Chairman and Top Republican of Europe Subcommittee Champion Bill to End FYROM Propaganda Against Greece

Chairman and Top Republican of Europe Subcommittee Champion Bill to End FYROM Propaganda Against Greece

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 3, 2007 -- “Legislation regarding state-sponsored propaganda against Greece in FYROM (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) is now championed by the two members of the U.S. House of Representatives charged by that body with chairing oversight of matters relating to Europe. They are Congressmen Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Elton Gallegly (R-CA), the Chairman and Ranking Republican, respectively, of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Europe Subcommittee,” said the leaders of the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH).

“The bill points to a television report showing students in a state-run school being taught that parts of Greece are rightfully part of FYROM. The legislation also points to recently-published textbooks of their military academy that contain maps showing ‘Greater Macedonia’ extending many miles into Greece and into Bulgaria. According to the legislation, the UN Accord requires them to not ‘support claims to any part of the territory of the other party or claims for a change of the existing frontiers.’”

“The legislation asks FYROM to adhere to its UN agreement and stop its schools and others from irredentist teachings, such as that northern Greece should be part of their country. As well, the bill urges FYROM to adhere to UN and US policy and reach agreement with Greece on a name for their new country – one that does not encourage FYROM irredentism”.

See also

Action Alert: U.S.
House of Reps
FYROM Resolution.

“American concerns about this irredentism began in 1944 when U.S. Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius said, ‘This Government considers talk of a Macedonian ‘nation’… representing no ethnic nor political reality, and sees in its present revival a possible cloak for aggressive intentions against Greece.’ That aggression subsequently killed thousands of Greek citizens”.

“Like the ‘Confederate Flag’ issue in the US, the ‘Macedonian nation’ movement in FYROM brings memories and fears of terrible suffering. Adherence to the UN agreement, to American policy regarding a name agreeable to Greece and to historical reality regarding Alexander the Great and the ancient nation of Macedonia is in the best interests of the United States, the people of FYROM and Greece and the Balkan region”.

Also championing this bill are the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

“These actions by the US Congress follow a series of activities organized by the CEH. Some involved the Embassy of Greece as well as Greece’s Foreign Minister, Dora Bakoyannis. In one such CEH organized briefing dinner featuring Minister Bakoyannis in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the number of Senators and Representatives attending was four times that at any other such meeting with a Foreign Minister or Prime Minister in recent years. Recently, Minister Bakoyannis briefed President George W. Bush, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Ried during activities organized by CEH with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese”.

The leaders of the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes include Andrew A. Athens, Chairman, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); National Chairman, United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), Honorary President, World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE); Andrew E. Manatos, President, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); Philip Christopher, Vice Chair, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH), President, International Coordinating Committee--Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA); President, Pancyprian Association of America; Executive Board Member, UHAC and PSEKA, Panicos Papanicolaou, Supreme President, Cyprus Federation of America; and Nikos Mouyiaris, Executive Vice President, Pancyprian Association of America.

(Posting date 05 May 2007)

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