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NEWS OCV ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald cv A weekly Greek-AmericAn PublicATiOn Bringing the news to generations of Greek-Americans www.thenationalherald.com March 9-15, 2013 VOL. 16, ISSUE 804 $1.50 Samaras and Erdogan Money Laundering Charge Obstacle for Cyprus Anastasiades Seeks Meet to Seek New Way to Secure $17 Billion To Further Discussion From Wary Eurozone ISTANBUL (AP) — Regional rivals Greece and Turkey want to overcome long-standing differences through dialogue and can resolve Cyprus's division if they show the will, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday. Erdogan was speaking alongside his Greek counterpart, Antonis Samaras, following the second joint ministerial council meeting between Turkey and Greece aimed at building trust and strengthening economic ties between the two countries, which have nearly gone to war three times between 1974 and 1996. Ministers from both countries signed more than two dozen cooperation deals, including in health, tourism and fighting illegal migration. Relations between the uneasy NATO allies have improved greatly since the late 1990s, but Athens and Ankara remain at AP PHOTO Greek PM Antonis Samaras speaks to the media with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not pictured, after talks in Istanbul, Turkey. odds over a broad range of issues, including war-divided Cyprus, Aegean Sea boundaries, and illegal immigration. Greece is a main transit point for illegal immigrants entering the European Union, with most crossing into the country through Turkey. "We may have different opinions but we want to solve these by launching new channels of dialogue," Erdogan said. "I hope we will overcome the Cyprus issue through our common will... It's time to bury this problem in history." Cyprus was divided into an internationally recognized Greek speaking south and a breakaway Turkish speaking north in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. "This is a good day for Turkish-Greek ties," Samaras said, adding: "There have been ups and down in our ties, we cannot ignore this fact. But we want the history that we shall be writing from now on to be recalled by chapters entitled 'peace' and 'development.'" The leaders did not directly address the contentious issue of determining each neighbors' rights for exploring and exploiting potential mineral and fossil fuel deposits, but the Greek leader said the question of the delineation of the continental shelf was being discussed by officials during regular lower-level discussions. Also, Greece has offered its support to regional rival Turkey's bid to host the 2020 Olympics. The prime ministers of both countries signed an agreement pledging to cooperate on Istanbul's latest bid for the games. The accord was signed by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime MinContinued on page 11 TNH Staff NICOSIA, Cyprus – The top agenda item for Nicos Anastasiades, the newly-elected president of the Republic of Cyprus, is securing a a 17 billion euro bailout from the members of the Eurozone. One of the main obstacles is the island nation’s reputation as a haven for moneylaundering, Cyprus partners also have purely economic concerns. The Associated Press (AP) reported that “Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem declined to answer questions on whether Cypriot bank bondholders — and possibly even depositors – should be forced to pay a share of the cost of the bailout, saying the negotiations with Cyprus' new government were only starting. Dijsselbloem reiterated that the eurozone seeks to finalize the bailout by the end of the month.” The AP explained, however that “the idea of making bondAnthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, received the Award of Excellence for the promotion of the world’s shared Hellenic heritage by the National Hellenic Museum boards chairman John Calamos, Sr. $350,000 for Nat’l Hellenic Museum Catsimatidis By Anthe Mitrakos CHICAGO, IL – A carnival spirit was in the air at the National Hellenic Museum’s second annual Ambrosia Ball on March 2nd. Held at the Hilton Palmer the Museum’s House, fundraiser, which raised over $350,000, brought together some 300 of the Greek-American community’s leaders in education, business, and philanthropy. Honored that night with an award of excellence for his promotion of the world’s shared Hellenic heritage was Dr. Anthony Papadimitriou, President and Treasurer of the Vaduz, Liechtenstein-established Alexander S. Onassis Foundation. The evening was hosted by the Fox News Chicago anchor Anna Davlantes. George Stephanopoulos, co-anchor of “Good Morning America,” who could not be in attendance, served as honorary chair, while Dr. George Korkos, president at Plastic Surgery Associates, and Mrs. Penny Korkos, served as chairs of the night. Major benefactors included the families of Mary and Michael Jaharis, Dean and Marianne Metropoulos, and the Halikias Family. Notable guests in attendance were former Ambassador of Greece to the United States Loukas Tsilas, Director of Cultural Affairs at Onassis Foundation USA Amalia Cosmetatou, Consul-General of Greece in Chicago Ioanna Efthymiadou, and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. “On a more personal note, I Continued on page 4 The Fall of Amb.’s Dinner Heralds Hellenic-Israeli Alliance Const/ople: Is a Lesson For Greece TNH Staff By Constantine S. Sirigos TNH Staff Writer NEW YORK – An entertaining and informative lecture by the author of the new book Queen of Cities: A Historical Novel on The Fall of Constantinople not only illuminated a seminal moment in the history of the Greek nation for a standing room only audience at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Ballroom, but was also a humbling reminder that civilizations that endure for millennia by virtue of their genius can also be brought low by ignoble qualities that lurk in the shadows of their glory days. The author and presenter, Professor Andrew Novo of the National Defense University, opened by noting parallels with the current Greek crisis. Infighting among Greeks, massive tax evasion and incompetence that crippled the state, and dependence on European partners either reluctant to help or clueless about what needs to be done are characteristic of 1453 and 2013. The event on March 5 was a presentation of the Cyprus Federation of America in cooperation with Investors Bank (which recently acquired Marathon Bank of New York) and Piraeus Bank. Natalie Nicolaou, a Princeton graduate who works for Investors Bank and who is married to Professor Novo, was the MC and moderator of the Q&A that followed the lecture. Peter Papanicolaou, the Federation’s president, welcomed the guests, and there were greetings from Kevin Cummings, President & Chief Executive Officer of InContinued on page 3 For subscription: 718.784.5255 [email protected] WASHINGTON, DC – The Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, and his wife Sally, hosted a dinner at the Ambassador's residence on the evening of February 27 in honor of a new congressional grouping called the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance, which is dedicated to improving Israeli-Greek-Cypriot ties. The co-chairmen of the newly established caucus, Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL), as well as lawmakers including Reps. John Sarbanes (DMD) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), who is the senior Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, and special guests from across the United States, attended the reception at Ambassador Oren's residence. Also present were Christos Panagopoulos, the Ambassador of Greece to the United States, and Olympia Neocleous, the charge d'affaires at the Cypriot embassy in Washington. Continued on page 2 TNH Staff Writer FLUSHING – The Pancyprian Women’s Issues Network (WIN) marked its 18th Anniversary and honored Nicole Petallides, Anchor for Fox Business Network, 2013 Woman of the Year with at their annual dinner dance on March 2 at Terrace on the Park. A feeling of family often prevails at community events, but the WIN gala was more of a family affair than usual. Petallides’ family, well-known in the United States and Cyprus for their devotion to the Cyprus cause and the community as a whole, came out in force. Some of the dignitaries who addressed the guests felt the need to declare they Continued on page 7 Is on Jewish Radio Show TNH Staff NEW YORK – John Catsimatidis, who has made a name