Cyprus Action Network of America 

Cypriots Protest At The Turkish Embassy Washington DC To Mark 34^th Anniversary of Turkish Invasion

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2008

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

CBS NEWS COVERS 34^th ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH INVASION THANKS TO CANA ACTION!

WASHINGTON DC—The crowd of diverse Cypriot demonstrators braved the scorching sun outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, and long distances, travelling from as far away as Seattle, Annapolis, Philadelphia and New York to mark the 34^th Anniversary of Turkey’s criminal military-invasion and ongoing illegal military-occupation of Cyprus and to protest Turkey’s continued denial of that crime against humanity.

“Turkey's efforts to deny the invasion of Cyprus, coupled with its systematic destruction of cultural and religious monuments, the renaming of cities and other geographic landmarks and its methodical program of illegal Turkish settlers make the current Turkish government an accomplice to and culpable for Crimes Against Humanity in Cyprus," stated Nikolaos Taneris, who heads the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA). “We reiterated our message to the Turkish regime and its collaborators that we will not go away and we will not be silent until Turkey admits the invasion, returns occupied Cypriot lands and makes appropriate reparations,” he continued.

A bus load of Cyprus supporters from the STATHAKION CENTER of the FEDERATION of HELLENIC SOCIETIES of GREATER NEW YORK in Astoria, were joined by dozens of others who came to Embassy Row in the downtown area of Washington DC for the demonstration.  Representatives from the Hellenic societies of the Lakonians, the Athenians, the Pan Thracian Union of America “ORPHEUS” and, most notably, support from the Brotherhood of MANI, helped make this demonstration such a great success. Demonstrators distributed flyers while, loudly and proudly, chanting slogans such as “Turkish Troops Out of Cyprus” and “Turkish Murderers Out of Cyprus.”  

This year, the Turkish Embassy organized numerous Turks, many of whom were seen coming in and out of the Turkish Embassy, to provoke and heckle the demonstrators.  These actions call into question grave ethical and legal questions about a foreign embassy (that is, Turkey’s Embassy) directly supporting and organizing “so-called” political demonstrators on American soil.  The Turkish Embassy directly interacted with their Turk “so-called” political demonstrators , some of whom flashed the Grey Wolf  (this is the Turkish version of the Ku Klux Klan)hand signal.  The Turks, with numerous portraits of “Ataturk” and flags representing the illegal pseudo-state of Occupied-Cyprus,  were in front of their Turkish Embassy many hours before the official  CANA protest was set to begin, and were seen giving directions to their Turk “so-called” demonstrators and to their lawyer through the gates and doors of the Turkish Embassy. All the Turkish signs in the beginning looked like they were printed out by computer, with denialist propaganda slogans, and lame outdated quotes from the 1960s about Cyprus, that they most likely copied quickly off of a random Turkish website.  At one point, some Turks went into the Turkish Embassy empty-handed and came out moments later carrying hand written signs scrawled with the slogans  'Greek Troops Occupy Macedonia' and 'Istanbul since 1453'.  Many of the Turk so-called demonstrators were sighted driving around with Turkish diplomatic license plates.  Some of the Turks drove up and down Embassy Row honking their horns and waving Turk flags, until they were pulled over by the police. It is noteworthy to mention that Yenal Kucuker, the Turkish born intern of U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey, was one of the Turkish Embassy’s so-called demonstrators.   Gunay Evinch President Elect of ATAA (Assembly of Turkish American Associations) and "the lawyer of the Turkish Embassy” led the Turks who provoked our demonstrators.  Gunay Evinch acted as their spokesperson, he spent his whole day on July 20^th 2008, standing in front of the Turkish Embassy, trying to provoke our demonstrators.  Hear and see Gunay Evinch in our CANA grassroots You Tube video.  Gunay Evinch (wearing a white t-shirt and white shorts), standing in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC on July 20, 2008, singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."  GUNAY EVINCH PRESIDENT ELECT OF ATAA ASSEMBLY OF TURKISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS is now on You Tube, for all to view, please distribute widely.  This is “the brains” of the Turkish lobby and “the lawyer of the Turkish Embassy”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35YupEDq1Nw

The demonstration was aired on the CBS affiliate (WUSA9), in the July 20^th evening broadcast.  CANA now has earned remarkable success for the Cyprus cause.  The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) through bold and assertive public advocacy, managed to achieve American network television coverage to mark July 20^{th 2008} as “the 34^th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus”

Please visit this link to view CBS television news coverage of the CANA demonstration to Mark “the 34^th Anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus”:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=74159&catid=158

