTION ALERT: Armenian Genocide Affirmation 2009
For Immediate Release: February 14, 2009
NEW YORK—The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) encourages Cypriot activists, and all Hellenes and Phil Hellenes around the world to send in letters of support and participate in actions to make 2009 the year of Armenian Genocide Affirmation.
Emails and letters to President Obama are being sent in from around the world, the Armenian Genocide Affirmation website, has a quick and easy form for us to send in our emails of support, with the following call to President Obama:
Dear Mr. President,
America needs your leadership. Throughout your career, you have been a strong proponent of affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. In a January 2008 letter to the Armenian-American community you vowed that as President you would affirm the Armenian Genocide. The threat of genocide has not been eliminated and the consequences of genocide are a continuing reality. Please take a strong stand to prevent its occurrence and to stop its denial. April 24, 2009 is the 94th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I urge you to honor your commitment and affirm the Armenian Genocide.
Please send your message in to Armenian Genocide Affirmation:
http://armeniangenocideaffirmation.com/
Many Hellenic organizations have already included the link above to their websites, including ours. Please include the link to your own personal web pages, blogs and message boards. Let’s make 2009 the year of Armenian Genocide Affirmation, and help to bring about full justice for Turkey’s Crimes.
Updates and further actions and news on the Armenian Cause are also available from the Armenian National Committee of America ANCA, website: www.anca.org
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address, with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
You may post any CANA article, press release or action alert on the internet as long as you credit CANA and the author(s).
URGENT: HELLENIC HUMAN RIGHTS ! STOP SKOPJE !
For Immediate Release: September 24th, 2008
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK--The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) has launched the Hellenic Human Rights coalition to Stop Skopje. Please act on the action alert to the US State Department below and send on to family, friends and colleagues.
Hellenic Human Rights is a coalition of grass-roots activists in New York City, joining together in the struggle to save Hellenic people living under the Skopje government.Join our Rally To Stop Skopje on Monday , October 27th at the Unites States Mission to the United Nations.
Visit our campaign blog, www.hellenichumanrights.wordpress.com
------------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release: September 24th, 2008
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK--The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) has launched the Hellenic Human Rights coalition to Stop Skopje. Please act on the action alert to the US State Department below and send on to family, friends and colleagues.
Hellenic Human Rights is a coalition of grass-roots activists in New York City, joining together in the struggle to save Hellenic people living under the Skopje government.Join our Rally To Stop Skopje on Monday , October 27th at the Unites States Mission to the United Nations.
Visit our campaign blog, www.hellenichumanrights.wordpress.com
------------------------------------------------------------
URGENT: CALL ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO PROTEST THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND CULTURAL GENOCIDE OF HELLENIC PEOPLE LIVING IN SKOPJE BY THE SKOPJE GOVERNMENT
Numerous reports in recent months indicate a rising atmosphere of anti-Hellenic human rights violations and an atmosphere of racist oppression directed toward the Hellenic minority living in the areas controlled by the Skopje government. The Skopje government is guilty of human rights violations, cultural genocide and ethnocide of Hellenic people.
Current Status
The historic Hellenic communties living in the Monastiri area , many of whom are now dispersed thoroughout Skopje, have reportedly been denied the right to declare themselves Hellenic nationals, the Hellenic people in Skopje have also been denied freedom of assembly, and freedom of association by the Skopje government. These are grave human rights violations as outlined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, mainly the right to a nationality.
According to Article 15 of the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A of 10 December 1948.
1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
The country which the US State Department choses to recognise as “Macedonia” and known throughout the region as Skopje, with the capital of its government in the Balkan city named Skopje is denying the basic human right to nationality to the 250,000 Hellenic people living within its borders.
The continuing campaign by the Skopje government to deny the Hellenic identity and Hellenic nationality to indigenous people is an act of cultural genocide and should be publicly investigated and condemned by the US State Department
What You Can Do
Contact the State Department's human rights division.
By Mail:
David J. Kramer
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. Department of State
Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C Street, NW, Room 7802, Washington, DC 20520
By Tel: (202) 647-1780
By Fax: (202) 647-5283
By Email: kramerdj@state.gov
(Send a note to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org to tell us what actions you took.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone Script for Assistant Secretary Office - (202) 647-1780
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The phone will be answered by a receptionist. As always, be firm, but polite. Hostile comments will only undermine the message you are trying to deliver. Ask to speak to a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary. If a senior advisor is not available to speak with you, ask to leave a message on their voice mail.)
Hello, my name is __________________.
I am calling to ask the State Department to publicly protest the Skopje government's denial of Hellenic nationality for Hellenic people living in Skopje.
Please look into this matter personally and publicly protest any violations of human rights, directly with the Skopje government and in your annual human rights country reports, and please include all findings in the (in quotes)“MACEDONIA” country report due to be released in Februaury 2009.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate learning of any action your office takes on this matter, and would appreciate an investigation and proper report. I can be contacted at the following address: __________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample Letter to Assistant Secretary (Mail, Fax, or Email)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Honorable David J. Kramer
Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C Street, NW, Room 7802, Washington, DC 20520
Dear Assistant Secretary Kramer:
I am writing to ask the State Department to publicly protest the Skopje government's human rights violations and cultural genocide of the Hellenic people in “Macedonia”
According to the US State Dept “Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago.”
(Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, URL: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/ )
The Skopje government has a long legacy of anti-Hellenic cultural genocide, the previous Communist regime forcibly transferred Hellenic nationals, and prior to this the pro-Nazi Skopje government forcibly occupied Hellenic land, forcibly transferred Hellenic people, and targeted Hellenic people for massacres and torture. All governments in Skopje, by use of force together with racist propaganda and official racist discrimination , to this day have deprived the Hellenic people of their integrity as a distinct people, by use of forcible assimilation or integration by the majority Slavophone cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or other measures including terror.
Article 7 of the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (26 August 1994) [4] uses the phrase "cultural genocide". The complete article reads as follows:
Indigenous peoples have the collective and individual right not to be subjected to ethnocide and cultural genocide, including prevention of and redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
(c) Any form of population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or other measures;
(e) Any form of propaganda directed against them.
The Skopje government is guilty of all of the above itemized sub-articles in “MACEDONIA”.
Please help save the Hellenic people from cultural genocide by 1) immediately investigating the Skopje government practice of denying Hellenic nationality to Hellenic people 2) publicly protesting any violations of human rights, and; 3) prominently addressing this matter in the annual "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices," on “MACEDONIA” due to be released in February 2009.
Thank you for your attention to my concerns.
I look forward to hearing from you or your office in this regard.
Sincerely,
____________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________
(Name)
____________________________________
(Address)
____________________________________
(City, State, Zip)
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Background:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information visit:
NorthMacedonians.com/The Greek Community in FYROM http://northmacedonians.blogspot.com/
There are two cases which illustrate the regime's virulent anti-Greek stance - denying even the existence of Greeks in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Makedonija (FYROM).
Case 1: Papouli Family. The Papouli family are Greek-Vlachs in FYROM (SKOPJE) who had their surname forcibly changed to Kostov. They petitioned the Skopjan regime to change their name back to the original Greek, Papouli, which means little-Grandfather in Greek. The regime refused their application on the basis that it would "change their personal identity" and "obstruct legal procedures".
Case 2: Nikos Kostantinidis: An eyewitness video account of a Hellenic person from Monastiri describing the official Skopje government policies of forcible assimilation and denial of the right to Hellenic national identity. URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfPoaQIeKM
####
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
URGENT: Protest Turkish Embassy: Hands Off Cyprus 2008!
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
WHERE: Turkish Embassy 2525 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC
WHEN: July 20, 2008, Sunday, 2PM-5PM
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) will be demonstrating outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC to demand an end to the ongoing criminal Turkish military-occupation or land grab of Cyprus initiated by the Turkish government by sheer, brute military-invasion on July 20, 1974. Hundreds of thousands of Cypriots remain refugees following Turkey’s systematic campaign of rapes, terror, bombings, burnings and forced displacement. Over one thousand missing Cypriots, reportedly used for barbaric scientific experiments by the Turks, remain unaccounted.
Turkey is an unrepentant human-rights-abuser and perpetrator of Genocide Against Pontians and Armenians, and today continues its genocidal policies by targeting Cypriot land in a methodical program of ‘Turkification’ by illegal Turkish settlers.
Join us on July 20th outside the Turkish Embassy to remind them that even one foreign soldier of occupation in Cyprus is tens of thousands of times too many. Come to Washington DC to reaffirm a commitment for full justice and recognition for Turkey’s Crimes.
WE CANNOT FORGET! WE WILL NOT FORGET!
Our action is open to any and all who believe the time has come to draw public attention to the evil of the continuing Turkish crimes.
Get involved! Get on the bus to Protest the Turkish Embassy, please visit our homepage (www.cyprusactionnetwork.org) to purchase tickets, to download our color Protest Turkish Embassy protest poster, and to contribute.
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a
Friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address, with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
CONCERN FOR HELLENIC-AMERICAN MEDIA AT FAIR PRICE
For Immediate Release:
March 09, 2008
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK
—The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) in solidarity with the Hellenic League of America (HLA) is alerting all concerned Hellenic media to reports that the very limited Hellenic language media available to the New York metropolitan area through the services of Time Warner cable may be overpriced.
The Hellenic-American community is one of the oldest and most prolific minority groups in New York City, and deserves access to Hellenic language media at a fair price, according to numerous reports from grass-roots citizen-activists, Time Warner cable has not made serious enough attempts to advertise the offer of all two Hellenic language cable channels to be made available at a fair price, thus far the older NGTV channel is available for $9.95 and the newer channel offering cable channels from Athens, is available for a much higher price, it should be noted that there appears to exist a Time Warner offer of only $14.95 and some reports say $15.95 for all two Hellenic language channels, rather than the very expensive price of $24.95 for all two Hellenic language channels, officially advertised by Time Warner.
The HLA and CANA understands that many Hellenic-Americans tuned in to Hellenic language media are on a fixed income, and we stand up for low income and fixed income Hellenic Americans , in the name of fairness and justice, and fight back, fight back for all concerns of our community, both local and global.
Please tell all friends, relatives, supporters to alert Hellenic media and the broader Hellenic-American community to the expensive prices charged by Time Warner, and FIGHT BACK!
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America
(CANA )
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York : Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus .
You may post any CANA article, press release or action alert on the internet as long as you credit CANA and the author(s).
KOSOVO IS SERBIA! NEW YORK CITY PROTEST!
For Immediate Release: March 01, 2008
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK- The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) continues a series of protests against the UDI Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Albanians in the Serbia region of Kosovo, in coordination with a broad cross-section of community leaders and activists , CANA will join the STOP coalition (The Stop Terrorizing Orthodox Peoples Coalition) along with The Kosovo Relief Committee,The International Action Center and a vast array of many others , last week's Washington DC , White House protest was covered by CNN, Russia Journal and Greek evening news in Greece. We hope to attract more and more international media from our concerned coalition of citizen activists and grass-roots supporters, when we meet in front of UN headquarters on Sunday March 02, 2008 at 2PM and then march on to the New York Times headquarters.
The situation in Kosovo parallels the situation in Turkish-occupied Cyprus: Both Kosovo and northern Cyprus have been invaded, occupied, and administered by a foreign force and, in both cases, the result for Serbs and Greeks has been absolutely disastrous. Therefore, by imposing independence upon Kosovo, and severing it from Serbia, a pattern is established for legitimizing Turkey's invasion and ongoing occupation of Cyprus. It is no surprise then that Turkey wholeheartedly supports Kosovo's independence from the Republic of Serbia: it sets a major precedent for the recognition of Turkish-occupied Cyprus by the international community.
For these reasons, and many more, Greek-Americans cannot support Kosovo's independence, and we at CANA will join the protests and urge all our friends and supporters attend the protest,action flyer posted below, also available for download in PDF format on our homepage (www.cyprusactionnetwork.org) Please make sure to distribute the action flyer for the protest widely, to friends, relatives, comrades, in church, in all your secular groups, in community centers and anywhere else where our people may gather.
KOSOVO IS SERBIA!
NEW YORK CITY
MAJOR PROTEST!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Meet in front of the UNITED NATIONS at 47th Street & 1st
Avenue…
-Speeches and chants supporting the legal status of Kosovo
as a province of the sovereign country of Serbia. Kosovo is
Serbia!
-After the speeches, protestors will march together to Times
Square, parading the flags of the roughly 170 countries that
do NOT recognize the illegal Albanian effort to separate
Kosovo from the rest of Serbia.
-After reaching Times Square, the crowd will march south to
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral at 20 West 26th Street
for a closing prayer.
Info: theSTOPcoalition@gmail.com
The Kosovo Relief Committee
The International Action Center
http://iacenter.org/about/
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
http://www.cyprusactionnetwork.org/
###
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
You may post any CANA article, press release or action alert on the internet as long as you credit CANA and the author(s).
PROTEST UDI FOR KOSOVO
For Immediate Release: February 20, 2008
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK—The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) joins the STOP coalition (The Stop Terrorizing Orthodox Peoples Coalition) in protests against the UDI unilateral declaration of independence by Albanians in the Serbia region of Kosovo.
The proposal for the forced independence of Kosovo from the Republic of Serbia, and its subsequent legitimization by the international community, would be no different than the legitimization of the illegal Turkish regime which currently occupies northern Cyprus. The situation in Kosovo parallels the situation in Turkish-occupied Cyprus: Both Kosovo and northern Cyprus have been invaded, occupied, and administered by a foreign force and, in both cases, the result for Serbs and Greeks has been absolutely disastrous. Therefore, by imposing independence upon Kosovo, and severing it from Serbia, a pattern is established for legitimizing Turkey's invasion and ongoing occupation of Cyprus. It is no surprise then that Turkey wholeheartedly supports Kosovo's independence from the Republic of Serbia: it sets a major precedent for the recognition of Turkish-occupied Cyprus by the international community.
For these reasons, and many more, Greek-Americans cannot support Kosovo's independence , and we at CANA will join the protests and urge all our friends and supporters attend the protest posted below,
1) MAJOR DEMONSTRATION SUNDAY (February 24) *Remember to bring your Hellenic flags*
DEMONSTRATION , Sunday, February 24, starting from 1:00 PM . At that time, all interested people are asked to come to Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House at 1:00 PM to join hands in a human chain of at least HUNDREDS of people walking in a circle past the White House carrying Serbian and American flags and posters while blowing whistles and beating drums. There will also be speakers and presentations at that demonstration.
This is the first notice about what will be a series of responses to the illegal declaration by the Kosovo Albanians. These first events are jointly organized by:
- The Kosovo Relief Committee, and
- The STOP Coalition (The Stop Terrorizing Orthodox Peoples Coalition).
Sincerely,
John Bosnitch
202-701-0396
thestopcoalition@gmail.com
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
URGENT: CALL ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO PROTEST TURKEY'S CULTURAL GENOCIDE OF CYPRUS CHURCH
Ayios Charalambous (Saint Charalambous) Orthodox Christian church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus, leased to Turkish ceramics maker.
Current Status
The historic Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus, has reportedly been leased to Turkish ceramics makers. Industrial cylinders and ovens are said to be used inside the church by its illegal Turk occupiers in an obvious move of disrespect and degradation to the native , indigenous Orthodox Christian faith of the island. The Church of Cyprus has publicly condemned this violation, drawing attention to evidence that the criminal Talat, Turkish military-occupation regime has leased the church out under the guises of its so-called “Turkish Cypriot religious and cultural foundation EVKAF”, for five Turkish lira a year , the equivalent of about four American dollars.
Turkish military-occupation, implemented by sheer, brute military force, has, since the illegal invasions of 1974 , resulted in the vandalism, desecration and destruction of , literally, hundreds of Orthodox Christian churches in Cyprus, in addition, thousands of historic ecclessiatical items have been illegally sold and located in the international black trade in stolen church art.
The current desecration of Ayios Charalambous (Saint Charalambous) church in Trimithi village is part of Turkey’s methodical attempt to complete the cultural genocide of Orthodox Christianity, the major faith of indigenous people in Cyprus. Apparently, Turkey is emboldened by its long-term policy of cultural genocide, wherever Turkey illegally misules, without any meaningful response from the US government.
What You Can Do
Contact the State Department's human rights division.
By Mail:
The Hon. Jonathan D. Farrar
Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
By Tel: (202) 647-2126
By Fax: (202) 647-5283
By Email: walker-johnsonlw@state.gov
(Asst. Secretary Farrar's special assistant)
(Send a note to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org to tell us what actions you took.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone Script for Assistant Secretary Office - (202) 647-2126
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The phone will be answered by a receptionist. As always, be firm, but polite. Hostile comments will only undermine the message you are trying to deliver. Ask to speak to a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary. If a senior advisor is not available to speak with you, ask to leave a message on their voice mail.)
Hello, my name is __________________.
I am calling to ask the State Department to publicly protest the Turkish government's desecration of a church, named Saint Charalambous, in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus
The church in Cyprus is illegally occupied and desecrated by Turkish forces,this is an act of ongoing cultural genocide in Cyprus by Turkey.
Please look into this matter personally and publicly protest any violations of human rights , directly with the Turkish government and in your annual human rights and religious freedom reports.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate learning of any action your office takes on this matter, and would appreciate an investigation and proper report. I can be contacted at the following address: __________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample Letter to Assistant Secretary (Mail, Fax, or Email)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Honorable Jonathan D. Farrar
Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Assistant Secretary Farrar:
I am writing to ask the State Department to publicly protest the Turkish government's illegal occupation and desecration of Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus.
As you know, the historic Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus, has reportedly been leased to Turkish ceramics makers. Industrial cylinders and ovens are said to be used inside the church by its illegal Turk occupiers in an obvious move of disrespect and degradation to the native , indigenous Orthodox Christian faith of the island. The Church of Cyprus has publicly condemned this violation, drawing attention to evidence that the criminal Talat, Turkish military-occupation regime has leased the church out under the guises of its so-called “Turkish Cypriot religious and cultural foundation EVKAF”, for five Turkish lira a year , the equivalent of about four American dollars.
The current desecration of Ayios Charalambous (Saint Charalambous) church in Trimithi village is part of Turkey’s methodical attempt to complete the cultural genocide of Orthodox Christianity, the major faith of indigenous people in Cyprus. Apparently, Turkey is emboldened by its long-term policy of cultural genocide, wherever Turkey illegally misules, without any meaningful response from the US government.
According to the US State Dept “Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago.”
(Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, URL: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/ )
Turkish military-occupation, implemented by sheer, brute military force, has, since the illegal invasions of 1974 , resulted in the vandalism, desecration and destruction of , literally, hundreds of Orthodox Christian churches in Cyprus, in addition, thousands of historic ecclessiatical items have been illegally sold and located in the international black trade in stolen church art.
Article 7 of the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (26 August 1994) [4] uses the phrase "cultural genocide". The complete article reads as follows:
Indigenous peoples have the collective and individual right not to be subjected to ethnocide and cultural genocide, including prevention of and redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
(c) Any form of population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or other measures;
(e) Any form of propaganda directed against them.
Turkey is guilty of all of the above itemized sub-articles in Cyprus.
Please help save the Cyprus church from cultural genocide by 1) immediately investigating the illegal occupation and desecration of Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus; 2) publicly protesting any violations of human rights, and; 3) prominently addressing this matter in the annual "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices," and the "International Religious Freedom Report."
Thank you for your attention to my concerns.
I look forward to hearing from you or your office in this regard.
Sincerely,
____________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________
(Name)
____________________________________
(Address)
____________________________________
(City, State, Zip)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information visit:
Church of Cyprus , URL: http://www.churchofcyprus.org.cy/
Cyprus Mail, Church anger over desecration in north By Jean Christou, November 21, 2007, URL: http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=36046&cat_id=1
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
Ayios Charalambous (Saint Charalambous) Orthodox Christian church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus, leased to Turkish ceramics maker.
Current Status
The historic Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus, has reportedly been leased to Turkish ceramics makers. Industrial cylinders and ovens are said to be used inside the church by its illegal Turk occupiers in an obvious move of disrespect and degradation to the native , indigenous Orthodox Christian faith of the island. The Church of Cyprus has publicly condemned this violation, drawing attention to evidence that the criminal Talat, Turkish military-occupation regime has leased the church out under the guises of its so-called “Turkish Cypriot religious and cultural foundation EVKAF”, for five Turkish lira a year , the equivalent of about four American dollars.
Turkish military-occupation, implemented by sheer, brute military force, has, since the illegal invasions of 1974 , resulted in the vandalism, desecration and destruction of , literally, hundreds of Orthodox Christian churches in Cyprus, in addition, thousands of historic ecclessiatical items have been illegally sold and located in the international black trade in stolen church art.
The current desecration of Ayios Charalambous (Saint Charalambous) church in Trimithi village is part of Turkey’s methodical attempt to complete the cultural genocide of Orthodox Christianity, the major faith of indigenous people in Cyprus. Apparently, Turkey is emboldened by its long-term policy of cultural genocide, wherever Turkey illegally misules, without any meaningful response from the US government.
What You Can Do
Contact the State Department's human rights division.
By Mail:
The Hon. Jonathan D. Farrar
Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
By Tel: (202) 647-2126
By Fax: (202) 647-5283
By Email: walker-johnsonlw@state.gov
(Asst. Secretary Farrar's special assistant)
(Send a note to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org to tell us what actions you took.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone Script for Assistant Secretary Office - (202) 647-2126
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The phone will be answered by a receptionist. As always, be firm, but polite. Hostile comments will only undermine the message you are trying to deliver. Ask to speak to a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary. If a senior advisor is not available to speak with you, ask to leave a message on their voice mail.)
Hello, my name is __________________.
I am calling to ask the State Department to publicly protest the Turkish government's desecration of a church, named Saint Charalambous, in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus
The church in Cyprus is illegally occupied and desecrated by Turkish forces,this is an act of ongoing cultural genocide in Cyprus by Turkey.
Please look into this matter personally and publicly protest any violations of human rights , directly with the Turkish government and in your annual human rights and religious freedom reports.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate learning of any action your office takes on this matter, and would appreciate an investigation and proper report. I can be contacted at the following address: __________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample Letter to Assistant Secretary (Mail, Fax, or Email)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Honorable Jonathan D. Farrar
Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Assistant Secretary Farrar:
I am writing to ask the State Department to publicly protest the Turkish government's illegal occupation and desecration of Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus.