for himself as a tirelessly productive businessman and philanthropist, is working hard to present himself as the person best qualified to carry the mayoral baton after the combined 20-year run of Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. Vowing to spend the necessary money to fund his campaign, he is making his case directly to the New York’s numerous ethnic and social groups, and through their media outlets. On February 28 he appeared on Michael Fragin’s program The Continued on page 6 AGAPW and John Jay’s Forum about Trafficking By Constantine S. Sirigos TNH Staff Writer a man of deep personal faith, passionate commitment to Orthodoxy and Hellenism, and a leading personage of enterprise. He was an elegant and eloquent man who took very seriously his responsibility for the dual legacies of Hellenism and Orthodoxy. His leadership at the FAITH Endowment has left an enduring positive mark not only on the Fund, but in the greater life of the Archdiocese, offering his faithful and dedicated services as a Member of the Archdiocesan Council and the Executive Committee. He will surely be deeply missed by his family, but also by all of us who have had the lasting privilege to know and work with him for the good of the Church. May his memory be eternal.” The son of Greek immigrants from Arcadia, Kikis was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York. When he was eleven NEW YORK – The Association of Greek American Professional Women (AGAPW) and the Center for International Human Rights of John Jay College presented a Forum on Human Trafficking on February 24. The forum featured a panel discussion that was preceded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) film Not My Life which “depicts the scourge of human trafficking on a global scale.” Filmed on five continents in a dozen countries, Not My Life takes viewers into a world where millions of children are exploited through practices including forced labor, domestic servitude, begging, sex tourism and child soldiering, according to UNICEF. The purpose of such events is to provide people with information that will enable them to speak out pressure their governments to take action. The spirit of the event was summarized by a young person in the film who said “I cannot live a good life when other people are living like animals, not because I can a good person but because they are human beings like me. “ One of the stories was that of Grace from Uganda, who told of her horrific experience as a child soldier, saying, “marching into the Sudan was like marching into a grave.” She said the dehumanization process that facilitates the exploitation of children often began with their being ordered to shoot their own Continued on page 8 Continued on page 7 It was a night for celebrating the many things Greeks and Jews have in common and appreciate about one another’s cultures, but the musicians stole the show at the residence of Ambassador Oren, who joined them on percussion. WIN Honors Community Bids Adieu to Peter Kikis Fox Anchor Petallides By Constantine S. Sirigos Continued on page 11 NEW YORK – Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and stalwart of the Greek Orthodox Church, Peter T. Kikis has fallen asleep in the Lord at the age of 90. Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over the funeral which was held at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan on March 6. Friends and family were joined by Greece’s UN Ambassador Greece's UN Ambassador Anastassis Mitsialis, George Iliopoulos, Greece's Consul General in New York, and Cyprus' Consul General Koula Sophianou. Kikis was the president and an original founding member of “Faith: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism,” a member of the Order of St. Andrew with the title Archon Maestor, and a member of Leadership 100. A trusted advisor to Archbishop Demetrios, Kikis had served as a member of the Ex- Businessman and philanthropist Peter T. Kikis. ecutive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council. Archbishop Demetrios of America released this statement: Mr. Peter T. Kikis. Peter was COMMUNITY 2 Lemnian Society "Hephaestos" Honors Douris TNH Staff Writer ABOVE: The ballroom and the famed Terrace on the Park in Flushing is filled with the members of the Pan-Lemnian Association and friends of Evangeline Douris, the evening’s honoree. LEFT: Evangeline Douris, who was born on the island of Lemnos, receives a plaque during the 2013 dinner dance of the Pan-Lemnian Association Hephaestos dinner dance in her honor. Dimitris Vekiarellis and Alexander Tsoukalas. and important member of the community, Evangeline Douris, who as a little girl proudly wore the traditional costume of Lemnos and danced as a member of the dance troupe. Mrs. Douris continues to make us proud with her tireless efforts at HANAC, an organization that helps to improve our lives.” Hephaestus President Dimitris Vekiarellis, and Alexander Tsoukalas, who was in charge of the commemorative journal, said the event’s success points to a bright future for the organization. The president of the Federation of Greek Societies of Greater New York, Elias Tsekeridis congratulated Hephaestus for its decision to honor Douris and invited the guests to participate in this year’s Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan. The Consul General of Greece in New York George Eliopoulos and the Consul General of Cyprus Koula Sofianou congratulated Douris, as well as Hephaestus for its century of work and love for Lemnos. New York Assemblywoman Aravella Simo- tas spoke touchingly of the honoree as an example to many Greek-American and about HANAC. Tsoukalas awarded scholarships to Aspasia Vasilopoulos and Mary Dimitropoulou. The scholarships are offered annually in memory of Eraklis Diamataris, the father of the National Herald’s Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris. Stamatiki Valiotis then presented George Sourelo with the Stamatios and Stamatiki Valiotis Scholarship. Dimitrios Filios was the ebullient Emcee, and entertainment was provided by vocalists Grigori Maninakis and Vicky Palma and the Microcosmos Ensemble. Israeli Amb. Hosts Dinner to Honor Hellenic-Israeli Alliance Continued from page 1 About 50 invited guests, Greeks and Jews from all over America, including some Greek Jews also attended and heard the official representatives of the three countries speak with warm and encouraging words, highlighting the common historical experience that linked them, but they also spoke about the future. Ambassador Oren declared, “Jews and Greeks share a 3,000year history. Sit anywhere in the State of Israel and we find evidence of how Jews and Greeks lived and flourished together in antiquity. For the last 20 years, Greece and Israel have enjoyed excellent relations. Now, that relationship has truly blossomed into the fields of energy, agriculture, trade, military cooperation, and tourism. This year alone, some 400,000 Israelis visited Greece, and we expect even more next year. Our friendship finds expression here in the bipartisan Congressional HellenicIsrael Alliance that was announced last week, chaired by Reps. Ted Deutch and Gus M. Bilirakis.” The Israeli Ambassador also noted the importance of the joint exercises of Greek and Israeli Air Forces. According the Israeli embassy’s press release, “Oren in his remarks at the dinner, touted shared economic and strategic GOINGS ON... n MARCH 4-30 MANHATTAN – The community is invited to the new exhibition: “Lilia: Revealing Moments,” at Elga Wimmer Gallery, 526 W. 26 Street, #310 in Manhattan. 