Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Letter of Outrage Sent to Secretary-General Annan
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Posted: Monday, January 15, 2001 07:49 am CST

Thursday, January 11, 2001 =20

Contact: Andrew Kaffes

Phone: (202) 232-6300

E-mail: akaffes@ahepa.org

N E W S R E L E A S E

Letter of Outrage Sent to Secretary-General Annan

AHEPA UTILIZES INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE TO CONDEMN ABDUCTION OF GREEK CYPRIOT TO THE U.N.

Washington-In follow-up to a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright regarding the abduction of Greek Cypriot Panicos Tsiakourmas, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the world's leading Hellenic heritage organization, is taking the issue of Mr. Tsiakourmas' abduction to an international audience, expressing concern and outrage to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan in a letter written today by leaders of AHEPA throughout the world, announced Supreme President Johnny N. Economy.

"AHEPA is utilizing its worldwide presence to express the outrage of Mr. Tsiakourmas' abduction on behalf of a global Hellenic community," said Economy. "In essence, we are taking our previous initiative of creating awareness of the issue domestically one step further by bringing it to an international stage."

The signers of letter, representing the Hellenic communities of the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, Australia, and New Zealand, requested Mr. Annan's "immediate attention and assistance to secure the swift release of Mr. Tsiakourmas and his safe return to his family" and characterizes his seizure as "a terrorist act equivalent to hostage taking."

Economy, AHEPA Canadian President Xenophon Scoufaras, AHEPA Australasia Supreme President Zafiris Vachlas, and AHEPA International Chairman and Past Supreme President Steve A. Manta signed the letter.

Copies of the letter were distributed to: Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Louise Fr=E9chette, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard C. Holbrooke, and to the ambassadors of Canada, Great Britain, Greece, Australia, and Cyprus to the United Nations.

"Together with all Hellenes around the world, AHEPA Australasia urges the Secretary-General of the United Nations to intervene for a just resolution of this issue," added Vachlas.

Tsiakourmas, a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus, was abducted by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, within the territory of the British Bases in Cyprus, Dec. 13, 2000.

AHEPA Australasia was founded August 15, 1934 in the small country town of Werris Creek, NSW. Currently, there are approximately 3,000 members in 28 chapters throughout Australia, New Zealand and Athens, Greece, which comprise AHEPA Australasia.

AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, and Greece and sister chapters in Australia. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek-Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith to fight discrimination.

The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence.

The AHEPA family consists of four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.

For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, 202/232-6300. For instant information visit www.ahepa.org.

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