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For Immediate Action
Thursday, February 7, 2008

Contact: Michael A. Zachariades
Phone: (202) 232-6300; Ext. 204
E-mail: mzachariades@ahepa.org

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WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PASS A RESOLUTION ON FYROM

CONTACT THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS TODAY!
ASK THEM TO TAKE ACTION ON FEBRUARY 14

Background on the Issue

The FYROM issue will come to the forefront in 2008, because the United States is advocating for FYROM's inclusion into NATO and the European Union. Greece, a key NATO ally and EU member, will oppose FYROM's membership into NATO unless a mutually agreeable solution is found by the time of the NATO Summit this April. It will become increasingly difficult for Greece to negotiate a mutually acceptable name with FYROM should the latter become a NATO member and eventually an EU member.

On May 1, 2007, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced H.Res. 356, which urges FYROM to stop utilizing materials that violate provisions of the UN-brokered Interim Agreement between FYROM and Greece regarding "hostile activities or propaganda" and should work with the United Nations and Greece to achieve longstanding US and UN policy goals to find a mutually-acceptable official name for FYROM.

Status

Currently, the bill sits with the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rep. Tom Lantos is the chairman of the committee.

Action Needed Today

The bill has not been taken up by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

AHEPA Supreme President Ike Gulas has requested a meeting with Chairman Lantos on this issue.

Now it is your turn. As American citizens of Hellenic descent, we must have a collective voice.

Contact Representative Lantos through the Committee on Foreign Affairs Today!

  • Telephone or write to Robert King, who is Rep. Lantos' Staff Director for the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  • Request that Chairman Lantos bring H.Res.356 up for debate and consideration by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  • Present the reasons why the Resolution merits debate (you can utilize these talking points).

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