212-206-0006, March 4 – March 30. Lilia’s new series of works combines physical media -stone, plaster, rope- and digital media – 3d printed sculptures, photography- to explore the concept of the female body. By Demetrios Tsakas FLUSHING – The Pan Lemnian Philanthropic Association “Hephaestos” celebrated the 107th anniversary of its founding and the 101st anniversary of the liberation of the island of Lemnos with a dinner dance at Terrace on the Park on March 2. The gala was rich with emotions and memories because it was dedicated to the beloved Evangeline Douris, who is Chairman of the Board of Director of the social service institution HANAC, and because numerous speakers made references to Lemnos and to the contribution the Hephaestos has made through the years – especially during the difficult post-World War II period – to its island homeland and to the GreekAmerican community. Hephaestus’ dance troupe presented traditional dances, which won accolades from the guests, and provided evidence, along with the scholarship ceremony, of the relevance of this historic club for the younger generation. Douris declared she was proud of her roots in the village of Moudros and recounted with emotion her visits there with her parents. She reminisced about her participation in the dance troupe and the events organized by Hephaestus. She also spoke about HANAC and the services it offers to members of the community and new immigrants. As for the award that she received that night, she said it is the biggest and most important distinction she has ever received, and dedicated it to the late parents, Constantine and Hariklia Papataros. The event’s organizer, Argyrios Makris, referred to the Greek crisis and declared that all eyes are on Greece and its struggles, and especially on Lemnos. "We are closely monitoring developments and we are ready to help again,” he declared. Referring to the honoree, he said: "I am delighted the Board has decided to honor a dynamic THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 Congressional Co-Chairs of the Hellenic-Israel Caucus, Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (DFL), along with Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) stand with Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador Michael Oren and Charge d’Affaires Olympia Neocleous, Eliot Engel (D-NY). interests among the three countries. Christos Panagopoulos, the Greek ambassador to Washington, said cooperation among the three countries would bring ‘peace, stability and prosperity’ to the region.” Ambassador Panagopoulos, speaking at the Capitol Hill Reception that launched the Alliance two weeks earlier, said that “the creation of the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance reflects the evolving cooperation between our countries, to the benefit of the regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean… and we discovered in this process how many things unite us and can serve as a pillar of prosperity and stability in the otherwise troubled area.” A FESTIVAL OF GREEK LITERATURE AND BOOKS P resented by The Athenians’ Society of new york, in collaboration with The embassy of Greece in washington, D.c., the Department of Greek Studies at the university of Georgetown, and the library of congress. FOUNDED 1928 P.O. BOX 5725, ASTORIA, NY 11105 www.atheniansociety.com email: [email protected] 718-721-1113 The Festival will be devoted to the Greek poet constantine cavafy on the anniversary of his birth and celebrated this year by uneScO. The Festival will include introductions by keynote Speaker, Vassilis lambropoulos, cavafy chair, Professor of classics and comperative literature at the university of michigan and presentations by members of the Athenians’ Society, poets yiota Strati, nikos Alexiou, Tasos mouzakis, nikos Zavolas & elias neofotistos. The event will feature the work of our modern Greek authors and poets who will present their projects and books. The library of congress will exhibit rare books of poetry from their cavafy collection. Greek Publishing Houses and authors will present books for sale. Saturday, March 16, 2013 • 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Georgetown university | bunn intercultural center Auditorium 37th and O Streets, nw, washington, D.c 20057 For more informations: Panos Adamopoulos, 718.721.1111, [email protected] © WR Historical screen footage on the life and works of constantine cavafy and readings of poems in an open forum will follow. Ambassador Oren echoed his colleague at the dinner he hosted, and pointed out that the land of Israel is filled with Greek remains and that even the land on which the Israeli Parliament stands is leased from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He also noted that Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population is growing. Congressman Bilirakis declared the evening was filled with kefi – good energy and spirits – and guests reported that it was a cheerful, joyous occasion. They were delighted by the four talented musicians are known informally as the “Hellenic Israel Consort,” who stole the show. The Consort was comprised of two Greeks and two Israelis: Magda Giannikou, Dan Nadel, Petros Klampanis and Rafi Malkiel, but for one song they were joined on percussion by the smiling Israeli Ambassador. They played numerous Greek and Israeli songs including "Thalassaki Mou - My Little Sea,” and "Mou Spasane to Baglama – they broke my baglama.” It was noted that many Israeli popular songs have Greek roots. The food was Israeli, but the toasts were made with glasses of ouzo from Lesvos. Ambassador Oren posted on Facebook that ““I was thrilled to host an evening celebrating the Hellenic-Israeli Alliance filled with great food, music, and friends. This colorful friendship was on display last night at my residence. The dinner comes on the heels of the launch of the Congressional Israel-Hellenic Alliance celebrating the friendship between Israel, the Unites States, Greece, and Cyprus.” n MARCH 8 MANHATTAN – Internet Dating: The Good, the Bad and the Outrageous will be the topic of a program sponsored by the Hellenic University Club (HUC) of New York and the Greek American Behavioral Institute. Teacher Alexis Kiriazides and journalist Dean Sirigos will address the pros and cons of the 21st century phenomenon. Psychologist Tom Mallios will then weigh in and Fr. Anastasios Gounaris will present his views leading into a lively give and take with attendees who are encouraged to bring their “war stories” and questions. Reception follows. ADMISSION FREE. 6:30PM, Friday, Mar. 8 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. 337 East 74th Street in Manhattan (212) 661-8026. n MARCH 9 MANHATTAN – The Hellenic Medical Society will re-create a traditional Macedonian Apokries – Mardi Gras celebration with costumes, traditional meatfare and other delicious Greek specialties, and live music with Lefteris Bournias and the Kavala Brass Band and the Greek Choir of Folk Songs with Athanasia Filios.7PM Saturday, Mar. 9th at the Ballroom of Holy Trinity Cathedral. Come dressed for the festivities! Our Society plans to support relief efforts in Greece through a silent auction and donations at this celebration. For tickets contact Evangelia Tsavaris at 718-398-2440. n MARCH 10 FLUSHING – The Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Society will honor the women of our parishes who have served Philoptochos for fifty years or more. The event will be held on Sunday, March 10 at 1PM Terrace on the Park, in Flushing. The proceeds of this fundraiser will be used to assist over 100 Greek Orthodox families that have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy, as well as benefiting the newly acquired Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy at 126 East 37th Street in Manhattan. For luncheon reservations $65 per person, please contact Marina Katsoulis at 516-627-0580 or [email protected]. n MARCH 13 MANHATTAN –The PC of the Church of the annunciation in conjunction with the Philoptochos Society invites you to a conversation with Klaus Kenneth, author of the best-selling book, “Born to Hate, Reborn to Love”. It is an opportunity to hear and speak with Mr. Kenneth about his remarkable spiritual odyssey. Wednesday, March 13, 6:30PM in Demas Hall; a reception will follow. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 302 West 91st Street, (at West End Ave.) in Manhattan. 