Declarations
and Resolutions 64th Convention 2010
PRESS
RELEASE On May 27-30
the Pan-Macedonian Association’s 64th Convention was successfully held
in Chicago Illinois. Consul General in Chicago Anastasios Petrovas, former
Foreign Undersecretary and now Secretary for Greeks Abroad of New
Democracy Dr. Panagiotis Skandalakis, Mr. George Papastergiou Prefect of
Pieria and President of the Greek Secretariat of the International
Foundation of Alexander the Great, Greek-American Senator of the State of
Rhodes Island Leonidas Raptakis, Secretary of World SAE Dr. Olga
Sarantopoulos, Mr. Theodore Spyropoulos, Coordinator of SAE in North and
South America and Mr. Christos Tomaras former SAE Coordinator of North and
South America attended the Convention. They all greeted the delegates,
stressing the important work of the Pan Association USA throughout the
time. Dr. Ted Galen
Carpenter of CATO Institute, Dr. Chris Karatzios and Marcus A. Templar,
experts in the Balkans and the problems arising from the region were the
contributors of the convention’s academic panel.
Mrs. Nina Gatzoulis, the outgoing president of the organization,
expressed the Association’s members concern as well as the concern of
the rest of the Diaspora "that there should not be any negotiations
regarding major national issues amid the current financial crisis, because
right now Greece is in a weak position”. This message said Mrs.
Gatzoulis “should be transferred to the Greek government”.
The Macedonians Archbishop Demetrios of North America who is also
Honorary President of the Pan-Macedonian Association USA, was the keynote
speaker during the banquet on May 29, expressed similar positions and
stressed that there should be no negotiations on issues of national
consistency, while Greece is in a weak position due to the economic
crisis. The Archbishop stressed the important role that the Association
had on the FYROM issue and encouraged the Macedonians to continue the
struggle for the vindication of historical truth.
Chicago’s Metropolitan Iakovos also greeted the Macedonians and
expressed his support to the efforts of the Pan-Macedonian Association
USA. Also Dr. Ilias Tomazos President of PAIDEIA honored the convention by
his presence. The composition of the new executive committee is as
follows: Dr. Antonios
Papadopoulos-Supreme President Dr. Panagiotis Baltatzis-Supreme
Vice-President Efstathios Pilidis-President of Youth Demetrios Chatzis-Supreme
Secretary Kostas Hatzistefanidis-Supreme Treasurer Legal Council-Theodoros
Vassilakis and Demetris Ioannidis
Mrs. Nina Gatzoulis stays as President of the Committee of World
Pan-Macedonian Associations. The attached resolutions were approved by the
convention: RESOLUTION
The Pan-Macedonian Association of the USA in a duly convened
meeting at its 64th National Convention held from May 27 to 30 in Chicago,
Il, decided the following: 1.
We shall never accept, for the country of The FYROM, any name that will
include the term Macedonia or any of its derivatives.
2. The Pan-Macedonian Association expects from the Greek
Government, the Political Leadership of Greece, the United States
Government, and the rest of the International Community that the final
agreed upon name of the country of The FYROM, should clearly differentiate
the residents of that country from us, the Macedonians.
3. The name Macedonia is unquestionably a historical and cultural
heritage of Greece. The history of Macedonia and particularly its name are
NOT NEGOTIABLE and as a paternal legacy cannot be ceded to third parties.
4. The permanent name of the country of The FYROM should express
its multiethnic composition and thus shall permit all its inhabitants to
co-exist peacefully. 5.
We demand that the people of Hellenic origin residing in The FYROM be
accorded all their human rights.
6. The Macedonian identity is historically and culturally Hellenic.
We do not accept any concept of a “Macedonian” ethnicity and
“Macedonian” language. 7.
It is our sacred duty to continue our struggle for the rights of
Macedonia. History demands it.
8. In the event that the final agreed upon name of the FYROM
includes the term “Macedonia” or its derivatives, should be ratified
by a referendum by the Greek people.
9. The final agreed upon name of the FYROM should be reflected in
it is constitution. 10.
We fully support the existence of a country north of Greece with the
interim name of The FYROM. We support its efforts to join the EU and NATO,
provided its official name does not include the term "Macedonia"
or its derivatives. Further, we harbor no animosity or any ill feelings
towards its citizens or its Diaspora. Furthermore we expect good
neighboring relations to an additional criterion for its Euro-Atlantic
integration.
DECLARATION The
Pan-Macedonian Association of the USA in a duly convened meeting at its
64th National Convention held from May 27 to 30, 2010 at Chicago, IL
declares the following: 1.
We demand that the continuous irredentist propaganda emanating from The
FYROM, including the falsification of the Hellenic heritage of Macedonia,
stops immediately. 2.
We shall never accept an Orthodox Church with the term
"Macedonia" or its derivatives in its name.
3. We oppose the use of the name Republic of “Macedonia” in any
legal document within the Hellenic Republic, or by Hellenic interests
worldwide. 4. We condemn
terrorism in all of its forms. 5.
Turkey must respect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus,
which is a full EU member. Turkey must immediately remove all its
occupation troops, it must remove the illegal settlers who were brought to
Cyprus from the mainland of Turkey, return all properties to the rightful
owners and make all due reparations to the Cypriots.
6. We regard the continued discriminatory acts, rules, and policy
of Turkey towards the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople,
a violation of freedom of religion which is inconsistent with that
country's aspirations to become a member of the European Union. We demand
the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, the restoration of the
confiscated property of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the respect for
the property rights of Hellenes in Constantinople. The recent decision by
the Turkish Supreme Court rejecting the ecumenicity of the Eastern
Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople is contrary to European Union Laws.
7. We demand recognition by the U.S.A. and Turkish governments of
the genocides against the Armenian, Assyrian as well as the Hellenic
peoples. 8. We condemn the continuous violations of the Greek
territorial space by Turkey. 9.
We expect from the Republic of Bulgaria the return of the Holy Relics that
were removed from the monasteries of Drama and Serres.
10. We demand the return of the Parthenon Marbles to the place of
their origin. 11. The Kalash
of the northern Himalayan region of the Hindu Kush Mountains of Pakistan
are Hellenic descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great. The Kalash
Indigenous people have sustained their ancient culture and traditions
since the 4th century B.C., yet they are in danger of extinction. Being
our Hellenic Macedonian brothers and sisters, we support their efforts to
sustain their ethnic values and identity.
12. We support the Kalash proposal to “Bring the Glory Back”
which is, to apply the rule of Law of Alexander the Great, as the
guideline for the Security Council of the United Nations”.
13. The retrieval of bones of Greek soldiers, who fell in the
battlefield during WWII battles in the mountains of Northern Epirus, is
not an economic transaction, but a humanitarian issue and our national
duty. The road of Albania to the European Union requires the Respect of
Human, Political, Cultural, Religious and Educational Rights of the Greek
minority. 14. The Albanians
should cease all propaganda regarding the Chams if Albania is to proceed
in its European integration. 15.
We express our gratitude to the 364 University Professors for their
declaration of historical truth. 16.
The Greek Parliament should not ratify any agreement for the admission of
the FYROM into NATO or the European Union even under any name that
includes the term “Macedonia” or its derivatives.
17. We agree with the decision of the Greek Political Leaders of
1992, which excluded the name of Macedonia or any of its derivatives from
any future name of “The FYROM”.
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