As you know, the historic Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus, has reportedly been leased to Turkish ceramics makers. Industrial cylinders and ovens are said to be used inside the church by its illegal Turk occupiers in an obvious move of disrespect and degradation to the native , indigenous Orthodox Christian faith of the island. The Church of Cyprus has publicly condemned this violation, drawing attention to evidence that the criminal Talat, Turkish military-occupation regime has leased the church out under the guises of its so-called “Turkish Cypriot religious and cultural foundation EVKAF”, for five Turkish lira a year , the equivalent of about four American dollars.
The current desecration of Ayios Charalambous (Saint Charalambous) church in Trimithi village is part of Turkey’s methodical attempt to complete the cultural genocide of Orthodox Christianity, the major faith of indigenous people in Cyprus. Apparently, Turkey is emboldened by its long-term policy of cultural genocide, wherever Turkey illegally misules, without any meaningful response from the US government.
According to the US State Dept “Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago.”
(Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, URL: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/ )
Turkish military-occupation, implemented by sheer, brute military force, has, since the illegal invasions of 1974 , resulted in the vandalism, desecration and destruction of , literally, hundreds of Orthodox Christian churches in Cyprus, in addition, thousands of historic ecclessiatical items have been illegally sold and located in the international black trade in stolen church art.
Article 7 of the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (26 August 1994) [4] uses the phrase "cultural genocide". The complete article reads as follows:
Indigenous peoples have the collective and individual right not to be subjected to ethnocide and cultural genocide, including prevention of and redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
(c) Any form of population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or other measures;
(e) Any form of propaganda directed against them.
Turkey is guilty of all of the above itemized sub-articles in Cyprus.
Please help save the Cyprus church from cultural genocide by 1) immediately investigating the illegal occupation and desecration of Ayios Charalambous ( Saint Charalambous ) church in Turkish military-occupied Trimithi village in Cyprus; 2) publicly protesting any violations of human rights, and; 3) prominently addressing this matter in the annual "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices," and the "International Religious Freedom Report."
Thank you for your attention to my concerns.
I look forward to hearing from you or your office in this regard.
Sincerely,
____________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________
(Name)
____________________________________
(Address)
____________________________________
(City, State, Zip)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information visit:
Church of Cyprus , URL: http://www.churchofcyprus.org.cy/
Cyprus Mail, Church anger over desecration in north By Jean Christou, November 21, 2007, URL: http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=36046&cat_id=1
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
========================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
URGENT: Protest Anti-Cyprus Article Letter Writing Campaign To MSNBC
For Immediate Release: November 17, 2007
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
NEW YORK-- The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) encourages activists and supporters to fight back against false historical revisionism and anti-Cyprus propaganda by joining the letter writing campaign to MSNBC, in defense of Cyprus.
Please find below the action alert from Hellenic Organization of University Graduates of America HOUGA, Email: houga@usa.com
Action Alert - Letter writing campaign to MSNBC.com
The article below, titled "Bring northern Cyprus back into the fold" was posted on the MSNBC.com web site. Although the article originates from the UK based Financial Times, it is posted on the American MSNBC.com site, and we ask that a letter of protest be sent to:
To the Editor
letters@msnbc.com
Suggestions of points to be used in the letter:
- in Cyprus there is a breach of international law and the UN Charter by Turkey (who invaded and occupied one-third of the island republic), and that the situation will never be normal unless there is restoration of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cyprus
- the division is a result of the invasion and continuing occupation and that the case of the T/C as presented in the article is being built upon massive violations of human rights (right of property, right to return, right of settlement, refugee issues). In fact, over 200,000 refugees Greek Cypriot refugees have been denied their livelihood, property, for over 30 years, due to the Turkish invasion.
- therefore, any isolation that exists is due to the Turkish occupation and the insistence of Turkey and the T/C leadership to upgrade the political status of the illegal secessionist entity.
- "investors" buying property in the occupied areas are taking more than "some risk in title". Many Cypriot owners of occupied property have filed successful claims in European Union courts.
- the reason the Annan plan was voted against by 76% of Greek Cypriots was that it was not "carefully balanced" and failed to meet even the most basic concerns and legitimate rights of the Greek Cypriot community
- the current difficulties Turkey faces in its relations with the European Union stem from its refusal to meet its obligations, including the restrictions imposed on Cypriot interest vessels and planes.
Thank you. The original article follows below.
MSNBC.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bring northern Cyprus back into the fold
By Nick Kochan
Financial Times
updated 10:41 p.m. ET, Tues., Nov. 13, 2007
T he division of Cyprus between Greek and Turkish residents represents a festering sore for the European Union and for the wider international community. Resolutions have been painfully pursued since 1974, when the island was divided, but none has yet satisfied both sides. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continues to face embargoes from the EU and most large states.
The time has come for a further push, this time by Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey 's prime minister, to bring northern Cyprus back into the fold. The two men recently proposed an initiative at the United Nations, where there is a will to continue the process, initiated by Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general, which culminated in a referendum in 2004. Both sides were asked to vote on unification around a carefully balanced series of compromises. Two-thirds of Turkish Cypriots voted in favour, but two-thirds of Greeks voted against and the issue was shelved. The result has left the Turkish Cypriot community feeling bruised.
While the politicians continue to wrestle with the problem, business and financial considerations risk drawing northern Cyprus out of the western fold and towards other, less palatable regions. Radical Middle Eastern states have been prepared to flout criticism from Greece and elsewhere and trade with northern Cyprus . Syria , for example, recently opened a ferry route to Famagusta in northern Cyprus . Northern Cyprus will use this as a lever to open up other trading and transport links with the Islamic world. Business contacts with Iran are growing and many students attending the six Turkish Cypriot universities originate from Palestine , Iran and Sudan . That said, the bulk of the north's business and political links continue to be with Turkey , the largest investor in the island and guarantor of its independence.