212724-2070. n MARCH 16 WASHINGTON, DC – The Athenians’ Society of NY in collaboration with the Embassy of Greece, the Dept. of Greek Studies at Georgetown University, and the Library of Congress presents “A Festival of Greek Literature and Books” devoted to Constantine Cavafy on the anniversary of his birth. Saturday, March 16 10 AM to 3 PM at the Bunn Intercultural Center Auditorium of Georgetown U. For information contact Panos Adamopoulos at 718-721-1111 or [email protected]. n MARCH 17 HOLMDEL, NJ – The nationally famous Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey (HDNJ) present Journey to Greece Through Dance, Sunday, Mar. 17, at Holmdel High School Theater, 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, with a performance of traditional Greek folk dance from 3–5PM. Light refreshments will be avail- able for purchase during intermission. All tickets for the event are $20, and will be available at the door. Advance reservations for this event can be made by contacting Cheryl Bontales, 7 3 2 - 7 9 6 - 1 0 0 6 ; [email protected]. This event is funded in part by the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, Inc., and New Jersey State Council on the Arts - Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. n MARCH 18 MANHATTAN – Kellari Taverna is pulling out all the stops for the annual Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) dinner to benefit the renowned Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens on Monday, March 18 at 6:30PM! Executive Chef Gregory Zapantis is serving a spectacular menu of Mediterranean dishes There will be an open bar from 6:30 to 7:30 PM and Greek wines and beer will be served throughout the evening. Music will be provided by Gregory Maninakis and his trio. For reservations call 609-454-6814. n MARCH 23 NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – “Manolos Mitsias Sings for Greece” is a benefit concert in support of charities working to alleviate the suffering of children in Greece and Cyprus. Presented by the P.G.E.I of American Charitable Foundation, The Hellenic Federation of NJ, and members of Pan Gregorian Enterprises. Proceeds to benefit: Hamogelo tou Pediou (The Smile of the Child), which provides a home and other services to needy children throughout Greece; Kivotos tou Kosmou (Ark of the World), which provides services to needy families in Greece; Apostoli of the Archdiocese of Athens, and the Cyprus Children’s Fund. Saturday, Mar. 23 at 7PM and the Nicholas Music Center of the Rutgers University Douglass Campus. For tickets and info call 201-981-5764 or 908-624-0250. n APRIL 11 MANHATTAN – The 2013 Annual Career and Internship Fair sponsored by The Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be held on Thursday, April 11,from 4:30 – 6:45 PM at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Center Ballroom, 337 East 74th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) in Manhattan. Guest Speaker Maggie Stavrianidis Human Resources Business Partner. Job seekers should come with their resume. Company representatives will be available to discuss career and internship opportunities. Companies in the fields of Insurance, Banking, Accounting, Attorneys, Trading, Finance, and many others will be on hand to meet with job fair applicants. Additional companies interested in participating, contact: Despina Axiotakis, Executive Director 201444-5609 or e-mail: [email protected] . Admission is Free Refreshments will be served. n APRIL 13 QUEENS, NY – The Hellenic Relief Foundation presents an evening with renowned composer Yannis Spanos and vocalist Hrysoula stafanakis in a benefit piano-voice concert. Saturday, April 13, 8 PM Queensborough Performing Arts Center; 222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY. Free parking. Tickets and information, 347-2011821 or [email protected]. Tickets online: www.hellenicrelief.org. Hellenic Relief: Preserving Dignity in Crisis. n APRIL 20 ASTORIA – The Hellenic Cultural Center and the Mikrokosmos Ensemble present a historical concert “Rebetiko …To Perpetuity” spanning the history of classical Rebetika from Smyrna ….to Pireaus…and the Blues of New Orleans with Grigoris Maninakis and the Mikrokosmos Ensemble. Narration by Stelios Taketzis. Friday, April 19 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 PM; and Sunday, Apr. 21 at 5PM at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 27-09 Crescent Street in Astoria. Reservations Mon. – Fri. 10AM4PM at 718-626-5111; other times: 917- 915-8647 QUESTION OF THE WEEK Vote on our website! You have the chance to express your opinion on our website on an important question in the news. The results will be published in our printed edition next week along with the question for that week. The question this week is: Do you think the No Smoking law in Greece will be enforced this time? o Yes o No o Maybe The results for last week’s question: Would you like to see Olympia Snowe run for president of the United States? 43% voted "Yes" 29% voted "No" 28% voted "Maybe" Please vote at: www.thenationalherald.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 COMMUNITY 3 Epirotes Abroad VIP Gatzoyiannis in Greece ATHENS – Nikos Gatzoyiannis, the author and honorary president of the World Council of Epirotes Abroad, recently visited Greece to participate in the 100th anniversary celebration of the liberation of Epiros from the Ottoman Turks on February 21. After the celebration, he went to Athens where he met with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Foreign Minister Demitris Avramopoulos, Minister of Defense Panos Panoyiotopoulos, Interior Minister Evrypides Stylianidis, and Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantinos Tsiaras. While in Athens the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Smith, gave a dinner in honor of the author at his residence on March 1 that was attended by Samaras and several of Gatzoyiannis’ friends. Pictured in the photo to the left are, left to right, Christina Mihalos, Gatzoyiannis, Prime Samaras, Hollywood producer Stratton Leopold, his wife Mary, Smith’s wife Diane, and Amb. Smith. Amb. and Mrs. Smith are great admirers of the literary works of Mr. Gatzoyiannis, who even visited his native village in Epiros, Lia, last summer. Another admirer of the author is Ambassador to Hungary Eszter Sandorfi, who gave a dinner in his honor on March 3 at her residence in Psychiko. Among the guests were the Ambassadors of Canada and Bulgaria, all of whom accepted an invitation from Gatzoyiannis to visit Epiros and his village next July. Lecture on the Fall of Constantinople Draws Parallels to Crisis in Greece Continued from page 1 vestors Bank and Constantinos Loizides, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Piraeus Bank. Archbishop Demetrios offered closing remarks. Novo explained that although “the book is dramatic in design, its aim is not to present fiction, but the drama of the historical and personal reality. It attempts to bring characters and worldchanging events to life. Here on one of history’s grandest stages was a story “two worlds, two faiths, two cultures, an immortal struggle over a legendary city at once impregnable and vulnerable,” and pitting two radically different personalities against one another: Constantine XI of Constantinople, and the 21 year-old Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. The Sultan, whose mother was Greek and saw himself as the legitimate and worthy heir to the Caesars, was brilliant, cultured, sometimes cruel, and impatient for the glory the city’s conquest would provide him. He was also anxious over the attacks and betrayals that would lead to his own death in the event of failure. Among the fascinating facts is that both men were wary of their second in command, the Turks’ Grand Vizier, Halil Pasha, who was suspected of Greek sympathies, and Megadux Notaras, who was shipping family gold out of the city as the Ottoman vise – which could have been smashed if the Emperor could have secured more resources – was closing. One Westerner, at least, was distinguished for his passion and commitment to the defense of the City, the ironically named Genoese condottieri Giovanni Giustiniani, who fought valiantly until he was mortally wounded on the last day of the siege. Constantinople was for centuries the greatest city in the world, an engine of economic and cultural achievement as well as caretaker of the glories of the Hellenic past. Novo noted that by the fateful day of May 29, 1453 it was barely a shell of its former self, its empire gone – only the City, its suburbs and the Morea were left – its population shrunken to a mere 50,000. No more than 5000 soldiers could be mustered by the Emperor of a non-Empire. The Turks had 80,000 troops, including the formidable Jannisaries, veterans of conquests throughout the Balkans and Asia Minor. Despite numerous renaissances and comebacks, Byzantine prospects were bleak. Centuries of Civil War, greed that exempted the rich and powerful from taxation and caused even Orthodox church leaders to refuse to share its massive wealth in support of national defense, and the bad luck to be completely surrounded by enemies took their tool. The tragedy can be encapsulated in one fact: more than any other element – luck, good or a bad, is always a factor in war – it was Mehmet II’s massive cannons that decided the outcome by battering the city’s 1000 year old wall to dust. The Turks did not invent artillery, however. Cannon-maker Orban was first in the employ of Above: Prof. Andrew Novo, author of Queen of Cities: A Historical Novel on The Fall of