URGENT: Protest ESPN's Anti-Cyprus Remarks!!
ESPN2 Makes Offensive Anti-Cyprus Remarks
For Immediate Release: January 18, 2008
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris Tel. 1-917-699-9935
Current Status
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) was recently informed that ESPN2’s live coverage of the Australian Tennis Open , this very morning of January 18, 2008, included commentary on proud Cypriot tennis star Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis premised almost entirely on false historical revisionism, inaccuracies and omissions.
Commentary this morning refferred to "Greek Cyprus" and "Turkish Cyprus" and presented a map with no lines, implying the whole island is one with a Greek and Turkish side. Ommitting entirely, the great crime against humanity committed by Turkey against the Cypriot people and the violation of international law, by Turkey, in imposing, through sheer brute military force, a pseudo-state, built on ethnic cleansing and recognised by no other country in the world, other than Turkey.
Turkey’s invasions and ongoing illegal occupation of Cyprus 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 pseudo-regime founded by Turkish terrorist Denktash and by Turkish security forces is merely a further manifestation of Turkey’s decades long undermining of democracy and abuse of human rights in Cyprus.
The sovereign Republic of Cyprus is the only state recognised by the international community, there is no such legal entity as “Turkish Cyprus” Please mention that PBS will soon be airing an intensive documentary, titled "Cyprus: Still Divided” on American public service television stations, this year, highlighting this issue. And make sure to monitor ESPN tomorrow, Marcos Baghdatis has advanced to the third round and will play tomorrow, and, finally, make certain you leave comments in the ESPN blogs: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/main
--------------------------------------------
What You Can Do
--------------------------------------------
Contact George Bodenheimer , President of ESPN, and ask him to make sure that ESPN commentators cease and desist from making the offensive anti-Cyprus, historically incorrect remarks.
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: George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN
ESPN New York Executive Offices
77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
george.bodenheimer@espn.com
By Telephone : (212) 456-7777
-----------------------------------------
Phone Script:
-----------------------------------------
[During regular business hours a receptionist will answer your call. She may answer saying that you reached ABC or Disney, but in fact, this is also the desk for ESPN. Ask to be directed to George Bodenheimer’s office. If he is not available, please leave a written or voice-mail message.]
Hello, my name is __________________.
I am calling about the anti-Cyprus remarks made by your commentators in ESPN’s live coverage of the Australia Tennis Open on the morning of January 18, 2008, and of key player ,Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis
The commnetary referred to a “Greek Cyprus” and a “Turkish Cyprus” and presented a map showing no lines dividing the island, and was highly offensive to Greek Orthodox Christians, who are victims of Turkey’s ongoing ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide of Orthodox Christian people..
Please cease and desist from refering to the illegal pseudo-regime established by Turkish milirary-invasions and occupations. There is no “Greek Cyprus” or “Turkish Cyprus” , international law and the international community only recognises the sovereign Republic of Cyprus. PBS will soon be airing a documentary, titled "Cyprus: Still Divided" on American public service television stations, this year, highlighting this issue.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate learning of any action ESPN president George Bodenheimer takes on this matter. I can be contacted at the following address: __________________
Thank you.
---------------------------------------------------
Sample Letter
---------------------------------------------------
(Please take a moment to personalize the letter.)
George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN
ESPN New York Executive Offices
77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
george.bodenheimer@espn.com
Dear Mr. Bodenheimer:
I am concerned about the anti-Cyprus remarks made by your commentators in ESPN’s live coverage of the Australia Tennis Open on the morning of January 18, 2008, and of key player ,Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis
The commentary referred to a “Greek Cyprus” and a “Turkish Cyprus” and presented a map showing no lines dividing the island, and was highly offensive to Greek Orthodox Christians, who are victims of Turkey’s ongoing ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide of Orthodox Christian people..
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
The pseudo-regime established by late Turkish TMT terrorist leader Denktash and by the Turkish military and Turkish security forces, resulting from two bloody military-invasions executed by the Turkish government in 1974, is recognized by no other country in the world, other than Turkey, its very claim to statehood is in violation of international law.
Please make sure that ESPN cease and desist from referring to the illegal pseudo-regime established by Turkish military-invasions and occupations. There is no “Greek Cyprus” or “Turkish Cyprus” , international law and the international community only recognizes the sovereign Republic of Cyprus. PBS will soon be airing a documentary, titled "Cyprus: Still Divided" on American public service television stations, this year, highlighting this issue.
I urge you to amend your commentators’ remarks and position to reflect the historical truth.
I would also appreciate , if in the future, your ESPN commentators refer to the country recognised by international law and the international community, as the Republic of Cyprus.
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
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).
