The AHEPAN - Winter 2013 - (Page 18)

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AHEPA Deeply Concerned with Turkish PM's Statement on Cyprus AHEPA sent a letter to Secretary of State John F. Kerry expressing "deep concern and bewilderment" with a statement made November 10, 2013 by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with regard to the Republic of Cyprus, announced Supreme President Anthony Kouzounis. Prime Minister Erdogan was quoted in the Turkish-Cypriot daily Kibris, "There is no country named Cyprus. There is the local administration of south Cyprus." "It is our opinion that Prime Minister Erdogan's statement is inflammatory and offensive toward a staunch friend and ally in the eastern Mediterranean, the Republic of Cyprus, and its citizens," Supreme President Kouzounis wrote. "Moreover, it certainly does not bode well for the upcoming, renewed efforts by the United Nations to bring the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot community together in the search for a just and viable settlement to the near 40-year division of Cyprus." Although the U.S. Department of State, through a spokesperson, said it would look into the statement, AHEPA's letter calls on the U.S. government to address the issue with the Turkish government in future bilateral meetings. AHEPA Mourns Passing of Fmr. President of the Republic of Cyprus Clerides Supreme President Anthony Kouzounis has issued the following statement on the sad news of the passing of former President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides, who died Friday, November 15, 2013: "The members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and its affiliated organizations mourn the passing of former President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides, a true patriot, war hero, and statesman. "As president, Mr. Clerides always welcomed AHEPA with open arms during our annual excursions to the Republic of Cyprus. AHEPA is proud to have honored former President Clerides with its "Hellenism Award" for his unwavering public service and dedication to the nation he led. "On behalf of a global AHEPA family, which includes chapters in Cyprus, I express our deepest sympathies to the family of former President Clerides, the Republic of Cyprus, and its citizens. May his memory be eternal." 18 | THE AHEPAN · Winter 2013 Office of the Supreme President November 14, 2013 The Honorable John F. Kerry U.S. Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: On behalf of the members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the nation's largest and oldest grassroots membership-based association for American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, I am writing to convey our organization's deep concern and bewilderment with a statement made November 10, 2013 by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with regard to the Republic of Cyprus. Prime Minister Erdogan was quoted in the Turkish-Cypriot daily Kibris, "There is no country named Cyprus. There is the local administration of south Cyprus." It is our opinion that Prime Minister Erdogan's statement is inflammatory and offensive toward a staunch friend and ally in the eastern Mediterranean, the Republic of Cyprus, and its citizens. Moreover, it certainly does not bode well for the upcoming, renewed efforts by the United Nations to bring the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot community together in the search for a just and viable settlement to the near 40-year division of Cyprus. We expect better from Turkey which aspires to become a member of the European Union. We expect more from a NATO ally that should understand what peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean would mean for the best interest of the Alliance and the United States. Instead, the prime minister's statement demonstrates Turkey's ongoing failure as a dependable ally. It is a nation that is not serious about joining the European Union and projecting on a Western-oriented path. We call on the U.S. government to address the statement made by Prime Minister Erdogan by issuing its own statement in disapproval. The issue must also be raised in any face-to-face meetings with Turkish diplomatic counterparts. Sincerely, Anthony Kouzounis Supreme President Cyprus/Hellenic Affairs Committee Plans Year The AHEPA Cyprus & Hellenic Affairs Committee held its first conference call of the administrative year on Nov. 4, 2013. The agenda focused on goal-setting for the year, which include growing the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues and creating and augmenting its grassroots presence. Committee members will be outreaching to district and chapter leaders to help identify individuals who want to be in the AHEPA grassroots network. In addition, the committee will work to keep policy issues at the forefront both in the congressional districts and in Washington. Two events of note for 2014 are: Annual Capitol Hill Day and the implementation of grassroots Candlelight Vigil to mark 40th anniversary of Cyprus invasion on July 20, 2014. More details to follow. www.ahepa.org http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Winter 2013

President's Message
AHEPA Family News
Athletics
AHEPA Commends 2013 National Scholarship Recipients
A Worthwhile Week
My Volunteer Vacation in Crete
Civic Responsibility
The Periclean
Housing
AHEPA Family Chapter News
Literary Corner
In Memoriam

The AHEPAN - Winter 2013