Constantinople, addresses an SRO audience (above) at the Cathedral, which included fascinated dignitaries (left). Constantine, but he was unable to raise the funds to pay him. Reduced to poverty waiting for the check in the Byzantine mail, he sold his services to the affluent Mehmet, and the City’s doom was sealed. Among the lessons Novo believes must be learned from the fate of Byzantium is the need to avoid cycles of violence and retribution – and of the scourge of selective memory. Although Greeks will “never forget” the rape of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Westerners note that in 1182 tens of thousands of Latins were massacred in Constantinople in 1182. By adding a moral motive to western greed, the Greeks provoked the Latin conquest of the empire. Although the City was recovered, its ultimate fall became all but inevitable. The book was a 10-year project of scholarship and creativity for Novo. His research included delving deep into the roots of Byzantium, or rather, as he explained, the empire whose inhabitants were the products of the glories of ancient Greece and the conquests of Alexander the Great but called themselves Romans. During the Q&A, one guest presented a question urged on by his 10 year-old son about “What happened to the Greeks between Alexander and Constantine XI?” Novo’s two minute summary was breathtaking, causing the audience look forward to future books and presentations. Guests declared the night the cultural event of the season. Cummings said his bank participated “because we are committed to the community… and it was also an opportunity to work with Piraeus Bank to continue the rich Greek heritage in this country.” As an American of Irish descent, he appreciates that the descendants of immigrant must work hard to preserve their heritage. Loizides told TNH that although Piraeus bank no longer has a physical presence in New York, he wanted “to keep in touch with our friends and saying thank you.” COMMUNITY 4 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 Ambrosia Ball 2013 Raises $350,000 for the National Hellenic Museum Continued from page 1 am moved by the presence of Ambassador Loukas Tsilas, a great mentor to me and many others, whose work as Executive Director of the Onassis Foundation USA, has raised the bar for anyone who undertakes the presentation of Greek arts and culture in the Unites States,” said Connie Mourtopalas, president of the National Hellenic Museum, in a statement. Chicagoland’s Orpheus Dance Troupe provided traditional apokriatiko entertainment. The costumed and masked group performed the “gaitanaki,” or maypole dance, a performance special to Kathara Deutera, while “koudounatoi,” bell-bearers, danced around tables, bringing to light the traditions of the Aegean island of Skyros. After dinner, guests danced the night away to music by DJ John Grammatis and live entertainment by Public i Band. Tickets were $350 a person. John P. Calamos, CEO of Calamos Investments, who sits TNH spoke with John P. Calamos Sr. of Calamos Investments, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Hellenic Museum. TNH: What are your impressions tonight on the Museum’s second annual Ambrosia Ball? JC: It is a great success. We are excited about the participation with the Onassis Foundation. I think part of the mission of the Museum is to really bring it out to more and more people so they understand what’s going on. Having the Onassis Foundation here, considering all the good work that they do all over the world…that's a great success. TNH: Are you working with the Onassis Foundation for the first time? JC: Yes. I have been in contact with them for many months. We are trying to leverage off a lot of the work they do…they may have exhibits there that we’ll bring to the Museum here. Obviously they have a lot of knowledge, they have been doing this for decades and we like that collaboration with Over 300 Apokries guests enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing, and disguise. Above: Koudounati, the Bell Bearers of Skyros, kicked off the evening by dancing around the tables, followed by the Gaitananki (Maypole Dance) performed by the Orpheus Dance Troupe. have to revel in our traditions and customs, and have fun doing it. Dr. & Mrs. Korkos 2013 Ambrosia Ball Chairs, and Presvytera and Father James Dokas were among the hundreds of guests who enjoyed a fantastic party for a good cause. on the board of the National Hellenic Museum, presented the Award of Excellence to Dr. Papadimitriou. “We of Hellenic origin have traversed the world for thousands of years and have created history wherever we have been,” Calamos said in a statement. “With Dr. Papadimitriou at the helm, the Onassis Foundation continues to be an ambassador of Hellenic culture around the world.” somebody as knowledgeable as they are. TNH: Would you say this year that there is a greater outreach in terms of bringing the Museum to a nationally-acknowledged level? JC: That’s an excellent point. One of the things we are trying to do this year is make it not just about Chicago Greek-Americans, but to expand nationally. So this is really sort of the launch of that. How do we do Chicago’s famed Palmer House Hilton Hotel was filled with the spirit of Carnival – Greek style - for the National Hellenic Museum’s second annual Ambrosia Ball on March 2. Major Ambrosia Ball donations included the following: Chairman’s Circle ($35,000) • Calamos Investments • Mary & Michael Jaharis Platinum Benefactors ($25,000) • Republic Bank & the Halikias Family • Dean & Marianne Metropoulos Gold Benefactors ($15,000) • Dr. & Mrs. George J. Korkos • The Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation • Grecian Delight & the Parthenis Family • Earth Friendly Products & the Vlahakis Family • Oxford Insurance & the Danos Family Grand Benefactors ($10,000) • Mr. & Mrs. John T. Matthews • Thompson Coburn, LLP – Tom & Christy Skallas • In honor of Sotiri & Dimitra Kamberos that? And how can we be more successful in bringing it to a national level? That’s what we’re trying to do. We are reaching out to the National Hellenic Society and others we can collaborate with and make it a truly national museum. TNH: Do you see a potential collaboration with institutions in Greece, to bring Greek exhibits here, for example? J.C: I visit Greece two to three times a year. We’re talking about that, but I don’t know. At this point, our mission is to really make sure that we honor the heritage and contributions of Greek-Americans to the United States, that’s our main focus. TNH also spoke with Dr. George Korkos, President at Plastic Surgery Associates, and new member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. TNH: What is the significance to you in having recently joined the National Hellenic Museum? G.K: This evening represented a deep concept of our heritage. I am a new trustee of the National Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center only because I am serious about my heritage. It is very important because when you think of all the problems our parents had to go through when they came here… all the travesties and shortcomings, to make our life a lot better here in America, we owe it to them to disseminate Hellenism in this country. Otherwise, if we don’t do it, no one is going to do it, and it will become extinct. The other thing that is very important to me is that I personally have a vision and a wish to educate our young professionals and educators to the ideals of Hellenic culture as it pertains to western civilization as contributions. I am just very happy to be a trustee of the Museum. The National Hellenic Museum is really also a cultural center to disseminate this history of ours and preserve it. But we also have to have fun. We TNH spoke with Dr. Anthony Papadimitriou as well, who is the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation Board of Directors President and Treasurer. TNH: What does receiving the National Hellenic Museum’s 2013 Award of Excellence mean to you? AP: It is a very moving event. I am deeply honored and grateful for the award, but I am also very happy to find myself in the Greek-American community of Chicago…a community that comes from Arcadia, and maintains all its traditions in a way which is quite rare, in fact. The National Hellenic Museum is doing a great job in maintaining Greek culture and traditions. It does a great and necessary job in maintaining and saving, for future generations, the memories and history of the Greeks in Chicago and North America – the way