In addition to the CBS coverage, CANA supporter, Kathryn Cameron Porter, President of the Leadership Council for Human Rights, joined our demonstration in Washington and published a  commentary entitled “Cyprus solution , please” in The Washington Times  on July 20^th 2008, which she asked to be read aloud at the CANA protest::

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/20/cyprus-solution-please/

Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis of Rhode Island also sent a letter to The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA), to be read into the record at our demonstration to mark the 34^th Anniversary Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the letter can be read in pdf format in this link:

http://cyprusactionnetwork.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Cyprus1.202195930.pdf

Washington DC Greek press correspondent Lambros Papantoniou wrote a Hellenic language report on our demonstration, for large circulation Hellenic daily Eleftheros Typos, available in this link:

http://cyprusactionnetwork.org/report_in_hellenic_on_hands_off_cyprus_2008_protest

On July 20th of each year Cypriots worldwide commemorate Turkey's criminal military-invasion of Cyprus. July 20, 1974, was the date when the Turkish government with use of napalm, bombs and warplanes began a campaign of rapes, terror and murder that resulted in the illegal military-occupation of well over one-third of Cypriot land, The Cypriot community holds a picket in front of the Turkish Embassy in London every year, and an all night vigil is also held in Syndagma Square in Athens, in addition to demonstrations and memorials in Cyprus and around the world. This July 20, 2008 marks the second time in history that Cypriots demonstrated directly in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC. The Turkish State continues to deny responsibility for Crimes Against Humanity in Cyprus and finances endowed chairs of Turkish Studies at various American universities, and spends millions of dollars each year  on lobbies in America, to deny Turkish crimes in Cyprus.

Despite such pressure, grass-roots activism spearheaded by this Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC has managed on July 20^th 2008 in marking the 34^th Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus,   to send the message out to millions of Americans and to the entire Turkish State that we will not be silent and we will not go away, until Turkey admits to the invasion, returns occupied Cypriot lands and makes appropriate reparations,

Several videos of the CANA demonstration marking the 34th Anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus have been uploaded to the CANA Grassroots channel on YouTube, available in this link:  http://www.youtube.com/CANAgrassroots

Please visit our homepage (www.cyprusactionnetwork.org) for pictures.

========================
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).

 CANA TO PICKET CYPRUS INVASION DENIERS, TURKISH COALITION OF AMERICA AND CONGRESSMAN WEXLER
For Immediate Release: July 3, 2008

WHERE: Dacor Bacon House, 1801 F St NW, Washington DC
WHEN: Monday, July 14th, 2008 7PM-9PM

WASHINGTON DC—The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) will be picketing outside the Turkish Coalition of America sponsored event celebrating Cyprus invasion denier Congressman Robert Wexler in the DACOR BACON HOUSE in Washington DC, on the evening of Monday, July 14th at 7PM.

Turkey’s international industry of denial is financed to the tune of millions of dollars, vomited up from the stolen lands and thefts of our people, then poured into the coffers of Turkish lobbies such as Turkish Coalition of America, which recently announced the establishment of the “Turkish Anti-Defamation League”, that mirrors the paranoia of Ankara’s racist anti-Cypriot conspiracies. Its highlights include a call to import Turkey’s Cyprus invasion denial into this country with an emphasis on the alleged “political power of Armenians, Greeks, Greek Cypriots, or otherwise.”

Congressman Robert Wexler will be discussing and signing his new book, FIRE-BREATHING LIBERAL, according to the Turkish Coalition invitation, “Wexler's book focuses on his leading role in US foreign policy and highlights his efforts to strengthen America's partnership with NATO ally Turkey…Since being elected in 1996, Wexler has led several high-level Congressional delegation trips to Turkey meeting with leading Turkish political leaders to promote close US-Turkish relations including former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul, military leaders in the Turkish General Staff as well as leading Turkish business organizations and Think Tanks.”

Former TMT Turkish terrorist leader, Denktash (who ruled the forces that murdered Cypriot demonstrators ISSAK AND SOLOMOU) was one of the Turkish political leaders Wexler met with while visiting illegally Occupied-Cyprus.
The Turkish Congressional Caucus was founded by Wexler, and in the past few months, has ballooned to around eighty members, thanks largely to Wexler.

Wexler’s record is abysmal. His staffer flew illegally into the Tymbou airport in Occupied Cyprus in August of 2005 with a Turkish sponsored congressional trip which included pro-Turkish congressman Edward Whitfield (R-KY). The trip ignored international law because the legal entry points of Cyprus are through Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca, or Limassol.

