Gov. George Pataki

Governor, State of New York

9 October 2002

Dear Governor Pataki,

I want to congratulate you for having the courage and the forthrightness to stand up and acknowledge the Asia Minor Catastrophe as an expression of a historical truth in hopes of sensitizing current and future generations against such cruel acts of human rights violations.

My own father was a POW for three years in Smyrna during WW I and I know the truth first hand.

As a former Mayor of my town, State Assembly candidate, and currently a member of the Regional Council of Greeks Abroad, I am very familiar with the political risks in standing up and acknowledging historical truths. However, that kind of courage is exactly what distinguishes a strong leader from a wishy-washy politician. I appreciate your leadership, your courage, and your forthrightness.

Sincerely,

Ted Laliotis
President of the Hellenic Federation of Northern California
Former Mayor of Los Altos, California
Current Member of SAE America Regional Council