they started more than 100 years ago, from their birthplaces, how they relate to the city, how they survived in the city, how they made good in the city…how they became rich and powerful in the city. Maintaining those memories is a very important part of maintaining traditions. The other important thing is that the National Hellenic Museum is actually working to promote Greek culture within the general American public. That is an important goal…not to keep Greek culture only within ourselves, but to get Greek culture outside and penetrate the consciousness of the rest of the Americans. In a funny way, in order to attract more Greeks, you have to have programs that attract the American public at large. Because second and third generation Greeks are not so much interested in traditions, but rather, they are interested in the deep-rooted reality of Hellenism, which is a common heritage of all of humanity. TNH: How do you see the Onassis Foundation collaborating with the National Hellenic Museum in the near future? AP: I see a bright future in this collaboration because by uniting our multiple efforts. We share the same vision and goals as Mr. Calamos and Connie Mourtopalas and have already discussed various ways to do more things in New York and Chicago, and throughout North America. TNH: The Onassis Foundation has backed up many important projects promoting Hellenism. Is there some insight you can give us regarding your involvement with the Foundation since 1988, and what are some things that have improved since then? AP: We have evolved a lot in the attitude we have because we are now more outgoing. We are doing more activities which are focused on the outside world, and the activities we do are in a sense more focused. There are only so many groups that can give large amounts of money to fund a project, and even less that can give the gift of $1 million or more. We are in the position of being endowed by Onassis to do important projects, so we don't squander our efforts in many small projects, but rather, we have decided to focus on few significant projects. Also, we don’t see our role only as giving money, we see our role as organizing people so that this money is used in a better and more efficient way. We provide our enthusiasm, knowledge, expertise, and the expertise of the people working for us to make it happen. Money on its own is not enough. You need organization and an efficient structure to make most of the money. ABOUT DR. ANTHONY S. PAPADIMITRIOU: Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Dr. Anthony Papadimitriou began his legal career specializing in commercial law representing large shipping companies in 1977, after having graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens. In 1981 he earned his postgraduate degree in Maritime and Transportation Law from the University of Aixen-Provence. In 1984 Dr. Papadimitriou obtained a B. Sc. Degree in economics from the London School of Economics. He also holds a Doctorate in Political Science and Public Administration from the National University of Athens. In 1989 he was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Greece. In 1988, on the recommendation of then President Christina Onassis, Dr. Papadimitriou was elected on the Board of Directors of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and had served as coordinator of the He served as legal counsel to Olympic Shipping and Management S.A. from 1986 to 2005 when he was unanimously elected to lead the Foundation as president and treasurer. Dr. Papadimitriou has since then been responsible for public benefit, welfare, and business activities of the Foundation, which fund philanthropic endeavors. About the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation: The Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation was established in December 1975 in accordance with Aristotle Onassis’ wish to honor the memory of his late son Alexander, who tragically died in an airplane crash at the young age of 25. The foundation has since funded and supported a myriad of cultural, educational, environmental, and health-related projects pertaining to Greece and Hellenism around the world. The foundation’s activities promote the humanistic ideals of the Hellenic civilization. For more information please visit: onassisusa.org and onassis.gr. About the National Hellenic Museum: Based in Chicago’s Greektown since 1983, the National Hellenic Museum, previously known as the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, strives to preserve and explore Hellenism and to chronicle the Greek American journey through exhibitions, oral histories, archival collections, and educational programs. Located in a new 40,000square-foot space at 333 S. Halsted St. in Chicago, the Museum was established to connect all generations—past, present and future—to the rich heritage of Greek history, culture, art and the Greek American experience. The National Hellenic Museum’s 5-300 square foot John P. Calamos Sr. Great Hall and the 3,600 square foot signature Rooftop Terrace, featuring a panoramic view of Chicago, are available for rent to the public to host holiday parties, wedding receptions, business meetings and such. Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, assisted by his deacon, offered the invocation at the Ambrosia ball with an ApokriesCarnival flavor. For more info please visit: nationalhellenicmuseum.org. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 Grand Marshal: THE HONORABLE THEODORE SPYROPOULOS, PRESIDENT SAE, USA REGION COORDINATOR HONORARY MARSHAL: CONSUL GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS KOULA SOPHIANOU HONORARY MARSHAL: MR. JOHN KASTANIS, PRESIDENT / CEO TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM For more information contact: FEDERATION PRESIDENT Dimitrios Rozanitis 856-625-6708 PARADE CHAIR Stathis Karadonis 856-308-2877 PARADE CO-CHAIRS Mela Akranis 610-766-2649 • Nick Yiantsos 609-670-2749 • George G. Horiates, Esq. 856 986-8972 5 COMMUNITY 6 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 “Jobs, jobs jobs,” Catsimatidis Tells Supporters at AHEPA Brooklyn Chap. 41 By Eleni Kalogeras TNH Staff Writer NEW YORK – “Jobs, jobs, jobs” and vocational training on the high school level are the major topics in John Catsimatidis’ strategy as he presented it to his Greek-American and other supporters during an event organized by AHEPA’s, Brooklyn Chapter No.41 on March 5th. The event took place a month after Catsimatidis’ official announcement to run for the next Republican mayor of New York City, and it is the first event organized by his fellow GreekAmericans of AHEPA. During his speech, Catsimatidis who, according to Forbes magazine’s new list remains one of the wealthiest American businessmen, referred with obvious pride to his small Greek native island of Nisyros from where he immigrated to New York City with his parents when he was only six months old. He also referred with passion to Manhattan’s West Side as well as to Brooklyn Technical High School, where he studied, though his business instinct “forced” him to drop out and begin his massive entrepreneurship. He is well-known for his most successful business in ar- eas including supermarkets, airlines, oil, and real estate. But Catsimatidis’ most interesting remark was to the youth to trust New York’s public education system, yet to listen to their natural talents and follow their calling instead of a curriculum that wouldn’t lead them to winning in life. For “it’s all about winning” said Catsimatidis and again called on the young to trust their skills and combine both training and education in order to make a successful career with a respected annual income compared to the $8 hourly wage they would endure as high school dropouts. Catsimatidis proposed adding high school training for vocations such as carpenters and plumbers. Although a Republican himself, as he mentioned Catsima- tidis attracts also friends from the Democratic Party and remains an admirer of former United States President Bill Clinton, whom he considers one of the smartest persons he has ever known. But he has also praised the accomplishments of New York’s two most recent mayors, both Republicans, Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. PHOTOS: TnH/cOSTAS beJ (L-R) Republican Party county chairmen Craig Eaton, and Dan Isaacs, John Catsimatidis, former NY State Assemblyman Matthew Mirones, and attorney George Georgaklis. New York Mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis, who was born in