GREEK AMERICANS TO MARK TURKISH INVASION ANNIVERSARY
Greek News
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July 20 2009
Posted on Monday, July 20 @ 10:11:19 EDT by greek_news
The Greek American community will organise various events to mark
the 35th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and condemn
Turkeyʼs continuing illegal occupation of the islandʼs northern part.
On Sunday, July 19, Archbishop Demetrios conducted a memorial service
for the victims of the July 1974 military coup against the government
of the late Archbishop Makarios and the Turkish invasion which
followed, at Saint Catherineʼs church, and delivered a speech. The
consul generals of Greece and Cyprus and Cyprus Federation of America
and International Coordinating Committee — Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA)
representatives gave short greetings.
On Monday, July 20, the Cyprus Federation of America and PSEKA will
host a cultural event in Astoria to include songs, poetry and testimony
reading. Archbishop Demetrios and Cypriot and Greek diplomats will
address the event. The protection of Cyprusʼ cultural heritage, which
is in peril due the continuing Turkish occupation, will be the focus
of various events to be hosted on 21, 22 and 23 of July in Washington.
On Tuesday, July 21, the Helsinki Commission of Congress (consisting of
Senate and House of Representatives members) will host a briefing at
Congress with the issue of "Cyprusʼs religious and cultural heritage
in peril".
The panelists of the briefing include Charalampos Chotzakoglou,
Professor of Byzantine Art and Archaeology, Klaus Gallas, Art
Historian and Byzantine expert Michael Jansen, author of "War and
Cultural Heritage: Cyprus after the 1974 Turkish Invasion."
A report prepared by the Law Library of Congress, "Destruction of
Cultural Property in the Northern Part of Cyprus and Violations of
International Law" will be released at the briefing.
A press release issued yesterday by Senator Benjamin Cardin,
Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and
Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee Hastings, says that "the 35-year-long
artificial division of Cyprus has taken a tremendous toll on the lives
of the people of that country. Despite clear international commitments
on the importance of preserving religious and cultural heritage,
hundreds of churches, chapels and monasteries in the northern part
of Cyprus remain in peril. Thousands of icons, manuscripts, frescos,
and mosaics have been looted from sites in northern Cyprus — many
ending up on international auction blocks."
The impetus to hold this briefing was given after on the spot finding
by senior advisors of members of Congress, who have recently visited
Cyprus, of the extent of the destruction of the Cypriot cultural
heritage in the occupied territories. Some of them spoke to the MPs
with anxiety about the loot of the sacred places of worship in the
occupied territories.
Similar lectures on the destruction of the Cypriot cultural heritage in
the occupied areas will be held on July 22, at the US Inter-religious
Commission on July 23 at the distinguished Hudson Institute.
The Coordinated Effort of Hellenes will hold a Capitol Hill
commemoration of the division and occupation of Cyprus. It will take
place at a breakfast reception on Wednesday, July 22 from 9:00 – 11:00
a.m. in the Speakers Dining Room (H-122) in the U.S. Capitol Building.
Those in attendance will include between 20 and 30 of the top advocates
for Cyprus in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
The hosts of this reception, who will also be in attendance, include
many of the most active Greek-American and Cypriot-American community
leaders – the board members of CEH. They will be meeting that week
with numerous key Senators, Members of Congress and Administration
officials regarding Cyprus settlement efforts.
MESSAGE OF PHILIP CHRISTOPHER The President of PSEKA Philip Christopher
issued the following statement on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary
of the Turkish Invasion.
"Another year has passed and we are nearing the 35th Year of
the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. It is once again time
for us to reflect our strengths and weaknesses, achievements and
disappointments. We call on people to attend the Memorial Service at
St. Demetrios in Astoria and CYPRUS…..35 YEARS LATER, a cultural
event at the Hellenic Cultural Center (information listed below). A
Congressional Commemoration of the Cyprus Invasion and Occupation will
also be held on Capitol Hill on July 21st & 22nd. Hellenic Communities
around the world are commemorating this tragic date in various ways.
The world has changed since 1974. The Republic of Cyprus is now a
member of the European Union. Cyprus today, is not the Cyprus of
1974. Today The Republic of Cyprus is a cosmopolitan nation. The
Speaker of the Parliament is of Armenian descent. There is a Russian
community of 20,000, a thriving Armenian and Maronite Community, and
a significant East Asian community as well. Cyprus today is bridge
of Europe to the Middle East, with a strong economy, that guarantees
all rights to all citizens.
We urge everyone to remember that the Cyprus problem is not a
bi-communal problem, it is a problem of invasion and continued
occupation. The solution of the Cyprus tragedy lies squarely with
the Turkish generals and the Turkish government. A solution cannot
be achieved without the removal of all Turkish troops and settlers,
and the return of all Cypriot citizens to their ancestral homes.
Letʼs all take some time on Sunday to remember the tragic events of
July 20, 1974. To spend a few minutes in recognition of those who gave
their lives, of the missing, of the refugees, and of the enclaved. Our
children and grandchildren have grown up never seeing their family
homes. The overseas Cypriots have waged their own war against the
Turkish occupation, and we have struggled against sometimes seemingly
insurmountable forces.
Although through the years we have not been frightened off by the
success of the affluent Turkish lobby or the general indifference of
the international community, many of us have been overtaken by the
feeling of complacency. I encourage everyone to continue the fight
for justice for the Cypriot people. Some things are clearly inherently
right or wrong. And right is on the side of freedom for Cyprus!
We urge everyone to stay strong and focused on battling this great
ongoing injustice, and assure you that we will not stop, we will not
rest, until we see the removal of Turkish troops, the removal of the
illegal settlers, and return of all refugees to their homes.
We urge all individuals, to express their frustration in the way they
feel appropriate. Whether itʼs writing letters to their Member of
the Senate and Congress, writing editorials, or demonstrating their
frustration outside of the Turkish embassy hosting cultural events –
everything counts, everything matters, as long as we work legally
and cohesively, as long as our efforts are united and work toward a
common strategy.
I am very happy to see the younger generation of Cypriot and Greek
Americans active in the cause for justice for Cyprus. Our younger
people may not have seen first hand the pain and violence of the war,
but their hearts and souls are tied to Cyprus and the cause of justice
and human rights."