In a statement prominently displayed on the website of the “Turkish Coalition of America”, Congressman Robert Wexler makes public his plans to legitimize Turkey’s ongoing, illegal military-occupation of Cyprus: “We need to, in a very dramatic way, increase America’s Turkish Cypriot relations. We should have direct flights, have more economic development, push more recognition of Turkish Cypriot interests in world affairs,” says Wexler.

In regards to Turkish atrocities in Cyprus, condemned by numerous UN resolutions, and in violation of all human rights conventions, Congressman Wexler has advanced false historical revisionism to absolve Turkey of any responsibility for its crimes in Cyprus, following one of Wexler’s visits to the illegal pseudo-regime in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, Wexler said “Unfortunately, most people of the U.S. don’t know anything about Cyprus Those that do will often understand it to be a Turkish attack, and not a response to a historical effort to unify Cyprus with Greece. “ (“The New Anatolian” Turkey’s only independent English- language daily, Monday April, 10th 2006)

Wexler never made a clear statement calling for troop reduction in Cyprus, he wrote a letter last year, that like Turkey, vaguely calls for a solution, or basically, he repeated Turkey’s Cyprus invasion denial party line, he wrote "“Troop deployment on Cyprus seems to be disproportional – given the low threat level facing Turkish-Cypriots”, Wexler said, adding that ''thirteen
million crossings of the Green Line have occurred without incident''.

If read carefully that letter basically reinforces Turkish arguments that Turkey has “rights” to be there because of a "threat level facing Turkish Cypriots", he's simply saying the threat level is “low”, but hasn't gone away, basically Wexler reiterates the false historical revisionist "Peace Intervention" argument of Turkey, that argues that Turkish military forces have a “right” to intervene on Cypriot territory because of Turkish claims that Greek Cypriots pose a “danger” or “threat level” to Turkish Cypriots, and is AGAIN Cyprus invasion denying, no surprise, Genocide deniers are also Cyprus invasion deniers.

The criminal Turkish invasion or land grab of Cyprus initiated by the Turkish government on July 20, 1974, was inflicted on innocent Cypriot people by sheer, brute force. 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.

As the days draw near to the memorial date of July 20th, marking the Turkish Crime of illegal invasion in Cyprus, we are making a moral call to picket Cyprus invasion deniers, Cyprus Haters, and Turkish revisionist hate groups, --the time has come to draw public attention to Turkey’s continuing crimes in Cyprus.

Our picket will also function as a teach-in, hundreds of t-shirts with the slogans, SHAME ON WEXLER! SHAME ON TURKEY! CYPRIOTS WANT THEIR LAND BACK! TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS! , will be distributed to passer-bys and pedestrians, along with our educational pamphlet “Turkish Crimes”


It is imperative for Cypriots to demonstrate courage and picket these Cyprus Haters. Please contact the CANA by email cana@cyprusactionnetwork.org for details. Join the CANA and demand action. And be good, dedicated Cypriots with courage. Spread our message and get involved.

With Love of Cyprus, Nikolaos Taneris,
Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)
========================
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
========================

CANA CALLS FOR UNITY ON JULY 20th GRASSROOTS CYPRUS DEMONSTRATION
For Immediate Release:  June 23, 2008



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




NEW YORK--On Sunday, July 20 2008, the Cyprus Action Network of America(CANA)– launches  the grass roots “Hands Off Cyprus 2008”Washington DC demonstration in support of a coordinated national effort to urge Congressional representatives  to bring legislation calling for an end to the Turkish military occupation to a floor vote. Members of all
Hellenic and philhellenic societies and federations, human rights activists and all people of conscience are invited to participate.



The “Hands Off Cyprus 2008” protest campaign  will include the distribution of hundreds of postcards and t-shirts, and life-sized replica posters for distribution to passers-bys, pedestrians and members of
Congress with slogans from the demonstration stating “End Turkish Military Occupation in Cyprus”,  “Cypriots Want Their Land Back”, “End Turkish Fascism” and “Turkish troops out of Cyprus”. Various media correspondents and celebrities will be either covering or attending, including Hellenic Hip hop artist BZ JAM, and popular Turkish
television documentarian, Barbaras Serdar.  Writers, authors and activists familiar with forced displacement are scheduled to present teach-ins and lectures in the coming weeks .At least two local progressive news outlets will be on hand at our demonstration, and we expect coverage from
network affiliates. This year, it is expected that hundreds of activists will attend.



In order to promote awareness of the  continuing human rights crisis in Cyprus, we will need to build the coalitions necessary to tell our story to a wide range of different people, the “Hands Off Cyprus 2008” campaign also aims to broaden our community outreach by actively pursuing the participation of non-Hellenic people who believe in fairness and justice. Diversity is strength, and that is why CANA strives to include the participation of people from diverse ethnic and national origins.



