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. 10, ISSUE 511 July 28, 2007 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Community Islamist Erdogan Re-Elected by a Landslide in Turkish Elections Reflects On What does his victory mean for Greeks in The Cyprus Turkey? How are Greeks Viewing the Results? By Mark Frangos Greeks still living in Turkey gen- Special to the National Herald erally supported AKP because secu- Problem lar Turkish governments have been NEW YORK – Turkish Prime Minis- harsh on minorities in their efforts ter Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist to create a strong Turkish state. Ap- After 33 years, some Justice & Development Party (AKP) proximately 3,000 Greeks still live scored a commanding victory over in Constantinople (present-day Is- still fight, but feel the its secular rivals in parliamentary tanbul), down from hundreds of elections held last Sunday, July 22, thousands just a few decades ago. issue is at a standstill which was met by a reserved ap- Demetris Frangopoulos, former plause by most Greeks. director of the Zografio elementary By Stavros Marmarinos The Islamists increased their school in Constantinople, said that Special to the National Herald share by more than 12 points from secular governments made it very the last election in 2003 to 46.6 difficult to teach the small number NEW YORK – In the hope and percent of the popular vote. It is the of students (some 50 today) still at- seemingly never-ending quest for a largest percentage for any single tending the school. He cited a lack just solution to the Cyprus issue, party in Turkey since 1969. The of teaching materials, and said the the Greek American community re- secular main opposition Republi- most difficult time came when CHP members and continues its struggle can People’s Party (CHP) received was in power, as the Turkish Min- on behalf of its Cypriot brethren, 33 20.9 percent, while the Nationalist istry of Education could overrule years after the invasion of the still- Action Party (MHP), which primar- the school director’s decisions. On divided island republic, and the on- ily plays on the fears of Kurdish sep- election day, he wasn’t sure if his going occupation of its northern aratism, won 14.3 percent. vote would go to independent part by Turkish soldiers. Many Greeks who have ties to, Ankara Professor Baskin Oran, or Greek Cypriot Americans living or live in, Turkey believe that AKP to the AKP. in New York gave their thoughts on is the better choice, not because Mr. “At the end of the day, I am not the occasion of the dark day of July Erdogan will do the most good, but concerned about who brings about 20, 1974, the infamous anniversary because the alternative might have these changes, as long as they are of the Turkish attack on the sover- made things worse. finally implemented, and as long as eign nation. “We already know Mr. Erdogan the winning party maintains a firm Cyprus Federation of America and how he governs,” Prodromos stance,” he said. President Panicos Papanicolaou Katsantonis, president of Hellenic Alekos Bakulas, manager of told The National Herald that, after EUROKINISSI Society of Constantinople in New Palet restaurant in Constantinople, 33 years, America’s Greek Cypriot His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople exercises his right to vote voted at York, told the National Herald. “We didn’t plan to vote in the elections, community has concluded that ef- the Marasleios School, which served as an election precinct, during parliamentary elections in Turkey last are happy because we won’t have but said he feels that AKP was the forts directed towards the United Sunday, July 22, and said “these elections are auspicious for the country.” The Patriarch, was one of mil- to deal with a possibly negative sit- better choice. States Government and other par- lions of Turkish citizens who cast their votes. The Turkish Government still refuses to recognize his ecu- uation with a new government.” ties involved with the Cyprus issue menical status. Mr. Katsantonis said believes Continued on page 7 must be heightened. In light of this, that life for the few Greeks who still CFA and members of other Hellenic live in Turkey has been relatively associations met with more than 50 calm under Mr. Erdogan’s govern- members of Congress and U.S. ment. Government officials. “The Greeks in Turkey are con- “The Greek American communi- Celebrating his 25th Year as a Bishop tent with their lives and communi- Mayhem in ty can not keep vigilant and remain ty, and didn’t want to be affected by effective with demonstrations and By Theodore Kalmoukos Daskalakis, Dean of the Cathedral, of the Archdiocese Office of Com- a nationalist government that may NYC’s Steam protests. The area where we can Special to The National Herald a classmate and