THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF PONTIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED IN PUBLIC NEW YORK EVENT: SECOND YEAR IN A ROW PONTIAN FLAG FLIES OVER MANHATTAN

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2009

Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, New York, Tel. 1-917-699-9935


NEW YORK--May 19th, the international day of remembrance for the Pontian
Genocide, was marked for the second year in a row with a public commemoration in
Bowling Green Park in downtown Manhattan. Pontian Hellenes, Hellenes from Hellas
and Cyprus, Greek and Greek-Cypriot dignitaries, local American elected
officials, and philhellenes travelled to Bowling Green Park at 12 noon to stand
in commemoration of the raising of the Hellenic flag, and the historic single
headed eagle flag of Pontos, seen waving today at half mast, beneath the
official flag of Greece, over the streets of downtown Manhattan in New York
City.

The 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF PONTIAN GENOCIDE event was organized by the Federation
of Hellenic Societies of Greater NY, and the Pan-Pontian Federation of USA and
Canada. Distinguished speakers included The Honorable Leonidas P. Raptakis State
Senator of Rhode Island , Dr. Mary Marangos Executive Director representing the
Honorable US Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, The Honorable Mrs. Aghi Balta
Consul General - New York for the Republic of Greece, The Honorable Mr. Andreas
Panayiotou Consul General for the Republic of Cyprus- New York, Mr. Demetrius
Kalamaras, Esq. – President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater
New York, Mr. Elias Tsekerides – President of the International Confederation of
Pontian Hellenes, Mr. George Tsilfidis - Deputy President Pan-Pontian Federation
of USA and Canada, Mr. Tassos Efstratiades Esq. – Chairman Greek American
Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Karine Birazian - Eastern Region Executive Director
Armenian National Committee of America, and Mr. Ioannis Fidanakis – President
of Pan-Thracian Union of America “Orpheus”. (Speeches can be viewed on You Tube
below)

Many Hellenic society presidents and members attended, including the two local
Pontian associations "Komninoi" of New York in Astoria and "Pontos" of Norwalk
Connecticut, as well as "Holy Institution Panagia Soumela."

A prayer was said aloud, followed by a speech by Reverend Father John Romas from
the nearby historic St. Nicholas church that was destroyed on 9/11, and a moment
of silence for the innocent victims of the Pontian Genocide perpetrated by
Turkey.

Pan-Pontian Federation General Secretary Dimitris Molohides, presided over the
ceremonies and presented a proclamation from New York State Senator George
Onarato and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (See PDF copies below)

Turkey continues to deny responsibility for the Armenian, Assyrian, and Pontian
,Thracian and Anatolian Greek Genocides as perpetrated by its founder Mustafa
Kemal, the so-called “Ataturk” or “father of the Turks” and his predecessors ,
the Young Turk government, and Ottoman Turkey.

This year’s commemoration was filled with promise thanks to the presence of
young people , including young children and teenagers, the hope of a new
generation that is coming to bloom now , who helped to pass out educational
pamphlets and books that included classic memoir “The Great Betrayal” by E.H.
Bierstadt, The Pontian Question in the United Nations, by Michalis
Charalambidis.

Even though the Turks stole our land, and forced us out of Eastern Thrace,
Pontos, Smyrna and all Asia Minor and parts of Cyprus (just a generation ago)
with fire and bayonet without bread and water to die. Events like these remind
us that try as they might, the Turks will never totally destroy us. Anywhere in
the world, even faraway New York, if even two of us meet we will build again and
we will never forget, never forgive.

The flag of the Pontian people is emblazoned with the following Pontian saying,
Η Ρωμανία κι’ αν επέρασεν, ανθεί και φέρει κι’ άλλο (Though ΡΩΜΑΝΙΑ has passed,
it blooms and brings forth more), this people shall never die.

You Tube Video of Pontian Flag Raising:



You Tube Video of The Honorable Leonidas P. Raptakis State Senator of Rhode
Island



You Tube Video of Honorable Mr. Andreas Panayiotou Consul General for the
Republic of Cyprus- New York,



You Tube Video of Ms. Karine Birazian - Eastern Region Executive Director
Armenian National Committee of America



You Tube Video of Mr. Ioannis Fidanakis President of Pan-Thracian Union of
America “Orpheus”



You Tube Video of Η Ρωμανία κι αν επέρασεν, ανθεί και φέρει κι άλλο (Though
ΡΩΜΑΝΙΑ has passed, it blooms and brings forth more), this people shall never
die.



PROCLAMATION BY NEW YORK STATE SENATOR ONORATO (PDF)

http://hellenicleagueofamericahla.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/proclamation_senator_geroge_onorato_May_2009.13930207.pdf


PROCLAMATION BY CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLYN MALONEY (PDF)

http://hellenicleagueofamericahla.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/proclamation_carolyn_maloney_May_2009.13930256.pdf

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