AHEPA THANKS CANA EFFORTS

AHEPA THANKS CANA EFFORTS : AHEPA Raises Issue of Improper Use of Star of
Vergina to Congress
For Immediate Release: December 12, 2008

Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935,
Ioannis Fidanakis, New Jersey, Tel. 1-973-464-0211

NEW YORK--The AHEPA, a leading Greek-American organization , and its President
Ike Gulas, today thanks Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) for the
grass-roots effort to VISA to cancel the offensive "Macedonian" VISA card,
according to the AHEPA News Release " The supreme president also acknowledged
and thanked the efforts of the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA). CANA
raised awareness of the issue within its network. "

“It’s a good example of what can transpire when we combine our resources and
work together as a community,” said Gulas.

The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) would like to take this opportunity
to sincerely thank AHEPA and its Supreme President Ike Gulas, who met several
CANA and Hellenic Leaague of America activists in New York this past year, as
well as Andrew Kaffes for coordinating our community activism.

THE NEWS RELEASE FROM AHEPA FOLLOWS:



N E W S R E L E A S E



Contact: Andrew Kaffes
Phone: 202.441.5099

E-mail: Andrew@agkaffes.com



AHEPA Raises Issue of Improper Use of Star of Vergina to Congress

Maloney, Bilirakis Applauded for Their Letter to Visa CEO



Washington (December 12, 2008)—The American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association (AHEPA), a leading association for the nation’s three million
American citizens of Greek ancestry, and countless Philhellenes, applauds
Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Carolyn Maloney (D-14-NY) and Gus M. Bilirakis
(R-9-FL) for sending a letter to Mr. Joseph Saunders, CEO and chairman, Visa,
Inc., today. The letter expressed a strong concern about a Visa credit card
portraying the Star of Vergina.


“We felt this was a serious issue to bring to the attention of Congress,” said
Supreme President Ike Gulas. “It is another example of how Greece ’s cultural
and historical identity is threatened by ‘Macedonian’ Diaspora groups who aspire
to steal it and make it their own. I commend Representatives Maloney and
Bilirakis for understanding the severity of the issue and for taking action.”


The letter states:


“We have long been concerned about efforts by the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) and its diaspora to adopt symbols and images significant to
Greece as part of a propaganda campaign. We believe that the "United Macedonian
Diaspora's" efforts regarding this credit card may be yet another example.”


Furthermore, the Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs encouraged Mr. Saunders to reconsider
issuing a credit card with the Star of Vergina on it, and recommended he work
with the Greek-American community to prevent a similar occurrence from happening
in the future.


The supreme president also acknowledged and thanked the efforts of
the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA). CANA raised awareness of the issue
within its network.


“It’s a good example of what can transpire when we combine our
resources and work together as a community,” said Gulas.


AHEPA was established in 1922, by visionary Greek-Americans to protect all from
prejudice from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and
B’nai B’rith International to fight discrimination.


For more information about AHEPA, or how to join, please contact AHEPA
Headquarters, 202.232.6300, or visit www.ahepa.org.

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The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of
education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual
excellence through community service and volunteerism.