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Delegation Meets With Turkish Undersecretary; Reinforces Key Issues Of The Greek American Community
N E W S R E L E A S E
Contact:Andrew Kaffes
Phone: 357 2 377 777
E-mail:akaffes@ahepa.org
Ankara, Turkey-A five-member delegation from the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the world's leading Hellenic heritage organization, met May 4 with Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Dr. Osman Faruk Logoglu, the second highest ranking official in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the rapprochement process and to address issues of concern for the Greek American community, announced Supreme President Johnny N. Economy.The Ahepans also met with Turkish Deputy Undersecretary Yigit Alpogan who is responsible for bilateral political affairs with Greece and Cyprus, among other regions from Eurasia to China.
"We proceeded with this meeting with the support and encouragement from all interested parties involved, including the governments of the United States, Greece, and Cyprus, and also the Ecumenical Patriarch," said Economy."As a leading organization, AHEPA must be a vehicle from which the rapprochement process will benefit."
"We are committed to this endeavor for the sake of our children and future generations to come," he said. According to Economy, the meetings with Ambassadors Logoglu and Alpogan went "very well."The delegation was able to reinforce key message points with both government officials primary of which was that AHEPA supports détente but at the same time it understands the Greek American community has to have something in return for this rapprochement. Reopening of the Halki Theological School The AHEPA delegation stressed how important the reopening of the Halki Theological School is to the Greek American community and the positive message it would send if it were to reopen.The school has been closed since 1971 due to laws prohibiting the operation of private, upper level religious schools from functioning.
According to members of the delegation, both ambassadors agreed that it is an issue that they would prefer to resolve and they are working on it. Deputy Undersecretary Alpogan gave "full assurances" that they are focused on a solution and discussed a formula offered to the Patriarchate that would reopen the school under the state university system. The delegation made it very clear that this was an unacceptable solution reaffirming the position taken by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. "We are deeply committed to see the issue resolved, however Halki must function as it did prior to 1971," said Economy.
The deputy undersecretary also cited the "internal dynamics of Turkey" as a challenge to overcome and he added that the issue of Halki is not directly related to Greeks or to the Patriarchate. On A Cyprus Settlement and EU Entry According to the delegation, in discussions with Undersecretary Logoglu about Cyprus' accession into the European Union, he said that a question is whether Cyprus enters with or without a settlement.
"I believe the best thing is if we first solve the issue then have Cyprus enter into the EU," Undersecretary Logoglu said."If there is no settlement then everybody loses." According to the delegation, Deputy Undersecretary Alpogan added that a new Cyprus with one single international personality would be the best solution.
AHEPA's position on a just solution for the Cyprus problem was reinforced with both ambassadors:a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single international personality and a single sovereignty. AHEPA also reiterated the position that a settlement is not a precondition for Cyprus' entry into the EU.
Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs Chairman Vassos Chrysanthou said, "We were encouraged with some of the terminology used by the deputy undersecretary when discussing the Cyprus issue, particularly when Mr. Alpogan expressed a sincere belief that a united Cyprus will join the EU within the next 18 months."
Other Areas Where AHEPA Can Help
The Ahepans also explored possibilities of encouraging trade and investment in the Eastern Mediterranean among the Greek and Turkish American business communities, providing for economic stabilization in the region. "Essentially, it is in everyone's best interest, the U.S., Greece, and of
course Turkey, for Turkey's economy to stabilize and grow," said the supreme president.
Also, the delegation addressed the notion of bringing Hellenes from around the world to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for events following the 2002 AHEPA Supreme Convention in Athens.
According to Economy, both ambassadors welcomed these ideas.
An AHEPA International Relations White Paper will be issued that summarizes the foreign relations aspects of the 2001 Excursion, said Director of Public Relations Andrew Kaffes. Reaction to AHEPA Meetings in Ankara "I view AHEPA as a catalyst that will enrich relations between Greece and Turkey and as an organization that will make a positive contribution to resolve Cyprus," said Undersecretary Logoglu upon conclusion of the 35-minute meeting.
Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Turkey Jim Jeffery, at a luncheon he hosted earlier in the day for AHEPA, added, "We are proud to have a delegation from AHEPA here.No group has made more contributions and gets more engaged in helping America navigate its way through the world than AHEPA.
"We are very proud, in particular, of your efforts in the last few years to improve relations between Greece and Turkey and to resolve the Cyprus dispute.Your [previous visits to Ankara] opened up an era of 'Track Two' diplomacy of business people, cultural people, tourists, and exchanges between Greece and Turkey that have been extremely helpful to this process."
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