ESPN RESPONDS TO CANA PROTEST FOR CYPRUS 

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2008

 

Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935

 

 

NEW YORK-This week,  ESPN responded to the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) letter writing protest of ESPN’s Anti-Cyprus remarks, dated  January 18, 2008, regarding commentary on proud Cypriot tennis star Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis premised almost entirely on false historical revisionism, inaccuracies and omissions.

 

George Bodenheimer , President of ESPN, was contacted and  then he asked ESPN spokesperson Christine Buchbinder De Calcagno to research and respond, following subsequent inquiries by CANA activist and legal professional Georgia Maratheftis, ESPN duly responded with a statement on Cyprus, and now correctly uses the international legal name for our homeland, the Republic of Cyprus. ESPN also now states that:” The appropriate executives and producers were notified so that steps may be taken to avoid comments of this nature in future broadcasts. “

 

The ESPN network is available in over 100 million homes in the United States and over 150 countries and territories via ESPN International., CANA corrected ESPN, and CANA proves once again that it is the most persuasive grass-roots organization supporting human rights for the people of Cyprus. Our network of highly-educated and media savvy professionals , all unpaid volunteers, speak out for justice and stand up for the victims and survivors of Crimes against Humanity and Crimes of Genocide.

WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED!

 

 

To see the original letter-writing campaign to ESPN, visit (www.CyprusActionNetwork.org) ) and scroll down the left hand column of articles and alerts, and just click on  the  'Protest ESPN' section, or try this link and view our CANA Protest ESPN  page: http://www.cyprusactionnetwork.org/protest_espn

 

 

The text of the ESPN statement on Cyprus  appears below, followed by CANA activist  Georgia Maratheftis’ letter,to which the ESPN statement  responds.

 

 

 

 (Statement From ESPN spokesperson Christine Buchbinder De Calcagno March 17, 2008)

 

Dear Georgia,

During ESPN's coverage of the Australian Open match January 17 between Marcos Baghdatis of the Republic of Cyprus and Marat Safin of Russia , an ESPN map of the island and analyst Cliff Drysdale's characterizations of it left open the possibility for misinterpretation by not specifying the island's political situation.

 

It was not the intent of ESPN or any of its analysts to discuss the territorial declarations of the island's inhabitants. Rather, the intent was to offer some background on Baghdatis and where he lived. The comments by Drysdale, who referred to Baghdatis as hailing from the "Greek part of Cyprus " could be interpreted as political but were meant as communal.

 

The appropriate executives and producers were notified so that steps may be taken to avoid comments of this nature in future broadcasts.

 

Sincerely,

Christine Buchbinder De Calcagno

ESPN

 

 

(Letter From CANA To George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, January 18, 2008 )

 

Dear Mr. Bodenheimer,

 

I am writing to express my distress at comments made by your commentators in ESPN's coverage of the Australian Tennis Open this morning relating to the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot player, Marcos Baghdatis.

 

During the coverage your commentators referred to a "Greek Cyprus" and a "Turkish Cyprus" and presented a map showing no lines dividing the island.  It is totally inappropriate for a news organization to so demean and diminish the loss of the Cypriot people. 

 

As you and ESPN must surely know, international law and the international community only recognizes the Republic of Cyprus .  It is incorrect and immoral to refer to a "Turkish Cyprus." My mother's mother was killed by Turkey 's occupying forces and my father's parents were held as prisoners.  All of my uncles, aunts and cousins became refugees as a result of Turkey 's forcible occupation.  I strongly abhor any diminution of the suffering caused by the actions of Turkey against the Republic of Cyprus

. 

 

I would think that news commentators, even sports news commentators, would be well apprised of such matters and that they would have the ability to speak accurately.  This mornings coverage was an insult to the intelligence of ESPN's audience. 

 

Thank you for your time and I would appreciate learning of any action ESPN takes on this matter.  I can be contacted as noted below.

 

Sincerely,

 Georgia Maratheftis

Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA )

 

New York

 

 

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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

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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