Dear Brothers, Family, and Friends of AHEPA,

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For Immediate Action
Thursday, July 18, 2013

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters
Phone: (202) 232-6300
Email: press@ahepa.org

Action Alert


Invaded Cyprus

On 39th Anniversary of Invasion,
Tell Congress to Support a Commitment to the
Reunification of Cyprus


Help House Resolution on Cyprus Gain Co-sponsors


 

Background

July 20 marks the 39th anniversary of the illegal invasion and subsequent occupation of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.� To this day, Turkey illegally occupies 37 percent of the Republic of Cyprus and maintains some 43,000 troops on the island.

In the past year, the people of Cyprus experienced a collapse in their banking system which has led to difficult and challenging economic times.� There have been attempts by Turkey, Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Dervis Eroglu, and some media commentators to take advantage of the economic downturn affecting Cyprus to impose a Cyprus settlement.

As a result, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis introduced H.Res.187, a congressional resolution that expresses the United States’ commitment to the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus and the establishment of a unified government on Cyprus that guarantees the human rights of all Cypriots and condemns any attempt to use the current economic crisis as a means of imposing a settlement on the people of Cyprus. The resolution also affirms U.S. policy that the Republic of Cyprus has exclusive dominion over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the right to exploit the resources in the EEZ.

Status Update

H.Res.187 was introduced April 26, 2013 by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

At least 25 co-sponsors, 10 of which must come from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, are needed for H.Res.187 to receive consideration by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Action: Help Us Get to 25/10 Today!

For the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to act on H.Res.187, the resolution must have at least 25 co-sponsors; 10 of which must be members of the committee.� It currently has 12 co-sponsors; 3 of which are on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  • ACTION ITEM: Help us secure more co-sponsors!

See if your U.S. representative is one of the 12 current co-sponsors (click here). If not, ask your U.S. representative to co-sponsor H.Res.187.

If you find that your U.S. representative is a co-sponsor of H.Res.187, then please thank him or her for their support!   

How Do I Contact My U.S. Representative?

VIA Internet/E-mail/FAX

  • To contact your U.S. representative to ask him or her to be a co-sponsor, or to thank them for their co-sponsorship, please visit http://www.house.gov/writerep/

VIA Telephone

  • In addition to writing your U.S. representative, you can also call them.
  • You can contact your U.S. representative through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Helpful Tips

  • Identify yourself as a constituent.
  • Ask to speak with the Foreign Affairs Legislative Assistant or to the staff person who handles the representatives foreign affairs portfolio.
  • Messaging:
    • Ask for the representative’s support for H.Res.187 by becoming a co-sponsor.
    • H.Res.187 is a strong, bipartisan resolution that supports a commitment to the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus. �
    • Thank them for the representative’s interest to support the rule of law and human rights in Cyprus.
  • Keep your message as brief and as focused as possible.
  • For expediency, we recommend sending an email, fax or calling as opposed to correspondence that is mailed.�
  • Remember—members of Congress work for you and they want to hear from you.
  • Note: For the purposes of record keeping, please send a copy of your correspondence to: Executive Director Basil Mossaidis at ahepa@ahepa.org.
    • This will allow us to know who in Congress has been contacted for future follow-up.

Sample Content for EMAIL or FAX LETTER

[DATE]

Dear Representative [LAST NAME]:

As a constituent, and a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), I am writing to request the representative’s co-sponsorship of H.Res.187, which expresses the United States’ commitment to the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus and the establishment of a unified government on Cyprus that guarantees the human rights of all Cypriots and condemns any attempt to use the current economic crisis as a means of imposing a settlement on the people of Cyprus. The resolution also affirms U.S. policy that the Republic of Cyprus has exclusive dominion over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the right to exploit the resources in the EEZ.

July 20 marks the 39th anniversary of the illegal invasion and subsequent occupation of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.� To this day, Turkey illegally occupies 37 percent of the Republic of Cyprus and maintains some 43,000 troops on the island.

In the past year, the people of Cyprus experienced a collapse in their banking system which has led to difficult and challenging economic times.� There have been attempts by Turkey, Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Dervis Eroglu, and some media commentators to take advantage of the economic downturn affecting Cyprus to impose a Cyprus settlement. This is unacceptable.

H.Res.187 enjoys bipartisan support. It supports a commitment to the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus and supports the rule of law and human rights in Cyprus. Please contact Congressman Gus Bilirakis to co-sponsor the resolution.

Thank you for your consideration.�

Respectfully submitted,
[NAME]
[FULL ADDRESS]

 

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AHEPA is the largest Greek-American association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith International to fight discrimination.

The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism.

For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, (202) 232-6300, or visit www.ahepa.org. To learn more about the AHEPA National Educational Foundation, please visit www.ahepa.org/education.



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