We are proud of the experienced Cyprus supporters who led the efforts to bring justice for Cyprus in the immediate aftermath of the criminal military invasions of Cyprus initiated by the Turkish government on July 20th 1974, and for many years since then, for inspiring so many Hellenic-Americans in America to participate in our political process, many for the first time. This “Hands Off Cyprus 2008” grass-roots demonstration compliments the extraordinary effort of those experienced Cyprus
supporters who introduce legislations and follow up in coordination with a vast grass-roots network of concerned Americans, marked by an annual meeting with key Congressional representatives set close to the date of July 20th. We must strengthen the grassroots campaign, we must make it more diverse, and our demonstration is meant to advance our community’s position with Congress and the White House.



In order to do that, we are going to spend the next days and weeks leading up to the “Hands Off Cyprus 2008” demonstration working toward
one goal: UNITY ON JULY 20th.



HANDS OFF CYPRUS 2008



WHERE: Turkish Embassy 2525 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC



WHEN:  July 20, 2008, Sunday, 2PM-5PM



========================
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 Washington Times Prints CANA Letter to Editor On Article "Leader to seek Turkish unity"
For Immediate Release: March 26, 2008

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


NEW YORK-Today, March 26, 2008, The Washington Times published Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) Press Officer, Nikolaos Taneris’ letter to the editor, responding to The Washington Times article “Leader to seek Turkish unity.” The text of the letter appears below, followed by The Washington Times Article to which the letter responds.

To see the Letter to the Editor online, visit (www.washingtontimes.com) and click on the 'Letters to the Editor' section, or try this link and scroll down to the bottom of the page:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/mar/26/letters-to-the-editor-57578568/?page=2

March 26, 2008

Letters to the Editor
The Washington Times
3600 New York Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002

To the Editor:

Mehmet Ali Talat, president of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as reported in The Washington Times ("Leader to seek Turkish unity," World, Thursday) "considers the 2004 U.N. proposal for a federal solution as the only viable basis for talks"



The so-called Annan plan, named after former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, explicitly provisioned that tens of thousands of foreign troops commandeered by the Republic of Turkey be given the right to remain on the territory of the sovereign Republic of Cyprus and to intervene over all of Cyprus. Effectively, the nation of Cyprus would be forced to live under the rule of another nation.



In recent weeks, Mr. Talat stated in a public "salute to independent Kosovo" that "no nation may be forced to live under the rule of another nation."



Isn't it time for Mr. Talat to put into practice what he preaches? Mr. Talat, even one foreign soldier of occupation is tens of thousands of times too many. Tear down the wall that divides us, end the only ongoing military occupation in Europe and set our people free.



NIKOLAOS TANERIS
Press officer
Cyprus Action Network of America
New York



Washington Times
Article published Mar 20, 2008
Leader to seek Turkish unity


March 20, 2008


By Andrew Borowiec - NICOSIA, Cyprus — The newly elected communist president of Cyprus yesterday pledged to pursue talks to unite the Mediterranean island but gave no indication he would accept Turkish conditions that a U.N. formula be used.

Dimitris Christofias will meet tomorrow with Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, in an attempt to break the deadlock between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the divided island.

Statements issued by both sides indicated no change in their positions.

At the first press conference since his election last month, Mr. Christofias warned that a failure to unify would be "devastating for the future of our people."

"We do not want delays; we do not have the time," he said, but cautioned against acting in haste "without the necessary preparation that will allow progress."

Mr. Talat, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that is backed by about 35,000 Turkish troops deployed on the island, said he considers the 2004 U.N. proposal for a federal solution as the only viable basis for talks. The proposal, named for former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was accepted by the Turkish Cypriots but rejected by the Greek side in a referendum.

Referring to the deadlock, Mr. Christofias said the partnership "has not worked and both communities and foreign interventions are responsible for this."

He urged a withdrawal of the Turkish expeditionary corps. Ankara, which does not recognize the Greek Cypriot government, has rejected such pleas.

While rejecting the Annan plan, Mr. Christofias proposed talks aimed at "the evolution of the unitary bi-communal state of Cyprus into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality."

He said negotiations should be based on previous agreements between the communities as well as on resolutions issued by the United Nations and European Union condemning Turkish military intervention after the 1974 Greek coup to link Cyprus with Greece.

The Cyprus deadlock represents an obstacle in Turkey's application for membership in the European Union and has hampered economic progress of the Turkish Cypriot minority.

Mr. Christofias, who before his election was secretary-general of the Progressive Party of the Working People, said the party's communist affiliation was irrelevant because "what counts in Cyprus is our agony," not political labels.

