Greece Ready to Resume Negotiations with FYROM Ike Gulas
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O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 11, ISSUE 548 April 12, 2008 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Thousands Fill the Streets to Celebrate Greek Independence at NYC Parade Poor Weather and Lower Turnout Don’t Dampen Enthusiasm By Christopher Tripoulas Special to The National Herald NEW YORK. The overcast skies and gloomy weather reports forecasting rain were not enough to dampen the spirits of the tens of thousands of Greek Americans who came out to Fifth Avenue to watch or march in the annual Greek Independence Day Parade. Although the threat of bad weather did affect parade turnout, the noticeably smaller crowd made up for its lack of num- bers with exuberance and enthusi- asm. People of all ages waved Greek flags and patriotism ran high, as shouts and cries on behalf of Mace- donia’s Greek identity and against the recent provocations made by Greece’s northern neighbor FY- ROM dominated the Parade. Greece’s recent veto of FYROM’s membership bid at last week’s NA- TO Summit in Bucharest because a mutually acceptable resolution on the latter’s name was not yet reached was reiterated throughout the Parade by emcees, speakers, TNH/COSTAS BEJ marchers and spectators. Remembering 1821 This year’s Grand Marshals were, Greek Parliament’s President ABOVE: The Evzones march down Dimitris Sioufas, Greek-American Fifth Avenue during the annual business man Dean Metropoulos Ike Gulas: Greek IndependenceDay Parade and the National Philoptochos’ on Sunday, April 6, 2008, in New president Georgia Skeadas. York City. This year’s parade New York City Mayor Bloomberg, Convention marked the 177th anniversary of Archbishop Demetrios of America, Greece’s declaration of indepen- along with many local, state and dence from the Ottoman Empire. federal officials were joined at the In Athens LEFT: Parade Grand Marshal, head of the parade by a large Greek Greek Parliament President Parliamentarian delegation and this Dimitris Sioufas (center) walks at year’s parade committee chairman Is Overdue the front of the parade with and New York mayoral candidate, Archbishop Demetrios of America John Catsimatidis. The Govern- (right). This year’s other Grand ments of Greece and Cyprus were By Mark Frangos Marshals were Greek American represented by Deputy Minister of Special to The National Herald businessman Dean Metropoulos Employment, Sophia Kalantzakou and National Philoptochos presi- and Foreign Minister Markos Kypri- NEW YORK – AHEPA Supreme dent Georgia Skeadas. New York anou respectively. President Ike Gulas, in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Fox 5's Rosanna Scotto and for the Greek Independence Day mayoral candidate John Ernie Anastos and Weather Author- Parade and all the events leading Catsimatidis and a large Greek ity Nick Gregory hosted the event, up to it, took time out of his hectic Parliamentarian delegation also which was broadcast on My9. schedule to visit The National Her- marched in the parade. Another highlight was a perfor- ald’s offices in Long Island City mance by former "American Idol" along with Executive Director Basil contestant Constantine Maroulis. Mossaidis. The Greek American youth had Mr. Gulas, who was elected as a strong showing at the Parade, Supreme President last July at with many second and third gener- AHEPA’s convention in Denver, ation Greek Americans marching spoke to the Herald about a myriad and expressing their pride for their of topics from his upbringing to the ethnic identity. Macedonia issue to the next AHEPA Many Greek Americans blamed convention in Athens to member- the weather reports for keeping ship drives. would be spectators home. Fortu- Mr. Gulas marched during the nately, those in attendance did not Greek Parade, first at the opening Greece Ready to Resume Negotiations with FYROM have to get their umbrellas out, of the parade with the dignitaries since the impending storm narrow- and then doubling back to be with By Evan C. Lambrou land-locked neighbor to the north views. On this specific issue, it is ble, multi-ethnic, democratic soci- ly missed the New York City area. the Ahepans who were marching. Special to The National Herald should have a “clear composite clear that the respective views are ety; we want Serbia to move for- Others were critical of the Federa- “I was very impressed with the name for all uses,” adding that different. We went along our own ward to realize its goals as a mem- tions of the Hellenic Societies of parade,” said Mr. Gulas, who was NEW YORK – Greek Prime Minister Athens was prepared to participate views, and issued a veto. I do not ber of Europe and its institutions… Greater New York, citing problems interviewed by UPN 9, the local TV Costas Karamanlis, addressing a in a new round of U.N. talks in or- see shadows cast over bilateral re- and, in all these areas, Greece is with the Parade’s organization. network covering the parade. “I conference organized by the Econ- der to find a name which was ac- lations with America,” he said. still our ally – our indispensable Two major complaints were that was overwhelmed with the size of omist magazine in Athens this past ceptable to both sides. INDISPENSABLE PARTNER partner – and we look forward to there were not enough flags along it. It was the first parade I attended Tuesday evening, April 8, called on He also reiterated that Greece Officially, at least, the State De- continuing our strong cooperation the parade route running down as Supreme President. It was well neighboring Former Yugoslav Re- would not consent to the small partment apparently feels the same with Greece.” Fifth Avenue – from 59th Street to worth the wait. I was amazed at the public of Macedonia to cooperate Balkan country’s NATO entry as way, and recognizes Greece’s value But Mr. Speckhard also said U.S. 82nd Street – and the loudspeakers number of participants. The fact with Greece in finding a solution to long as FYROM insists on calling it- as an “indispensable partner.” policy on the Balkans is not going that were set up covered only half that AHEPA was well represented the ongoing name dispute. self Macedonia – a historically During the Economist confer- to change. “I expect we will see lit- this distance. with the float that we had was The Greek Premier had previ- Greek name and territory – and ence this past Tuesday, U.S. Ambas- tle change in U.S. policy for this re- Tasos Manessis, a past President beautiful and the members that ously extended a public invitation while the name dispute remains sador to Greece Daniel Speckhard gion and our desire to support Eu- of the FHSGNY and former Parade marched together was great. I hope to FYROM’s political leadership to unresolved. said, “The Balkans have not been a rope in taking the lead in fostering Chairman, chalked up the smaller that we can have be more integral continue negotiations as soon as Mr. Karamanlis also said rela- major (Presidential) campaign is- stability and integration,” he said. crowd to the bad weather. “At cer- part in the parade in the future. I possible, within the framework of tions with the United States, which sue, and I do not expect them to be- For the time being, however, FY- tain points, there were also very big think it’s important that the Order the United Nations. had been pushing for FYROM’s ad- come one as we get closer to the ROM is caught between a rock and gaps between the different organi- of AHEPA is involved in it. We’re Last Friday, April 4, one day af- mission to the Alliance, had not election. But I can tell you that our a hard place, and Greece is appar- zations that were marching,” he the largest organization. With the ter Greece vetoed FYROM’s bid to been strained as a result of Athens’ interests in the Balkans are clear. ently turning up the pressure. said. FHSGNY President Nick Dia- Daughters of Penelope, we have join NATO, Mr. Karamanlis stressed hardline stance. The United States wants Greece According to a recent report in mantidis said that the Parade could over 30,000-40,000 members and during a post-NATO Summit press “We have a relationship with the and its neighbor to the north to the Athens daily newspaper, have finished earlier, and blamed conference in Bucharest, that United States as allies, but that have strong relations; we want Continued on page 6 Greece’s goal was that its smaller, does not mean we have identical Kosovo to establish itself as a sta- Continued on page 9 Continued on page 5 Spectators Brave Chilly Cyprus’ New Weather at Boston Parade Crossing By Theodore Kalmoukos Greek American unit of evzones. Meets Trouble Special to The National Herald The highlight of this year’s parade were the pupils of the Greek By Menelaos Hadjicostis BOSTON – The Greek American schools dressed in their colorful community of New England held traditional costumes and holding NICOSIA (AP) – Greek and Turkish its 14th annual Greek Indepen- the Greek and the American flags Cypriot authorities reopened the di- dence Day parade in Boston on as a testimony of their Greek Amer- vided capital's Ledra Street on Thurs- Sunday, April 6. The heavy clouds ican identity and pride. The pa- day, April 3, but were forced to close in the sky along with the 38 degree rade’s theme was the issue of the it for nearly two hours following a temperature, a periodic light driz- name of Macedonia which the FY- dispute over how to police the street, zle and other organizational factors ROM is trying to steal from Greece.