Cyprus Action Network of America 

Remember Smyrna

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2007

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

On September 9th, 2007, exactly 85 years since Mustafa Kemal's Turkish armies entered Smyrna, Greeks and philhellenes organized by the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA), and Armenian activists, participated in a peaceful assembly and Memorial in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC.

Survivor testimonies, were read aloud at one point ,several passer-bys and drivers expressed support, asked questions and carefully read the placards we carried that wrote "Never Forget Smyrna 1922" , "Turkey Apologize!!!", and "Turkey Commits Mass Murder". 

Two American journalists from alternative news outlets interviewed CANA Press Officer Nikolaos Taneris. When asked what it is the activists sought, Taneris replied “None of us were alive when the Smyrna Massacre was committed by Mustafa Kemal's Turkish armies, but we know survivors and witnesses, and the wounds from this great crime that was part of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocide of 1915-1923 have never healed because Turkey refuses to apologize. Instead, Turkey continues to degrade the victims, by its denial of Armenian Genocide, by Turkey’s merciless blockade of Armenia, by Turkey's brutal occupation of Cyprus, by Turkey's continuing aggression against Armenia, Cyprus and Greece. Turkey please apologize!"

The event ended with the lighting of candles, a short video clip of this has been uploaded to You Tube, as well as onto the popular website Omogenia .To view, please visit:

http://youtube.com/user/SeviLenio

Community newspaper, Greek News, published a condensed version of the Sevasti Boutos, article covering our event, titled “Πάντα να θυμάσαι τήν Σμύρνη”,:

http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=7315&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

The complete version, in Greek, can be viewed here:

http://www.omogenia.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/45164/an/0/page/0/vc/1

This press release, along with a picture of the event can be viewed here:

http://www.cyprusactionnetwork.org/remember_smyrna

Finally, Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) encourages all survivors and descendents of survivors of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and Genocide, to stand up in the name of justice and human rights. Media outlets, and all those who wish to offer us support are welcome to contact us, through the address, we offer below,

We will never forget Cyprus, and,

We Will Never Forget Smyrna!

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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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