"My party has acted in a most constructive way," he said. "Let's finish this agony; that's our problem."
###


========================
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).

SALUTE TO HELLENIC REVOLUTION
For Immediate Release: March 25, 2008
 
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935

NEW YORK--The Press Office of The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) in solidarity with the men and women of The Hellenic League of America (HLA) today salutes the martyrs, heroes and sacrifices of the Hellenic Revolution that is marked on March 25th every year, in memory of the struggle that began on March 17th-March 25th in 1821. Hellas began a struggle to liberate our beleaguered people from slavery. The very existence of the Hellenic Republic is living testament that few can be victorious against many, and that the call for freedom can prevail against tyranny.

After centuries of prejudice, persecution, mass rapes and mass murder perpetrated by the officials and military occupiers of the Ottoman Turkish empire --predecessor to the genocidal Republic of Turkey, -- after many failed Hellenic rebellions for freedom that ended in more massacres and slavery for our people, ultimately, the liberation struggle of 1821, became a Hellenic Revolution, riding our homeland of the foreign oppressors.

On this solemn day we also remember the many who suffer and remain enslaved, our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, our grandparents who were slaughtered ,and forced out of their homes and farmlands in Cyprus  by the criminal Turkish government, one of the most repressive, human-rights-abusing regimes in the world today,

We remember that Cyprus remains enslaved, we remember the young protestors -- Anastasios (Tassos) Isaac and Solomos Solomou,who were murdered before the eyes of the world in 1996 in Dheryneia, by Turkish officials who walk the streets of Turkey, who walk our occupied lands today, and fly their red flag, dripping with the blood of our brutalized people, over our villages, towns, farms and mountains and fields, over our homeland, every single day.

Today, we salute the dreams of those men and women who gave everything, took nothing and never begged for anything.

In memory of the few who joined the Hellenic Revolution at its very beginnings.

Victory or Death!

Please view and distribute our Hellenic League of America HLA promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YjkDNjw3Qc

========================
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).

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

========================

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).

CANA AND HLA MEDIA COVERAGE

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2008

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

NEW YORK—The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)  in solidarity with the Hellenic League of America (HLA) has enjoyed wide and diverse coverage from many media outlets and mediums-- local, national and global-- in recent days and weeks.

Our bold and assertive efforts to raise enthusiasm and awareness on Hellenic human rights concerns and to build young and new  Hellenic community fighting spirit has resulted in televised media coverage , far and wide, from networks as diverse as Russia Today, Radio Televizija Srbije or Radio Television of Serbia, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar or Albanian Radio Television, CNN, NBC, The Madison Square Garden Network or MSG, as well as several intesive minutes of interviews broadcast all over the Hellenic world on Greek evening news.

In print media, and online flora, our press releases and commentaries have appeared in Athens-based daily newspaper Eleftheros Typos, in Greek American News Agency, in the diaspora HELLAS newspaper, on the official websites of at least two major Washington DC-based  “ethnic  lobbies” , on political campaign and candidate sites as diverse as Graber For Congress, and My Barack Obama, as well as on the official blog of world renowned strategic analyst ,widely published columnist , and head  of the World Security Network Foundation office in Athens and its Editor for the region, Ioannis Michaletos.

In radio mediums , CANA was broadcast  on the nationally syndicated  DUSTY SHOW with Clay Pigeon , just last Thursday evening , on WFMU ,available  on the air in the New York metropolitan area at 91.1 on your fm dial. And this very Thursday morning, CANA was also interviewed on major Hellenic language diaspora radio HELLAS FM.

CANA and the HLA is proving itself as the young and new voice of Hellenic human rights, its not too late, the passage of time has actually boosted the young Hellenic community's strength. Those of us from second and third generations bring more education and sophistication to the cause than do our traumatized, mostly timid immigrant parents and grandparents. 

The time has come  for a new dawn  for Hellenism in the homeland and in the Diaspora.

On a final note, many videos of our appearances, have been uploaded to the internet, at least one reflects the multicultural diversity of New York and its ethnic communities, documenting the many different flags representing dozens of different cultures and countries, interspersed with New York street scenes and speeches by,first,  Jewish-American Holocaust scholar and  JASENOVAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE  (JRI) Founder Barry Lituchy,  followed by Serbian-American community organizer for the STOP coalition (The Stop Terrorizing Orthodox Peoples Coalition) John Bosnitch, and concluding with a rallying call by Hellenic-American Leader, Nikolaos Taneris:  http://youtube.com/watch?v=eooHVDUaops

Media contacts are encouraged to contact us, so that we may always continue to expand our ever growing coverage.

========================

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).

*Press Release - 

For Immediate Circulation*