Open Letter of Greeks Abroad in the Face of Increasing Turkish Aggression
To:
Dr. Kostas Vlasis, Deputy Minister for Greeks Abroad, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cc:
The President of Greece and the President of Cyprus
The Prime Minister of Greece
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Greece and Cyprus
The Ministers of National Defence of Greece and Cyprus
The Archbishops of the Church of Greece and Cyprus
The Chiefs of the Army of Greece and Cyprus
The Presidents of the Political Parties of Greece and Cyprus
The Presidents and Deputies of the Parliaments of Greece and Cyprus
The Deputies of Greece and Cyprus in the European Parliament
The Media of Greece and Cyprus
30/12/2019
Honourable Deputy Minister Dr. Kostas Vlasis,
Congratulations to you on your recent appointment as Deputy Foreign Minister of Greeks Abroad. We wish you a successful tenure in this sensitive and important position which coincides with a crucial juncture for Hellenism. It is because of these critical times for our country that we are sending you this letter as a reminder and confirmation that Hellenism is much bigger than the borders of our small country and we, the Hellenes abroad, are here and present, ready to respond to the needs of our homeland.
Greece and Cyprus have been facing escalating Turkish aggression the details of which you are well aware of. Distinguished specialists, experienced politicians and even the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Panagiotopoulos, stress that the possibility of military conflict cannot be ruled out. We would all wish to remain prudent and calm so that military conflict is avoided. However, Turkey’s continued aggressive actions – of unforeseeable extent – indicate that conflict is perhaps closer than during the Imia crisis. Therefore, within the context of defending the sovereign rights of our country, we strongly feel that we should all be ready for any eventuality. We, the diaspora Greeks from all four corners of the world, are living cells of Hellenism and ambassadors of a great civilization that resonates globally to the present time. Our relationship with our homeland is not only emotionally felt, but within us is rooted a deep sense of duty. Many diaspora Greeks have been important benefactors or have given their lives in battle to defend our nation.
Today, when Hellenism is in a phase of demographic contraction and has been tested for years – particularly in the economic field – a new range of challenges and risks finds us relatively weakened. At such a juncture, a call to all Greeks is required for assistance. Diaspora Hellenism is equal to about a second Greece in population, thriving and proud. Many in the diaspora have reached high positions in academic institutions, business, political parties, and others enjoy a worldwide reputation for their artistic work. Thousands of volunteers, within associations and parishes around the globe, help keep our traditions alive, while many others cultivate philhellenism in many countries.
In view of the above, there is the possibility of activating a multilevel mechanism that can assist the State in defending our national interests whenever necessary. But the thousands of individuals that make up this mosaic of organized communities and prominent personalities should be utilized in the right place, at the right time. In other words, a centralized, well-thought-out strategic plan, guided by national interest, is required in order to benefit our nation to the fullest extent.
Our assistance will be twofold, both from abroad and from within Greece. Joining the effort will be academics, influential international personalities who can lobby members of government, artists, business leaders and entrepreneurs, and others whose talents can be utilized, even at the eleventh hour, to collaboratively support the work of the government. In the armed forces, retraining of reserve officers who live abroad—in compliance with their status of citizenship abroad—as well as other willing Greeks, could be organized immediately. Lists of professional specialties by country, especially medical personnel should be established and coordinated by our embassies and consulates. The creation of a secure communication platform and updating directories of associations of Greeks, philhellenes and other players, to conduct effective consultation in case of urgent need for action must be accomplished. Of course, worldwide Greek communities have their own internal organization and already have ways of interacting with each other. You can be encouraged by existing global Hellenic infrastructures that could be further improved with the assistance of specialists.
It is worth stressing that the activation of international Hellenism will send multiple messages across Greece and beyond. These messages of encouragement, determination, and confidence to our compatriots in Greece and towards those who threaten us are one more weapon in our arsenal to boost our deterrent effect and not just by military means.
We therefore encourage you, through your institutional role, to work (together with other ministries and the military forces) for this purpose as soon as possible, as developments leave no room for complacency. It is our desire for Greece and Cyprus to prosper in peace and security and we, diaspora Greeks, to work alongside institutional agents – who are the guardians of prosperity – as we have always done.
Such times require vigilance, responsibility, planning, ingenuity, courage and faith. We will be at your side and will assist you in any way possible in a process of comprehensive and coordinated action. We will also be constructive, rigorous judges of your work. As you know, expatriate Greeks place partisan or other allegiances aside, putting homeland above all else. That is why the decision was made to write to you in the hope that you will lead in this effort.
Our best wishes for success in this endeavour.
