Hellenic Electronic Center (HEC)
Representing 35,000 Hellenes and
36 Hellenic Associations in the US and abroad
September 12, 2006
To: California State University Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, All CSU Trustees
Reply to:
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We are writing to inform you of our objections to SDSU's exchange program with Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Turkish-occupied Cyprus (July - August 2006), and to enlist your assistance in terminating this arrangement. EMU operates illegally on property seized during the Turkish invasion of 1974, when the Turks ethnically cleansed 200,000 Greek Cypriots from 37% of the island's territory. The property which it occupies is the object of a lawsuit brought by its Greek Cypriot owner against Turkey, currently pending in the European Court of Human Rights. One should also note that EMU lacks accreditation by the Republic of Cyprus, which remains the sole internationally recognized government on the island.
The collaboration with EMU makes California State University an accomplice of the occupying regime, undermines the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, and violates numerous UN Resolutions and International Conventions. Does CSU really want to be identified with supporting illegal and hostile governments, and flouting UN Resolutions condemning the occupation and calling for the withdrawal of the occupiers and settlers? Is it really your intent to teach your students that the rule of law, ethics and morality are irrelevant?
Previous attempts by representatives of the Turkish occupation in Cyprus for exchange programs with other American Universities failed, due to the illegality of such activities. (The Universities of Michigan and Connecticut terminated the programs and returned state monies used to fund the programs.)
In conclusion, we urge California State University to abrogate the Memorandum of Cooperation with EMU and sever any existing relationship with all educational entities in Occupied Cyprus. It behooves the University to support the Rule of Law and adhere to International Resolutions and Conventions which deny recognition to the self-declared republic (the TRNC) in the occupied north, and to limit any exchange programs in Cyprus to institutions accredited by the Cyprus Republic. We request that termination of this exchange be put on the agenda for the next CSU Trustees' meeting. If further discussion is necessary, we can arrange for the Trustees to meet with a local representative of the HEC and additional signers of this letter representing American Hellenic associations in California.
California Associations and Individuals
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Ms. Georgia Stavropoulos, MA, M.Phil.
California representative of Hellenic Electronic Center
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Hon. Consul General of Cyprus, Southern California
Mr. Andreas Kyprianides
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Mr. Aristotle Katopodis, MBA, PMP
President, Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of Southern California
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Mr. Ted Laliotis
President, Hellenic Federation of Northern California
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Mr. Dinos Andrianos
President, American Hellenic Council
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Mr. Aris Anagnos
Vice President, American Hellenic Council
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Mr. Peter T. Triantafyllos
District Governor, AHEPA
District 20 Southern California, Arizona
Part of Utah and of Nevada
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Mr. Peter Demopoulos, MA
President, Hellenic University Club of Southern California
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Dr. James Demetriou, Ph. D.
President, Marmarinon Society of California
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National and International Associations
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Mr. Chris Tomaras
Vice President, World Council of Hellenes Abroad
North and South America
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Mr. Philip Christopher
President, PSEKA
International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus
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Mr. Savvas Tsivikos
Vice-President, PSEKA
International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus
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Mr. Peter Papanicolaou
President, Cyprus Federation of America
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Mr. Ted Spyropoulos
President, Hellenic American National Council (HANC) USA
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Dr. James F. Demetriou, Ph. D.
Past Supreme President of AHEPA
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Professor Nina Ganzoulis
Supreme Vice President, PanMacedonian Association of USA
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Professor Nikolaos Uzunoglu
Chairman, New Circle of Constantinopolitans - Greece
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Mr. Bob Moutousidis, President
Mr. Panagiotis Tzimas, Alternate President
Mr. Demetris J. Yantsulis, Vice-President
Pan-Macedonian Association of Canada
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Mr. George Reganis
President, American Hellenic Congress
Northville Twp, MI
Dr. Dimitri Pallas
President, Foundation for Modern Greek Studies
Northville Twp, MI
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Mr. George Reganis
President, Federation of Sterea Hellas US and Canada
Bloomfield Hills, MI
