PRESS-RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE AND URGENT ACTION
HEC
Delaware August 27, 2001
Contact  Hec@hec.greece.org

Governor of Alabama proclamation commemorating Turkish tragedy in Anatolia at the hands of Greeks:

The propaganda of the Kemalist state and its American tentacles has once again manipulated the ignorance of American lawmakers and legislators. In a crafty move, the organization termed "The Friends of Turkey" has managed to persuade the Governor of the State of Alabama, Don Siegelman, to proclaim the 30th of August as a "Day of Remembrance of the Turkish Tragedy for Liberation to Sovereignty and Independence". The proclamation, appended in full below, is evidently slanted and misrepresents history painting the Turks as the victims and the Greeks as the aggressors between 1912-1922.

It is imperative that our media begin a campaign of inquiry into the reasons and the mechanisms of how this misrepresentation was accepted by the Governor and his staff and the true motives that underlie it. This sets a very dangerous precedent of history revision by the Kemalist state with clever attempts to begin at the State level.

The HEC is engaging in an information campaign as well as a petition to dissuade the Governor from enacting the proclamation in its present form. We appeal to our media members to assist us in this effort.

HEC is a non-profit, non-political Hellenic Electronic Organization with 13.000 members and over 50 forums of communication. In addition, a good number of the Hellenic Organization of Diaspora participate at the HEC-Network as Associated HEC members. In order to join HEC apply at www.greece.org/network.

Sincerely,
The HEC Executive
www.greece.org
Hec@hec.greece.org


THE ALABAMA PROCLAMATION:

WHEREAS, millions of citizens of the Ottoman Empire from different religious and ethnic backgrounds died from inter-communal violence, forced migration, disease and starvation during World War I and the collapse of the Empire; and

WHEREAS, Turkish Americans bear a great burden of sorrow from the tragic events which befell their ancestors from 1912-1922; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish people valiantly fought a long War of Liberation to safeguard their sovereignty and independence and founded the Republic of Turkey, October 29, 1923; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the Turkish tragedy is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of future civilian wartime tragedies; and

WHEREAS, Turks enjoy a long history of friendship by living in harmony with different ethnic groups and sharing a geographic and cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Turkey has the only secular democracy in the Muslim world and has made significant contributions to U.S. foreign policy in the Balkans, Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus and has played a crucial role in international efforts for peace, prosperity and stability; and

WHEREAS, Turkey has been a staunch ally of the United States and has supported the U.S. in every major conflict since the Korean War and has become an integral part of Europe through its membership in NATO and the Council of Europe; and

WHEREAS, residents of Alabama are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the loss of all civilians due to war and ethnic strife to prevent future civilian tragedies; and

WHEREAS, Americans of Turkish descent in Alabama have played a significant role in the educational, cultural, economic and civic development of our community; and

WHEREAS, we recognize many individuals of Turkish descent who have chosen our community as their home and share their rich heritage with us:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Don Siegelman, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby proclaim August 30, 2001, as

Day of Remembrance of the Turkish Tragedy for Liberation to Sovereignty and Independence in the state of Alabama.

        GIVEN UNDER MY HAND and the Great Seal of the Governor's Office
at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 8th day of August
2001.


        Governor Don Siegelman