Disparity in economic resources between the north and the Republic of Cyprus in the south risks intensifying the north's isolation. While the south has a thriving economy, partly supported by EU subsidies and partly by an offshore banking and financial services sector, the north struggles to obtain investment to develop its resources. The south is more than twice as wealthy as the north, with gross national product per head of $22,000 compared with the north's $10,500. Three-quarters of the island's 1m-strong population live in the south.
UK investors and bargain hunters have bought and developed cheap properties in the north in the expectation of a sharp revaluation of their assets if the political climate warms. Properties cost between a third and half the price of those in the south, although investors take some risk on title, as former Greek owners will seek the return of land now occupied by Turks. Turkish Cypriots have similar claims on land in the south, now occupied by Greeks.
Israeli investors have also invested in the island's hotel and property sector for the same reason. Russians are taking an interest in the north's banking sector and one Russian bank is expected to open imminently.
The north's tourist trade, the largest contributor to its economy, is dependent on Turkish visitors, who can fly direct. Western tourists have to break their journey at Istanbul before flying on to the airport at Ercan. This inflates the cost of air travel. Lack of recognition hits every part of the economy, including the banking system, which is denied an exclusive code to enter the Swift system for transferring payments from north Cyprus banks to international banks. Outdated systems of transferring money through fax and e-mail result in security risks to the banks. A strong casino and gambling industry has led some to question the north's financial probity.
Economic isolation risks creating an embittered community on the fringe of Europe and in one of the world's more delicate hotspots. There are a number in the EU who recognise the dangers and would like to soften or remove the embargo, but the Republic of Cyprus - an EU member - would in practice be able to block such a move.
The best hope for political change is the economic invigoration of this territory. That would not merely improve local prosperity but also encourage business and political interests in the south to invest in the north. The search for economic prosperity needs to go hand-in-hand with political moves towards unification. Once the island reaches its economic potential, memories of past feuds can be forgotten and a stable and unified state created.
The writer is author, most recently, of Opportunities in Middle East Capital Markets (Thomson)
Copyright The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21774034/
###
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
=====================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots,not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA
distribution list", to cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
URGENT: Protest Erdogan New York: “Stop Terrorizing Orthodox
Peoples!”
For Immediate Release: September 27, 2007
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) joins the STOP coalition, in
coordinated protests against Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to New York and the United Nations. The STOP Coalition stands
for “Stop Terrorizing Orthodox Peoples!”
Our group is open to any and all who believe the time has come to draw
public attention to the evil of the continuing genocides against the
many millions of Orthodox Christians around the world.
The Turkish government, led by Erdogan, is an unrepentant perpetrator
of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides of 1915-1923. Successive
Turkish governments continue to degrade the victims by denying any
responsibility for the crime of genocide.
Violating international law and human rights conventions Turkey
continues its brutal, illegal occupation of Cyprus. Over one thousand missing
Greeks in Cyprus remain unaccounted and many were used for barbaric
scientific experiments. The cultural genocide of Orthodox Christianity by
Turkey continues in historic Armenia, Pontus and Constantinople, and
Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus.
Join us, in witnessing readings of survivor testimonies, in lighting of
candles for the dead, and in our demand that Turkey make a public
apology.
DEMONSTRATIONS AND VIGILS:
Erdogan Takes The Floor At The Council of Foreign Relations
WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2007, 1PM-4PM
WHERE: The Council of Foreign Relations, 58 E. 68th Street, New York,
N.Y.
Memorial For The Orthodox Victims Outside The United Nations
WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2007, 5PM-8PM
WHERE: Dag Hammerskjold Plaza (47th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.). New
York, NY
Erdogan Takes The Floor Of The UN General Assembly
WHEN: Friday, September 28, 2007, 1PM-8PM
WHERE: Dag Hammerskjold Plaza (47th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.).New
York, NY
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
Email: cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
=====================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots,
not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human
rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to
introduce CANA to a friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name
and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA
distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more
individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s
mission.
URGENT: Protest Congressman Burton's Anti-Cyprus Remarks!!
Congressman Dan Burton Makes Offensive Anti-Cyprus Remarks
Current Status
Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana recently issued a “Stop the Blame Game With Regard To Cyprus” speech to the House of Representatives premised almost entirely on false historical revisionism, inaccuracies and omissions.
Burton has a long record of support for Turkish Crimes and their cover up, just recently he was commended by the Turkish lobby ATAA for his offensive speech on Cyprus, over the years Burton has also been an active participant, from the very beginning, of US delegations visiting the pseudo-regime in northern Cyprus, disregarding international law, Burton has also been involved in numerous official delegations and receptions with the pseudo-regime.
Turkey’s invasions and ongoing illegal occupation is in complete contempt for norms of war, international law, UN resolutions, and human rights, and its ongoing cultural genocide of Greek Orthodox Christianity from Cyprus is continuing unabated, and Turkey remains unapologetic and unrepentant. The Republic of Turkey was founded on the heels of one of the most tragic episodes in the history of humanity. The Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocide of 1915-1923, perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government, was the very first planned genocide of the 20th Century, the Turkish government denies its responsibility for these crimes, and continues to regard the victims with contempt through its ongoing aggression against Cyprus and through its horrific human rights record, that often involves torture and assassinations of intellectuals for thought crimes.
The Annan plan was rejected by the Cypriot people, in a popular referendum because the Annan plan was racist, its provisions mandated that the Turkish military and security forces (notorious for racist brutality and human rights abuses) rule over the Cypriot people, furthermore it also mandates that major port city Kyrenia remains Turkish, forever. Essentially, Annan plan was an attempt to dissolve the democratic Republic of Cyprus and replace it with a new structure, that would enslave the people of Cyprus to undemocratic, human rights abusers running the Turkish government and military. Burton’s speech uses blatant omissions of facts, to shamelessly hurl the blame onto the Orthodox Christian people of Cyprus, rather than on the aggressor, Turkey.