Respectfully yours,
(Signatures)
OPEN LETTER GREEKS ABROAD (PDF)
The open letter as published by the International Hellenic Association (IHA)
Signatures:
- Αγραφιώτης Βασίλης, Μηχανικός Λογισμικού/Υπολογιστών, Λωζάννη, Ελβετία
- Argyropoulos Yiannis, PhD, Consultant, Telecoms, Media, Internet, USA
- Αργυρού Φανούλα, ερευνήτρια, δημοσιογράφος, συγγραφέας, Λονδίνο, ΗΒ
- Αρωνιάδου-Anderjaska Βασιλική, PhD, Research Professor of Neuroscience, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Baltatzis Panayotis, MD, Baltimore Maryland, USA
- Δεληγιάννης Φώτιος, Μηχανικός Ασφάλειας Πληροφοριακών Συστημάτων, M.Sc. Cyber Security, Ζυρίχη, Ελβετία
- Δημόπουλος Θεοδόσιος, PhD, Τακτικός Καθηγητής, Πρόεδρος Τμήματος Χρηματο-οικονομικών Παν/μίου Λωζάννης, Ελβετία
- Διαμάντη Έλενα Θωμαή, χημικός μηχανικός, Λωζάννη, Ελβετία
- Doulberis Michael, MD, DVM, PhD, FACP, Switzerland
- Δρακάκη Τατιάνα, Ιατρός Ακτινολόγος, Σαν Φραντσίσκο, Καλιφόρνια, ΗΠΑ
- Ευσταθίου Δημήτριος, Στρατηγικός Σύμβουλος – Ακαδημαϊκός, Βασίλειο των Κάτω Χωρών
- Γιαννίτσης Αθανάσιος, Ηλεκτρονικός και Φυσικός, Αλμέρε, Ολλανδία
- Γκατζούλη Νίνα, Συνταξ. Καθηγήτρια University of New Hampshire, ΗΠΑ
- Ζαφειροπούλου Αλεξάνδρα, Project Manager – SuSoS AG, Zurich, CH
- Ηλιάδου Βαλέρια, Δικηγόρος – legal officer in European Commission, Bρυξέλλες, Βέλγιο
- Ιωαννίδου Καλλιόπη, MSc, PhD, EMIR, Παθοβιοχημικός-Ανοσολόγος, Επικεφαλής Έρευνας στο Πανεπ. Νοσοκομείο Λωζάννης, Απόφοιτος Σχολής Διπλωματίας Γενεύης, Ελβετία
- Κακούλη Θωμαΐς, MSc, PhD, Καθηγήτρια Βιοτεχνολογία Περιβάλλοντος, Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland
- Kotrotsios Paul, MBA, Founder & Publisher, Hellenic News of America, Founder & President Hermes Expo International, Immediate Past President oft he Hellenic American National Council (HANC), USA
- Κυριμλής Στέλιος, Μηχανολόγος Μηχανικός / Συμβολαιογράφος, ΗΠΑ
- Kourtis Gerasimoula, Board of Education, New York, ΗΠΑ
- Leventouri Theodora, Dr, Professor of Physics, Director, Medical Physics Program & Center for Biomedical and Materials Physics, Florida Atlantic University, USA
- Λιάσσας Γιώργος, Σύμβουλος Κυβερνοασφάλειας, MSc. Security & Mobile Computing, Δανία
- Λυμπερόπουλος Ιωάννης, Senior Scientist, ABB Future Labs, Ζυρίχη, Ελβετία
- Μακρής Δανιήλ, Ph.D. Φιλολογίας, Καθηγητής Φιλολογίας Πναεπιστημίου Μεσίνας, Ιταλία
- Μιχόπουλος Αριστοτέλης, PhD, Βοστώνη, ΗΠΑ
- Μωραΐτης Νικόλαος, Ph.D. Διεθνείς Σχέσεις, Θεωρία Διεθνούς Συστήματος, Εξωτερική Πολιτική των ΗΠΑ, Συγκριτική Πολιτική, ΗΠΑ
- Νιάρχος Πάνος, Διευθυντής προσωπικού(Ret), Indiana University, Indiana, USA
- Παναγάκος Γρηγόριος, Research Engineer, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsbrgh, PA, USA
- Παναγόπουλος Αλέξιος, Academic, PhD, Political Sciences State University in Belgrade, Σερβία
- Πάνος Γεώργιος, Χειρουργός Οφθαλμίατρος, Λονδίνο, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο
- Παπαδόπουλος Γεώργιος-Μάριος, Centrals Planning Manager – Hilti Group, Zurich, CH
- Παπακωνσταντίνου Βασίλειος, Μαθηματικός, Ζυρίχη, Ελβετία
- Phufas-Jousma Ellene, English/FILM/Teacher Preparation, Buffalo NY, USA
- Procopiou Georgios, CEng MIET, Electronics Engineer, Test Design Engineering Manager, Ultra Electronics, Precision Control Systems (Aerospace Industry), Cambridge, UK
- Roupakia Sofia, Community Development Professional, London, UK
- Σακαρίδης Χρῆστος, Υπ. Διδάκτωρ Ηλ/γος Μηχανικός & Μηχ. Υπολογιστών, Ελβετία
- Σαραντόπουλος Αθανάσιος, PhD, ΜΒΑ, Ηλεκτρολόγος Μηχανικός, ΗΠΑ
- Σγούρδος Γεώργιος, Ιατρός ακτινοδιαγνώστης, Διευθ. διαγνωστικού κέντρου, Λωζάννη, Ελβετία
- Σεμερτσίδου Σοφία, Ψυχολόγος/Ψυχοθραπεύτρια, Λουγκάνο, Ελβετία
- Σιδεράς Θεόδωρος, Επιχειρηματίας, Βρυξέλλες, Βέλγιο
- Σίνη Μάρθα, Walters Art Museum, Δημιουργός Πολιτιστικών Εκθέσεων, Βαλτιμόρη, ΗΠΑ
- Σκαρπέλος Ανδρέας, Γενικός/Οικογενειακός Ιατρός, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Σταλίδης Ανδρέας, Μαθηματικός – αναλυτής, Μπαθ, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο
- Steliou Kosta, PhD, Chairman & CSO, PhenoMatriX, Inc, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Research Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology, Professor, Cancer Center, Boston University School of Medicine, USA
- Triantafillou Georgia, Ph.D., Temple University. Philadelphia, USA
- Τσαπκίνη Κυράνα, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Johnns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, ΗΠΑ
- Tsirka Anna, Pediatric Cardiologist, Ass. Professor of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts, USA
- Vahaviolos Sotirios, PhD, Chairman and Founder MISTRAS Group, a NY stock exchange company, USA
- Yfantis Evangelos, PhD, Professor of Computer Science, USA
- Φιλιππίδης Δημήτρης, Δημοσιογράφος- Πρόεδρος Παμμακεδονικής Ένωσης ΗΠΑ
- Φωτίου Ιωάννης, CFO, Dr. sc. ETH Zurich, Ελβετία
- Χαλκιοπούλου Χριστίνα, Παιδίατρος, Naas Co. Kildare, Ireland
From Greece:
- Ανδρεάτος Αντώνιος, Καθηγητής Πληροφορικής Σχολής Ικάρων
- Ασλανίδης Νικόλαος, δημοσιογράφος, συγγραφέας, σκηνοθέτης, Θεσσαλονίκη
- Βαρδουλάκης Αντώνιος, Ομ. Καθηγητής Τμήματος Μαθηματικών Α.Π.Θ., Θεσσαλονίκη
- Γρίβας Κωνσταντίνος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Γεωπολιτικής Στρατιωτικής Σχολής Ευελπίδων, Αθήνα
- Κουμάκης Λεωνίδας, Νομικός, Συγγραφέας
- Λυριντζής Ιωάννης, PhD, Καθηγητής Αρχαιομετρίας Παν/μίου Αιγαίου, Τμήμα Μεσογειακών Σπουδών, Αρχισυντάκτης Mediterranean Archaeology & Archaeometry και Scientific Culture, Ρόδος
- Μελετόπουλος Μελέτης, Διδάκτωρ Οικονομικών και Κοινωνικών Επιστημών Πανεπιστημίου Γενεύης
- Οικονομάκος Ελευθέριος, PhD, Συνταξ. Μηχανολόγος-Ηλεκτρολόγος ΕΜΠ, Νεάπολη Λακωνίας
- Παπαδόπουλος Νικόλαος, MD, PhD, FEBO, Ομ. Καθηγητής Ιατρικής Α.Π.Θ., Θεσσαλονίκη
- Ρήγας Ευάγγελος, Πλοίαρχος Ε.Ν. -Πρόεδρος ΙΗΑ, τ. Director of Hellenism ΑΧΕΠΑ-Αθηνών HJ1, Κόρινθος
- Σταμπολιάδης Ηλίας, Δρ. Μηχανικός Μεταλλείων Μεταλλουργός, Καθηγητής Πολυτεχνείου Κρήτης
- Τσεχελίδης Ιωάννης, Πυρηνικός Ιατρός, Λεμεσός, Κύπρος
- Χατζόπουλος Ιωάννης, MSCE, PhD, Ομότιμος καθηγητής Παν/μίου Αιγαίου, τ. Καθηγητής Παν/μίου CSUF, USASignatures received after 30/12/2019 :
- Δεληγιάννης Γεώργιος, Ορκωτός λογιστής, Λωζάννη, Ελβετία
- Papaioannou Christos, PhD Physical Chemist, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Dokos Socrates, PhD, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
- Γεωργιάδης Κυριάκος, Απόφ. Τμήματος Ιστορίας και Φιλοσοφίας της Επιστήμης, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
- Στάλιας Σπύρος, PhD, Οικονομολόγος
- π. Ελευθέριος Καρακίτσιος, πρωτ/ρος – καθηγητής Δρ. Θ. Α.Π.Θ.
- Κατσούλης Παναγιώτης, συνταξιούχος ναυπηγός, Ελλάδα
- Πελίδου Συγκλητη-Ερριέττα, Επίκουρος Καθηγήτρια Νευρολογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων
- Μπιζά Μπέτη, Ιστορικός, Φιλόλογος στη Μέση Εκπαίδευση, Αθήνα
- Αυγουστίδου Μαρία, ειδικός παθολόγος ογκολόγος – αιματολόγος, Γερμανία
In order to add your signature to this list, please send an email at: IHAHellas@gmail.com