Nisyros, addresses an enthusiastic gathering of friends and supporters at Brooklyn’s Bridgeview Diner. On the Campaign Trail, Catsimatidis Speaks on Jewish Political Radio Show Continued from page 1 Spin Class on Jewish Political Radio. Fragin described Catsimatidis as a very successful entrepreneur, founder of the Gristides supermarket chain, and with interests in real estate, energy: “a great American success story.” Fragin asked “what makes you think you will continue [the Republican mayoral winning streak]?” Catsimatidis replied: “I think New York has done well [during that time]. Rudy cleaned up all the problems in the streets, which was a really big problem. He said, “I lived in a doorman building but we also had an armed security guard. People were scared to walk around.” He said Bloomberg’s leadership “has caused tens of billions of dollars to flow into New York to keep New York going. Tourism is almost up to 60 million people, and people feel safe in the streets under police commissioner Ray Kelly.” Catsimatidis said that such accomplishments do not occur automatically. “It takes leadership to keep that money flowing in from all over the country and the world, keeping our hotels and restaurants full, selling our apartments. This is because they believe in New York as the greatest city in the world.” His message is simple and straightforward: “if we have the wrong person leading the city, that money is going to dry up fast. If we put the wrong person in as commissioner, that safety factor will go away.” He sees his campaign spending as an investment in the city that is the foundation of his success and his family’s well-being. “I’m a big stakeholder in New York. New York is responsible for my success and my family’s success.” He also supports immigration reform that will meet the City’s needs and provide others with the opportunities with which his family was blessed. He put his political ambitions and loyalties into perspective when he was asked to comment on why so many Republicans want to run for mayor but do not want to run for governor. “I love New York City. I don’t want to live upstate.” “My grandfathers came around 1911, and they were looking for the streets paved with gold. I want New York‘s doors to remain open, for immigration to open up and I want a great, successful New York going forward. Education is one of the great engines of New York’s greatness. Fragin said that among other issues, like the improvement of the public schools, the Jewish community is concerned about what the city can and cannot do about private schools. Catsimatidis replied “I think it’s very important that Jewish and Catholic Schools are not being abused and they should get some aid from the public school system, but I believe in a strong public school system. “ He said he attended public schools, P.S. 192 and the famed Brooklyn Technical High School, but noted that he also attended parochial schools for three years. He added, however, that the City is spending $26,000 per student each year. “If we could pay private schools $5000 and avoid spending $26000, it might make common sense.” He said that on such issues, “it’s not about being a Democrat or a Republican it’s about common sense.” That prompted the question of why he left the Democratic Party. “I was a Clinton Democrat. I still am. I didn’t leave the Party, the Democratic Party left me. I’m a pro-business Republican, but I’m also a pro social [and] environment Democrat. The Party in New York is a little too far on the left hand side of the political equation. NOT A BLOOMBERG BILLIONAIRE Catsimatidis said “the people in New York need a choice. They can vote for me as Republicans, Democrats, independents, maybe even as liberals. I grew up in Harlem on 135th Street. I am not a Bloomberg billionaire. I feel the pain of the people in the City, the storeowners, and the people living in every borough that we have to pay attention to. I am one of them, not a guy that went to Harvard, who went straight to work at Goldman Sachs or Salomon Brothers. “I’m the one with relatives in the other boroughs, in Queens. I’m the one who went to school in Brooklyn and the Bronx,” he said, and explained his relationship to the remaining borough, Staten Island: “We were so poor that the only vacations we took [were] on the Staten Island Ferry for a nickel, and we went back and forth three different trips.” Responding to the notion that Bill Clinton is not so popular among Republican voters, Catsimatidis said “but I still admire him. You have to look at who can win and the Republicans realize that you can support someone who can’t win, but you know what you accomplish? Nothing. I’m not sure New York is ready to go back to a pure Republican. Mitt Romney lost the city 81-19 percent.” Catsimatidis discussed some of his proposed initiatives, beginning with his call to freeze tolls, which he says is a big issue for people in all the boroughs. “In 1998 the tolls were $4 for a round trip, now [they are] $15. Inflation didn’t go up 400 percent. You must have guidelines… it’s wrong to punish people for no reason at all.” Although Fragin agreed those increases are outrageous, he added that purportedly, MTA’s costs are going up exponentially, especially with respect to labor costs, healthcare, and other factors. “How do you then pay for the expense,” Fragin asked the candidate. “You go through the budget step by step and you don’t abuse any particular people,” Catsimatidis replied. “We want fair treatment for all.” Regarding whether he would challenge Adolfo Carrion, who is running as an independent, Catsimatidis said “I don’t know. I read the Daily News like you did. We’ll see what happens. I like Adolfo, he’s a very nice person I hope everything’s ok with him.” To illustrate that he is a genuine, down-to-earth candidate and not a political panderer, Catsimatidis described his longstanding ties to the Jewish Community: “Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue, I’m on his Board, and Rabbi Shmuel Butman, for 20 years in a row I’ve been lighting the Menorah on Central Park South – I’m not a Johnny-come-lately.” ANALYSIS What John Catsimatidis Must Do to Become Mayor of New York City By Constantinos E. Scaros Greek-American self-made billionaire John Catsimatidis has eight months to convince New Yorkers why he ought to be their next mayor. But first, he must win the Republican Primary, whose current frontrunner is former Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Chairman Joe Lhota. Although Lhota has been widely praised for his brief leadership at the MTA, particularly his crisis management skills during Hurricane Sandy last fall, he is hardly a household word. That his support ranges anywhere from double to quadruple that of Catsimatidis’ at the moment, depending on the particular poll, is because he is the insider candidate – not because he (or anyone else thus far, for that matter), has won the hearts and minds of the City’s voters. On the Democratic side of the house, a host of candidates – including former Councilman Sal Albanese, former Comptroller Bill Thompson, and Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio – all lead Republican Lhota by at least a 2-to-1 margin. That the Democratic candidates – any of them, all of them – are the presumptive favorites should be no surprise: New York is a Democratic town, after all. Then again, current Mayor Mike Bloomberg and his immediate predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, both Republicans, have been among the most popular and highly-acclaimed mayors in the City’s history. In fact, one of New York’s most celebrated mayors of all time, Fiorello LaGuardia (for whom the airport was named), was also a Republican. Notably, La Guardia, Giuliani, and Bloomberg all have something in common: none of them fits the profile of bona fide conservative (paleo- or neo-), which in the post-Reagan era has become a virtual requirement for a Republican to win a national election. But all three exemplify the type of Republican that can generate broad appeal across party lines, for whom New Yorkers would vote. In other words, Grover Norquist and Sarah Palin need not apply. Catsimatidis, too, can be added to the La Guardia-Guiliani-Bloomberg list as a potentially-electable Republican mayor. “Am I a Democrat? Yes. Am I a Republican? Yes. Am I a liberal? Yes. Am I a conservative? Yes,” says Catsimatidis. A self-made mega-tycoon who grew up in poverty, Catsimatidis has never forgotten his humble and simple beginnings. Despite his 10-figure net worth not counting decimal points, he comes across as more of a regular guy than most, and has a wonderfully-essential homegrown New York accent, to boot. Far from being a liability, Catsimatidis’ billions can help him buy much-needed airtime to flood the television stations with campaign commercials. Before he begins spending, though, he ought to pay heed to some essential advice. 