Cyprus Action Network of America  (CANA)

Support for Protest action against Turkish Invasion of Cyprus held directly in front of the Turkish Embassy in U.S.

For Immediate Release: August 2, 2008

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

NEW YORK—The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is pleased to announce that letters have been coming in from throughout the Diaspora and from the homeland in overwhelming support of our remarkably successful protest action against the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus held directly in front of the the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC.

This July 20th 2008, the Hands Off Cyprus 2008 demonstration was aired on the CBS affiliate (WUSA9) in Washington, through bold and assertive public advocacy, CANA managed to achieve American network television coverage to mark July 20th 2008 as “the 34th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus”.

Our cause is dependent on all of our supporters at the grass-roots, many of whom are survivors or descendents of survivors of Turkey’s Crimes against Humanity. We are circulating  letters of support  from two key activists , the first one is in Hellenic and is from CANA activist Ioannis Ioannou  of Astoria New York, The National Herald Greek American Daily Newspaper has published his letter as a half page Op-Ed in its Saturday-Sunday August 2-3 2008 edition. Mr. Ioannou, a proud Cypriot, is a published commentator in our community, his entire family joined our Hands Off Cyprus 2008 demonstration. The second letter is in English and is from Washington DC-based activist  Panagiotis (Peter) Petropoulos, a strong CANA activist in the DC area, whose self less dedication to the Cyprus cause, compliments his years of experience in public advocacy . We salute our grass-roots, the heart and soul of our movement.

1) Ioannis Ioannou of Astoria New York ‘s Op-Ed titled “O εφησυχασμός

των ταγών της Ομογένειας” is published in the Saturday-Sunday August 2-3 2008 edition of The National Herald Greek American Daily Newspaper (Gr: ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reproduced for educational purposes and fair use, and available for pdf document download here:

http://cyprusactionnetwork.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/IoannisIoannouLetter.213193229.pdf

2)  From: "Peter Petropoulos" <ppetrop@aol.com>

Subject: Cyprus Action Network of America

Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:15:44 -0400

All,

Recently, great strides have been made to forward the cause of removing the Turkish (or present day Ottoman) military from the island of Cyprus.  

The Cyprus Action Network of America has been center stage on educating the people of the United States and world about the people of Cyprus and the illegal military action committed by Turkey (or present day Ottoman) against Cyprus with: 

• peaceful demonstrations in front of the White House, the Turkish embassy, the United Nations in NYC and many  other venues
• informational lectures in Washington, DC and NYC
• coalition building with other nations including but not limited to the Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds,  Pontians, Armenians, Serbians, Jews and Palestinians
• lobbying against corrupt and unethical US politicians who want to hand Cyprus over to Turkey(or present day Ottoman)
• empowering people to demonstrate, write letters and reconnect with their heritage and roots  for peace, justice and freedom
• linking the geopolitical maneuvering of the new world order to an attack on the Orthodox Christian faith and people.

Members of the Cyprus Action Network of America have worked hard with many people and groups who support the removal of the Turkish military from Cyprus, including like-minded people and groups who do not want to work with the Cyprus Action Network of America, to ultimately achieve the removal of Turkish troops from the island of Cyprus and the return of illegally confiscated lands, culture and history on the island of Cyprus to the people who were from those lands, culture and history.  Along the way there have been many disagreements but fortunately there have been many more agreements.  

The recent opportunity for the Cypriot victims, descendants, friends and supporters on July 20th, 2008 at the Hands Off Cyprus in Washington, DC  was another memorable day to give thanks to the powers above and on earth that give us the ways and means to let our voices be heard.  More importantly it was an opportunity to remember the valiant individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice and the ones who never were given the opportunity to let their voices be heard.  This opportunity on this past July 20th, 2008, 34 years after the illegal Turkish military maneuver on July 20th, 1974, gave us all a stage to loudly and vociferously address and redress the crimes that were committed not only against the Cypriots and peoples of Christian Orthodox faith but against all peaceful peoples on this planet.   I am certain that all the attendees benefited immensely.   

The people who made their way to the Turkish embassy found out about the event despite apparent attempts to not spread the word about this event.  As we move forward to the fulfillment of our goals, we must learn and understand why people who share our goals and vision did not participate more or help the Cyprus Action Network of America to let more people know about this event so that Cyprus and the Cypriots can benefit sooner from our past and future actions.

The individuals who made the journey to Washington, DC should be commended and encouraged to go back to where they traveled from to spread the word themselves, so that next year more peace, justice and freedom loving people will address the wrongs of the state of Turkey or if the situation in Cyprus is resolved, to celebrate the obvious cooperation and progressiveness of aggressor and victim.   The attendees of the 2008 Hands off Cyprus event should also be encouraged to start groups in their communities to educate more people about the injustices that have been committed by Turkey against Cyprus and other peoples. These groups should also host and have events in their communities so that people who do not have the time or ability to travel long distances have an opportunity to show the world how freedom is won and maintained in their own communities.

It is never too late to right the wrongs that have been committed.   My ancestors in the mountains of Greece dedicated many long and hard years to achieve the freedom that we now enjoy.  They endured 400 years of Ottoman rule and persevered as a nation.  They worked endlessly with many, including the church/monasteries and with other like-minded peoples from other countries to maintain the Greek language and culture of their heritage and lands.  Many sacrifices were made.  

We now have a great opportunity to move forward.  Let us not dwell on the naysayers.  If the existing media outlets are not cooperative, we have the ways and means to create our own.  Let us put the information out and let the people decide what needs to be announced.  The times of censorship are over.   

Peace, Justice and Freedom to all,

Panagiotis (Peter) Petropoulos

202 641-4141

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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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