ANCA ER Commemorates 90th Anniversary of The Pontian Greek Genocide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 21, 2009
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern US
122 W. 27th St. Flr 12, New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Email: [email protected]

ANCA ER COMMEMORATES 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PONTIAN GREEK GENOCIDE

—Second Annual Flag Raising in Bowling Green Park

New York, NY- The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern
Region (ANCA ER) joined with a broad range of Greek American
associations, yesterday, at the second annual commemoration of the
Pontian Genocide, held at Bowling Green Park.  The solemn program
coincided with a special flag raising ceremony to mark the occasion.

Organizing the event was the Federation of Hellenic Societies of
Greater New York and the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA and Canada.
Dimitris Molohides, General Secretary of the Pan-Pontian Federation
of USA and Canada, serving as the master of ceremonies, addressed
the crowd and urged for decisive action for recognition of the
Pontian Genocide.   Molohides also read proclamations recognizing
the 90th Anniversary from Governor Charlie Crist of Florida, State
Senator George Onorato from New York, as well as a statement from
Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Carolyn Maloney (NY-D-14),
which was submitted into the Congressional Record (see below).

Speaking on behalf of the ANCA, Birazian noted that, `Our
responsibility doesn’t end with recognition and reparations.  We
have seen what happens when perpetrators get away with murder; when
they feel no consequence to the crimes that are committing.  We
have seen it throughout the last several years – genocide occurring
in Darfur, conflicts now in Chad, Congo, Sri Lanka.  We as victims
must also be the voice for those suffering today.’

Birazian also reflected on the working relationship with the
Pontian community in Chicago and their ongoing efforts to educate
students on the Armenian and Pontian Genocides.  Materials
containing the history of the Pontian Greek Genocide can be viewed
at

Birazian’s remarks may be viewed at:

Di stinguished speakers included Reverend Father John Romas from the
nearby historic St. Nicholas church that was destroyed on 9/11; The
Honorable Leonidas P. Raptakis, State Senator of Rhode Island; Dr.
Mary Marangos, Executive Director representing the Honorable US
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney; The Honorable Mrs. Aghi Balta,
Consul General- New York for the Republic of Greece; The Honorable
Mr. Andreas Panayiotou, Consul General  for the  Republic of
Cyprus- New York; Mr. Demetrius Kalamaras, Esq., President  of the
Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York; Mr. Elias
Tsekerides ` President of the International Confederation of
Pontian Hellenes; Mr. George Tsilfidis – Deputy President Pan-
Pontian Federation of USA and Canada; Mr. Tassos Efstratiades  Esq.,
Chairman Greek American Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Karine Birazian –
Eastern Region Executive Director Armenian National Committee of
America Eastern Region, and  Mr. Ioannis Fidanakis ` President of
Pan-Thracian Union of America `Orpheus’.

The Ottoman Turkish Empire, under the cover of World War I,
undertook a systematic and deliberate effort to eliminate its
minority Christian populations. This genocidal campaign resulted in
the death and deportation of well over 2,000,000 Armenians,
Assyrians, and Greeks.

 ####

PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 TH CONGRESS
IN HONOR OF THE SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS OF THE PONTIAN GENOCIDE HON.
CAROLYN B. MALONEY OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT-ATIVES

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the survivors and victims of the
Pontian Genocide of 1915 -1923. On May 19 we remember the
treacherous actions of those who murdered hundreds of thousands of
Pontian Hellenes and destroyed their communities, and we remember
the survivors and the fallen.

Nearly a century ago, there were large communities of Hellenes
living across the Ottoman Empire. In a few short years, these
communities were destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of lives were
taken at the order of the Ottoman government. Hellenic Pontians had
lived along the southeastern coast of the Black Sea in what is now
northern Turkey for more than three millenia. The perfidious
decision to destroy these peaceful communities resulted from the
fear that foreign populations under Ottoman rule would join with
their mother countries and destroy a crumbling empire.

During a bloody eight year reign of terror, the Ottoman government
orchestrated the killing or displacement of hundreds of thousands
of Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians who had been living in the
Pontus region. Thousands of people were murdered outright. The rest
were uprooted and forcibly marched across the Anatolian border,
without food or other provisions, to the Syrian border. Mass rapes
and abductions of women and children also occurred. More than half
of the Pontian population perished from violence, starvation or
disease.

Roughly 400,000 Pontians refugees survived the onslaught and fled
to Greece, Russia, and the United States. Despite the huge number
of people who died or were displaced, most of the world paid no
attention to their suffering. The fact that so many people could be
murdered or removed from their homes without facing any
consequences empowered future genocidal regimes to take similar
actions.

One of the greatest tragedies of genocide is that the aggressors
often succeed in eliminating the memory of those who fled. Few
Americans today know about the
Pontian Genocide. We have an obligation to honor the memory of
those who died and teach our children about those dreadful times in
hope that they will never be repeated. On
May 19th, 2009, on the annual day of remembrance, members of the
Pan-Pontian
Federation will pay solemn homage to the victims. Although the
genocide almost caused the extinction of the Pontian people, their
traditions and culture still resonate today.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Pan-
Pontian Federation as they honor the sacrifices and memory of their
noble ancestors. I commend the Pan-Pontian Federation in their
efforts to preserve Greek culture and history. May the victims of
the Pontian Genocide rest in peace.

Signed
CAROLYN B.MALONEY
Member of Congress

Note to the Editor: Photo Caption: ANCA ER Director with members
from the Pontian Greek Community

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress