U.S. Senate Effort To Stop FYROM Threats vs. Greece

[akritas]

THE NATIONAL COORDINATED EFFORT OF HELLENES (CEH)

1100 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington , D.C. 20037
(202) 393-7790 [fax] (202) 628-0225
E-mail: CoordinatedEffort@Manatos.com (http://gr.f267.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=CoordinatedEffort@Manatos.com)





MENENDEZ, OBAMA AND SNOWE


TAKE TO U.S. SENATE


EFFORT TO END FYROM PROPOGANDA THAT THREATENS GREECE





WASHINGTON, D.C., August 3, 2007 – “Legislation to stop state-sponsored propaganda in FYROM (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) that is potentially dangerous for Greece was introduced in the U.S. Senate today. The Senate’s leaders of Hellenic and Orthodox issues, Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), along with one of the leading Presidential candidates and the Senator most important to European matters, the Chairman of the European Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), introduced this legislation,” said the leaders of the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH).

This bill in the House of Representatives – which has received strong support, cosponsored by over 75 Members of Congress and climbing – is championed by the Chairman and Ranking Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Europe Subcommittee, Congressmen Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Elton Gallegly (R-CA), respectively, along with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

“The bill points to a television report showing students in a FYROM state-run school being taught that parts of Greece should be part of their country. 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 teachings that threaten Greece . 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 aggression”.

“American concerns about these threats 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 , this issue awakens memories of terrible suffering in the past and can encourage extremists today. Adherence to the UN agreement and to American policy regarding the name issue is in the best interests of the United States , FYROM, Greece and the Balkan region”.

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.

[HellenicPride]

Just another attempt by politicians to obtain American votes if you ask me. After they get the votes you wont hear nothing about this again.

[Victor]

Just another attempt by politicians to obtain American votes if you ask me. After they get the votes you wont hear nothing about this again.

Maybe,but its very embarrasing to FYROM to have a guy running for president supporting this.
I also like that they mentioned Bulgaria in this bill,making the issue wider than just Greece versus FYROM.
The bill will probavbly never pass as long as BUSh is there,since he will support FYROM for providing latrine cleaners and ditch diggers in Iraq,but its a victory for Greece that it was even introduced to the congress.

[HellenicPride]

Maybe,but its very embarrasing to FYROM to have a guy running for president supporting this.
I also like that they mentioned Bulgaria in this bill,making the issue wider than just Greece versus FYROM.
The bill will probavbly never pass as long as BUSh is there,since he will support FYROM for providing latrine cleaners and ditch diggers in Iraq,but its a victory for Greece that it was even introduced to the congress.

Yes you have a point about the bill being introduced but anyone who suceeds Bush will not go ahead with this issue. This is just a gimick to get votes. Living in America first hand I can tell you if their is a government not to trust its the American one. They are worst of the worst. They will sell their own souls to gain votes.

[preston]

These days that people can be acused for terrorism if they visit a Muslim country for 3 times in 3 months carying large amounts of cash, why cant we be PROACTIVE ON DEFENCE...as is the trent and .....simply invade them!!!!!
Or build a Quantanamo bay style prison and start abducting their propagandist from all over the world and locking them up???

[akritas]

SENATOR MENENDEZ SENDS FYROM STRONG MESSAGE



Stop Nationalistic Actions Against Greece or U.S. Aid Will Be In Jeopardy --


WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2007 -- U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), known in Washington Hellenic lobbying circles as the new Paul Sarbanes, recently sent a strong message to FYROM regarding Greece. From his position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez held up and threatened to terminate $7.45 million in American aid for FYROM. He released it with the strong message that unless FYROM stops its nationalistic actions against Greece – propaganda and the refusal to adhere to US and UN policy regarding negotiating a final name with Greece – American reprogrammed aid to FYROM, will not be released next time.



Officials at the U.S. State Department have learned from experience that Menendez follows through on such warnings. He recently changed another State Department practice that was detrimental to Hellenes. He withheld $3.95 million dollars until the Department of State changed its policy. That action corrected an American practice that Hellenes have been trying to fix for seven years.

Hellenic News of America (http://www.hellenicnews.com/readnews.html?newsid=7391&lang=US)

[Astoria]

Very good news... I don't think it is motivated by votes. If you notice, the next elections for senate of New Jersey is being held in 2013. Unless of course he's running for something else that I'm not aware of. Anyway, very good news overall.



Kind Regards,

Astoria

[pankration]

We complain when people do nothing; we complain when they do something. It's easy to be a pessimist and some of the critics on this thread will probably be proven right. However, Obama and company are doing something and at this point I'll take it at face value. I don't believe they're buying votes because who in the US gives a shit except for Greeks and there aren't enough to make a difference in an election. Bush's foreign policy is so misguided that a child can see it. Maybe some of these other politicians can see what the right thing to do is. Call me an optimist.

[GreekSlav]

Can anyone help me believe this? I can only find this news on Hellenic newspapers. Any other countries, say, AMERICA, in particular, US Government, that has printed this news? Otherwise, it's just a lot of hot air generated by Hellenic news because they interpreted some words the way they wanted.

Let's see some good references, and not references to other newspapers that have printed this news from Hellenic newspaper.

[Draco]

Let's see some good references...
Yes, such as Dnevnik, SlavFax and Idividi :rolleyes:

[GreekSlav]

Yes, such as Dnevnik, SlavFax and Idividi :rolleyes:

I figured there were no really good links to this story. But I am sure someone out there is smarter than me and would be able to provide us with some.

[Orphic_Hymn]

Can anyone help me believe this? I can only find this news on Hellenic newspapers. Any other countries, say, AMERICA, in particular, US Government, that has printed this news? Otherwise, it's just a lot of hot air generated by Hellenic news because they interpreted some words the way they wanted.

Let's see some good references, and not references to other newspapers that have printed this news from Hellenic newspaper.

Help you believe this.. LOL, you never cease to suprize..
In real life and unlike your fantasy world where everything is a propaganda scheme promoted by some bad ol' Hellenes, there are such things as Senator R.Menendez' official site.
There you find a link titled "Issues & Legislation" where you may access the bills sponsored by Sen. Menendez during the 110th Congress and find:

5. S.RES.300 : A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should stop the utilization of materials that violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement between FYROM and Greece regarding "hostile activities or propaganda" and should work with the United Nations and Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of finding a mutually-acceptable official name for FYROM.
Sponsor: Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] (introduced 8/3/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 8/3/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.



By simply clicking on it you may also find the "Text of Legislation" (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.RES.300:)which is as follows:



Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should stop the utilization of materials that violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered... (Introduced in Senate)

SRES 300 IS

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 300

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should stop the utilization of materials that violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement between FYROM and Greece regarding `hostile activities or propaganda' and should work with the United Nations and Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of finding a mutually-acceptable official name for FYROM.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 3, 2007

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Ms. SNOWE, and Mr. OBAMA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should stop the utilization of materials that violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement between FYROM and Greece regarding `hostile activities or propaganda' and should work with the United Nations and Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of finding a mutually-acceptable official name for FYROM.

Whereas, on April 8, 1993, the United Nations General Assembly admitted as a member the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), under the name the `Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia';

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 817 (1993) states that the dispute over the name must be resolved to maintain peaceful relations between Greece and FYROM;

Whereas, on September 13, 1995, Greece and FYROM signed a United Nations-brokered Interim Accord that, among other things, commits them to not `support claims to any part of the territory of the other party or claims for a change of their existing frontiers';

Whereas a pre-eminent goal of the United Nations Interim Accord was to stop FYROM from utilizing, since its admittance to the United Nations in 1993, what the Accord calls `propaganda', including in school textbooks;

Whereas a television report in recent years showed students in a state-run school in FYROM still being taught that parts of Greece, including Greek Macedonia, are rightfully part of FYROM;

Whereas some textbooks, including the Military Academy textbook published in 2004 by the Military Academy `General Mihailo Apostolski' in the FYROM capital city, contain maps showing that a `Greater Macedonia' extends many miles south into Greece to Mount Olympus and miles east to Mount Pirin in Bulgaria;

Whereas, in direct contradiction of the spirit of the United Nations Interim Accord's section `A', entitled `Friendly Relations and Confidence Building Measures', which attempts to eliminate challenges regarding `historic and cultural patrimony', the Government of FYROM recently renamed the capital city's international airport `Alexander the Great Airport';

Whereas the aforementioned acts constitute a breach of FYROM's international obligations deriving from the spirit of the United Nations Interim Accord, which provide that FYROM should abstain from any form of `propaganda' against Greece's historical or cultural heritage;

Whereas such acts are not compatible with Article 10 of the United Nations Interim Accord, which calls for `improving understanding and good neighbourly relations', as well as with European standards and values endorsed by European Union member-states; and

Whereas this information, like that exposed in the media report and elsewhere, being used contrary to the United Nations Interim Accord instills hostility and a rationale for irredentism in portions of the population of FYROM toward Greece and the history of Greece: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) urges the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to observe its obligations under Article 7 of the 1995 United Nations-brokered Interim Accord, which directs the parties to `promptly take effective measures to prohibit hostile activities or propaganda by state-controlled agencies and to discourage acts by private entities likely to incite violence, hatred or hostility' and review the contents of textbooks, maps, and teaching aids to ensure that such tools are stating accurate information; and

(2) urges FYROM to work with Greece within the framework of the United Nations process to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals by reaching a mutually-acceptable official name for FYROM.

[Spartan]

Great job OH! Now we would like to hear an apology from GreekSlav when he gets a chance for a responce. See GreekSlav not everything is LIES and unsupported as you like to believe the Greek press releases are. Aren't you in the U.S military, if so you should know about Senators and Congressmens official websites!