Finally, Congressman Burton’s speech uses Turkish false historical revisionism to explain away the conflicts in Cyprus prior to Turkey’s 1974 crimes of ethnic cleansing, military invasion, and cultural genocide. The Turkish state funded and staffed anti-Orthodox Christian terrorism and hate groups, with the aim of creating para-state, parallel administrations in Cyprus, in order to undermine the democratic process. The pseudo-regime founded by Turkish terrorist Denktash and by Turkish security forces was merely a further manifestation of Turkey’s decades long undermining of democracy and abuse of human rights in Cyprus.
Please refer to our information paper “Burton’s Anti-Cyprus Remarks” for Congressman Burton’s actual speech in black text, our analysis is in green, directly below each of Congressman Burton’s remarks.
URL: http://www.cyprusactionnetwork.org/resource_center
--------------------------------------------
What You Can Do
--------------------------------------------
Contact Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana and ask him to apologize for the historically incorrect speech.
As always, be firm, but polite. Hostile comments will only undermine the message you are trying to deliver. A sample letter and phone script is already provided
By Mail: Congressman Dan Burton
2308 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0001
By Telephone :(202) 225-2276
By Fax: (202) 225-0016
-----------------------------------------
Phone Script:
-----------------------------------------
[During regular business hours a receptionist will answer your call. Ask to speak to the staff member who is responsible for judiciary or foreign affairs. If he/she is not available, please leave a written or voice-mail message.]
Hello, my name is __________________.
I am calling about Congressman Burton’s Anti-Cyprus speech, “Stop The Blame Game With Regards To Cyprus”
This speech was highly offensive to Greek Orthodox Christians, who are victims of Turkey’s ongoing ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide of Orthodox Christian people. Turkey is a human rights abuser, is guilty of Armenian and Assyrian and Greek Genocide, is a military aggressor, is undemocratic and is unfit to rule over the people of Cyprus.
We must stand, as a nation, against human rights abusers, against military aggressors, and against genocide denial and act with absolute moral clarity in the fight to eradicate these terrible crimes.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate learning of any action the Congressman takes on this matter, and would appreciate an apology. I can be contacted at the following address: __________________
Thank you.
---------------------------------------------------
Sample Letter
---------------------------------------------------
(Please take a moment to personalize the letter.)
Congressman Dan Burton
2308 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0001
Dear Congressman Burton:
I’m writing in response to your speech “Stop The Blame Game With Regard To Cyprus” delivered on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 in the House of Representatives.
As an American citizen of the Greek Orthodox Christian faith,, I have always had the honor of being represented by elected officials who stood firm and strong in the face of human rights violations and historical denial.
There were several inaccuracies and omissions in your speech on Cyprus
First, your speech starts off with a statement that downplays Turkey’s war crime of military aggression and crimes against peace in Cyprus, by deliberately putting quotes around Turkey’s very real invasion. Numerous United Nations Resolutions, spanning several decades, have been consistent in declaring the Turkish military occupation of Cyprus illegal, and call upon the speedy and total withdrawal of the Turkish military occupation forces
Second, the speech erroneously claims that Greeks killed Turks beginning in 1963, this is false historical revisionism. The first inter communal killings in Cyprus date back to 1958, and they involved brutal killings of Cypriot Orthodox Christians by the fanatical Turkish terrorist group TMT. The New York Times reported on the killings on December 27, 1963, detailing the attacks on Cypriots targeted merely because of their ethnicity and religion, the Turkish TMT terrorist killings of Cypriot Orthodox Christians continued and escalated throughout the 1960s.
Third, your speech falsely claims that Turks were harmed during the coup in Cyprus, and irresponsibly use this falsehood to somehow justify Turkey’s gross crime in 1974. The most significant omission is the fact that in August 1974 (when Turkey launched the bloody second invasion that resulted in the occupation of an additional 30% of the island) the democratic presidency of Cyprus was restored, parliamentary democracy led by Karamanlis was in power in Athens, and there was neither a call for union with Greece or violence directed at the Turkish minority.
Fourth, you falsely claim that the pseudo-regime in northern Cyprus is a case of “rights”, nothing could be further from the truth. The pseudo-regime established by late Turkish TMT terrorist leader Denktash and by the Turkish military and Turkish security forces is recognized by no other country in the world, other than Turkey, its very claim to statehood is in violation of international law.
Finally, your speech is offensively anti-Cyprus , you claim that Greeks, the people actually victimized by Turkey’s crimes of ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide are not on the side of peace and offer up the people’s democratic rejection of the racist Annan plan. The Plan allows the Turkish military to remain in Cyprus, forever, and even extends to the Turkish military the “right” to intervene over the entire island, . The final revised drafts of the Anan plan called for the turning over of the entire island’s defense (for a period of twenty years) to the Turkish government through its military (an unrepentant perpetrator of Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic genocide) and renown for ethnic cleansing and racist brutality throughout the region. Ultimately, the victims of Turkish aggression decided that they would never allow the Turkish military to rule over their lives, Turkey’s horrendous human rights record and history of Genocide, makes Turkey unfit to rule over any human being. In democracies, ideally, the power should never come from the muzzle of a gun, the Turkish army still refuses to leave this troubled island, and leave all its inhabitants Greek, Latin, Arab Maronite, Armenian and Assyrian alone. Now that would be a real peace.
I urge you to amend your remarks and position to reflect the historical truth.
I would also appreciate a sincere apology.
I look forward to hearing from you or your office in this regard.
Sincerely,
____________________________________
(Signature)
____________________________________
(Name)
____________________________________
(Address)
____________________________________
(City, State, Zip)
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
2578 Broadway #132
New York, NY 10025
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
=====================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a
friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
HR 309, Kosovo Independence Action Alert
PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Dear Friends,
It has come to our attention that Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, who represents the 14th District in New York, covering Astoria, and who marches in our Greek Independence Day parade in New York, and relies on Greek support for her victory this November 2007, has recently become a cosponsor to the pro-Albanian and anti-Orthodox House Resolution 309 which expresses “the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should support independence for Kosovo.”
(1) Please take a few minutes to call her office, expressing that you are a Greek American and that you urge her to withdraw from H. Res. 309. Her Astoria office number is 718-932-1804.
(2) A sample letter is provided for your convenience below.
Sample Letter
To contact Congresswoman Maloney, please fill in the form in the link to her homepage and make sure to select “Hellenic Issues” on “*Topic of Message” on the contact form:
http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=73
Subject: Withdraw as cosponsor of H. Res. 309 that supports independence for Kosovo
Hello, my name is [NAME]. I am a Greek-American of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith and
I am writing to urge you to withdraw as a cosponsor of H. Res. 309 ("Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should support independence for Kosovo"), a pro-Albanian and anti-Orthodox resolution that supports independence for Kosovo; an act that would butcher one of Serbia’s most sacred regions in order to create an Islamist-aligned “Greater Albanian” entity that would serve only to destabilize the entire Balkan region -- Greece included -- and create untold bloodshed.
This resolution is harmful to both Serbia and her close friend and ally Greece and there are a number of reasons why Greek-Americans and their friends cannot accept it, including:
1) This resolution would support and complete the ongoing ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide of Orthodox Christian Serbs from Kosovo, an integral part of the Serbian homeland for centuries, as testified by the presence of over 1,500 monuments of Serbian culture. Sadly, since 1999 more Serbian cultural and religious shrines have been destroyed in Kosovo than during 400 years of brutal Turkish occupation. Well over 100 Orthodox Churches and monasteries have been attacked, desecrated, or completely destroyed while 250,000 Serbs have been ethnically cleansed from their ancestral land by Albanians. The remaining Serbs of Kosovo live in terror every single day and suffer unbelievable horrors at the hands of Albanian Islamists simply because of their ethnic background and religion.
2) The Albanian Muslims who are currently ethnically cleansing Kosovo of its indigenous Serbian population have been using Kosovo as a base for not only criminal operations such as drug smuggling and human trafficking but also as a base to train and sustain Islamic fundamentalist terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, such as the Kosovo Liberation Army, which the US government has classified as a terrorist organization. Such groups are not only anti-Serb but also anti-Greek, as demonstrated recently by the emergence of a new Albanian terrorist group, the Liberation Army of Chameria, which has territorial designs on Greek land.
3) The proposal for the forced independence of Kosovo from the Republic of Serbia, and its subsequent legitimization by the international community, would be no different than the legitimization of the illegal Turkish regime which currently occupies northern Cyprus. The situation in Kosovo parallels the situation in Turkish-occupied Cyprus: Both Kosovo and northern Cyprus have been invaded, occupied, and administered by a foreign force and, in both cases, the result for Serbs and Greeks has been absolutely disastrous. Therefore, by imposing independence upon Kosovo, and severing it from Serbia, a pattern is established for legitimizing Turkey's invasion and ongoing occupation of Cyprus. It is no surprise then that Turkey wholeheartedly supports Kosovo's independence from the Republic of Serbia: it sets a major precedent for the recognition of Turkish-occupied Cyprus by the international community.
For these reasons, and many more, Greek-Americans cannot support Kosovo's independence or politicians who advocate such positions.
Finally, I ask that you distance yourself from the Albanian lobby, notorious for being associated with organized crime money. At least one Islamic "charity fund" associated with "Greater Albania" causes in Kosovo has also been classified as terrorist by the US government.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns.
[NAME]
For sources of information regarding the persecution of Orthodox Serbs by Albanians and the destruction of centuries-old cultural and religious sites, please see: http://www.kosovo.net/ (Note: because some sections of this website contain very graphic images of murdered Serbs and desecrated churches, viewer discretion is advised.)
Protest Turkish Embassy: Hands Off Cyprus!
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935
WHERETurkish Embassy 2525 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC
WHEN July 20, 2007, Friday, 2PM-5PM
Greeks, Greek Cypriots, and their friends will be demonstrating outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC to demand that Turkey’s brutal thirty-three years of Turkish military invasion with use of napalm and American-made bombs, aircraft and weapons that began on July 20, 1974, end now. NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE! We call for FULL REMOVAL of ALL Turkish soldiers from Cyprus.
The Turkish Government is one of the most repressive regimes in the world, Greeks, as well as Armenians and Assyrians are denied basic human rights, including the right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Following the early Twentieth Century Crime of Genocide Against Greeks and Armenians, the Turkish State has continued its genocidal policies by targeting Kurdish civilians and villages, denying Greek and Armenian and Assyrian Genocide, and thoroughly eradicating the Greeks from Cyprus.
Get Involved! Get on the Bus to Washington DC!
Call now to reserve a seat and to volunteer to help!
========================
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
New York, NY 10025
Washington DC: 530-400-5821
New York: Tel. 917-699-9935
www.cyprusactionnetwork.org
=====================
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit movement created to support genuine self-determination and human rights for the people of Cyprus.
To be added to CANA's Action Alert e-mail distribution list, or to introduce CANA to a
friend or colleague, please forward the pertinent name and e-mail address,with the subject heading "Add e-mail to CANA distribution list", to
cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org
You are encouraged to forward this action alert to five or more individuals who may have an interest in our e-distributions or in CANA’s mission.
View Our Hellenic Human Rights Rally You Tube Video
Purchase our apparel and support Anti-Racist Action for Hellenic Human Rights!
Cyprus Action Network of America
2578 Broadway
#132
New York, NY 10025
ph: 1-917-699-9935
cana