roommate of Met- munications, were also present. have hurt their way of life,” he said. help and bring about results is by ropolitan Methodios when they Elizabeth Papaslis, president of Mr. Katsantonis did not sound applying pressure on the U.S. Gov- BOSTON, Mass. – Hundreds of were students at Holy Cross Semi- the Federation of the Hellenic Soci- worried about Mr. Erdogan’s Islam- Pipe Explosion ernment – especially the State De- faithful from the 62 Greek Ortho- nary in Brookline. Nearly all priests eties of New England, as well as ic agenda. partment – either through direct dox communities in New England serving in the Metropolis of Boston two former Federation presidents, “He is, for lack of a better word, meetings with their representa- filled the Annunciation Cathedral were present in the congregation. Vasilios Kafkas and Despina an orthodox Muslim, but he is not By Stavros Marmarinos tives, or through our interaction of Boston to honor Metropolitan Also present was the President Demetropoulos, and more than radical,” he said. “Greeks in Con- Special to The National Herald with friends and supporters in Con- Methodios of Boston’s 25th an- of Hellenic College/Holy Cross, 150 campers from the Metropolis stantinople are currently able to gress who sit on committees that niversary of the ordination to the Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou, with a Summer Camp in Contoocook, practice their religion. He hasn’t NEW YORK – Katerina Vikatos- deal directly with the topic of U.S.- episcopate. number of students and faculty New Hampshire also attended. shown that he would change that,” Agabi had left her office at the Unit- Greece relations and the Cyprus is- During the Divine Liturgy this members, including Professors Rev. Tom Chininis, president of although Mr. Erdogan’s Govern- ed Nations last Wednesday after- sue,” Mr. Papanicolaou said. past July 18, over which Methodios George Bebis (emeritus) and Lewis St. Andrew’s Clergy Brotherhood, ment has continued the longstand- noon, July 18, at 5:40 PM. She The past three years have been presided together with Metropoli- Patsavos. presented a gift of liturgical cande- ing policy of previous governments walked down to 42nd Street, be- very difficult, he explained, “be- tan Evangelos of New Jersey, and Dr. Tom Lelon, vice president of labras to Methodios on behalf of to refuse recognizing the status of tween Third and Lexington Av- cause no one wanted to touch the during which 12 clergymen partici- the HC/HC Board of Trustees, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of enues, where she was waiting to subject” due to the Greek Cypriot pated including the Rev. George Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, director Continued on page 3 Constantinople as ecumenical. catch the bus which takes her to the rejection of the Annan Plan in April pier where she boards the New Jer- 2004. sey ferry. It was another typical day The last few weeks and months for the Fort Lee, New Jersey resi- have also been challenging in that dent, who typically leaves her car in regard, he added, because of the New Jersey, and relies on mass tran- proximity to elections in Turkey, Christodoulos sit to get to and from New York. which were held last Sunday, June Little did she know that, just a 22. Exits Hospital few moments later, she would be “But we believe that, after the overcome with fear and distress, Turkish elections, the various com- running down the crowded streets mittees will be able to meet once In Good Spirits of Manhattan along with so many again, and work in accordance to other panic-stricken commuters the agreement of July 8th, 2006 amid chaos filled with the tears, (the U.N.-brokered agreement be- By Theodore Kalmoukos screams and prayers of terrified tween Republic of Cyprus President Special to The National Herald New Yorkers. Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish These were the moments when Cypriot community leader Mehmet BOSTON, Mass. – Archbishop no one could tell whether the explo- Ali Talat, signed last year),” he said. Christodoulos of Athens & All sion which had stunned the city that Mr. Papanicolaou also said that, Greece was discharged from the late summer afternoon was an during his meeting with Undersec- Aretaieion Hospital in Athens last earthquake or a new terrorist at- retary of State for Political Affairs Friday, July 20 at 1 PM, after he tack. was hospitalized for colon cancer Mrs. Agabi was among the first Continued on page 3 for 42 days. people to experience the hellish A visibly thinner and weaker scene which unfolded that after- Christodoulos, who shed some 45 noon, when an underground pound, was smiling and appeared steampipe exploded at the intersec- to be in very good spirits, telling tion of Lexington Avenue and 41st journalists and the large crowd Street.