1. Do not listen to anyone who thought romney was going to win Many so-called experts said they were “stunned” that Mitt Romney lost the presidential election to Barack Obama this past November. The only stunning thing about that…is that they were stunned. Whoever could not see plain as day that as soon as the Republicans nominated Romney they had guaranteed their demise knows next to nothing about how to win elections, and should not be a strategist in Catsimatidis’ campaign. 2. It’s technology, stupid The catchphrase during the 1992 presidential election was “it’s the economy, stupid,” to underscore that the prevalent issue was the nation’s listless economy at the time. Incumbent George H.W. Bush insisted that TnH/cOSTAS beJ A Plain-Spoken, Regular Guy Billionaire Despite his tremendous success and staggering wealth, mayoral hopeful John Catsimatidis has not forgotten where he came from: the tiny Greek island of Nisyros, to be exact, and 135th street in Harlem. the economy was on the mend, whereas Bill Clinton told unemployed Americans “I feel your pain.” Clinton won. The economy is a great national issue, but to reach millions of New Yorkers, many of whom are not necessarily political creatures by nature, technology is the way to do it. As of this writing, when Googling Catsimatidis’ mayoral run, very little can be found. A bare-bones website about his mayoral bid appears, and there is no indication whether it is his official website, or one created independently by a supporter. It contains a couple of nice articles, but very little else by way of bells and whistles. If, in fact, the website and others like it was created independently by supporters, they are to be commended for their initiative. If Catsimatidis’ campaign is the site’s creator, though, then it needs to pour more time and money into it to give it much more flair. Also, a perfunctory Facebook search reveals very little in terms of “Catsimatidis for mayor.” Social media is the way to win elections nowadays – just ask President Obama. 3. Use the high road as a bully pulpit Sometimes, negative campaigns work, but other times they flop – as they so richly deserve to do. Political dogfights often result in a winner who prevails by a nose, with hardly a mandate in hand. When politicians concentrate on a positive message, however – Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton come to mind – they usually emerge victorious not in squeakers, but in routs. On the other hand, becoming a political punching bag that does not fight back is not the answer, either – as many readers can confirm in recalling Michael Dukakis’ presidential bid. A positive campaign message balanced with an aggressive counterattack to any negative attacks is the best approach. The counterattack should focus on a “how dare you,” “shame on you” response, not a tit-for-tat battle that incorporates retaliatory accusations. A battle of negative attack ads is childish, and hopefully New Yorkers are too mature to buy into any of that. Whoever runs negative ads deserves to lose. Whoever refrains from them, however, may rightfully claim the high moral ground, and run “shame on you” re- sponses with palpable righteous indignation. 4. Show them that you’re the number one New Yorker Catsimatidis should be as high-profile as possible. By no means should he employ a Rose Garden strategy – not even if it’s the magnificent one in Central Park. He should be on hand at opening day at CitiField and Yankee Stadium, and be a regular at Knicks, Nets, and Rangers games. And in September and October, he should go see the Giants and the Jets play live. Of course, he should do those things because he really is a sports fan – if he weren’t, then he should not fake it. If nothing else, New Yorkers usually are able to spot a phony a mile away. He should be on hand for all parades, marathons, bike-athons, city-wide ceremonies, and – though we all hope there won’t be any – tragedies. For all the great things Giuliani did in his eight years as mayor – most notably, making New York City the crown jewel in the nationwide fight against crime – he rose to the status of “America’s Mayor” in the eleventh hour of his reign when, on September 11, 2001, he showed up to Ground Zero and pointed the panicked masses to “go this way.” If there is one thing Catsimatidis might have going against him, it is his multisyllabic surname. He is known as “John Cats” or “Johnny Cats” in some circles. Then again, even without the nicknames, we are talking about New York City, after all, not some homogenous rural American town that is ethnically out of the loop. And lest we forget, another Republican with a hard-to-pronounce name, Eisenhower, did quite well for himself in politics. Catsimatidis’ candidacy is not a longshot. This is his election to win, or lose, depending on how effectively he runs his campaign. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 COMMUNITY 7 WIN Honors Fox News Anchor Nicole Petallides as Woman of the Year Continued from page 1 were not one of her first cousins. WIN WORKS FOR THE COMMUNITY’S WOMEN Phillip Christopher, the president of PSEKA and of the Pancyprian Association, which is WIN’s parent organization, noted they were gathered to honor both Petallides, and WIN for all the “work they have done.” Dr. Florentia Christodoulidou, its president, told TNH the organization works to bring issues of importance to community women to the forefront. She is most proud of a program that has enabled more than 700 women without health insurance to receive free mammograms and Pap Tests. Dr. Christodoulidou told TNH “we are proud of Nicole, whom we saw grow up and achieve the success,” but it is the fact that inspires many other young women, “that’s why we are honoring her tonight.” Speaker after speaker noted that the woman whose talent, charm, and energy were apparent from childhood, but they marveled most at the dedication and hard work that propelled Petallides to the top of her profession as one of the most distinguished voices reporting on national and global economic news in the heart of Wall Street. She appears on FOX 30 times daily from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Theana Iordanou – the first proud cousin to appear – was the Emcee. She moved the program through the speakers to the music and dancing that featured Nikos Nikolaides and his Orchestra and a delightful performance by the adults and children of the Pancyprian Dance Group. New York City Mayoral candidate John Catsimatides won votes by keeping his promise not to “let my words stand between you and your dinner.” To the general pride in Nicole he added his personal pride in recruiting her be the voice of the Greek Parade, along with her FOX colleague Ernie Anastos, on the TV broadcast of the annual Greek Parade on Fifth Avenue, which will be held on April 7 this year. Catsimatidis declared that after years of fighting for the Cyprus cause, “I feel like a Cypriot. I’m from the island of Nysiros, which is just around the corner.” Iordanou, as a VP of Allied World Assurance and the manager of its New York branch office, values the serious business reporting that Petallides excels ABOVE: Petallides receives the Woman of the Year award. LEFT: She speaks to the gala audience. in and noted that when visitors to the New York Stock Exchange observe her speaking with all the mover and shakers of the financial world, they rush to meet her. She also noted that Petallides’ magnetic personality has turned the floor of the Exchange into an Oscars-style “Red Carpet” as the guests saw images of her being photographed with one star of the entertainment world after another at the NYSE. Nicholas Karacostas, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Order of AHEPA, said “we knew she would be a star from a young age and she rose to be a FOX anchor is a very tough media world. She was always very articulate, had a beautiful smile and always the center of attention.” Iordanes revealed that Petallides also had modeling aspirations. They were shot down – despite her statuesque appear- ance -by the fact that she is 5’ 7” “She was not devastated, however, “she was determined to succeed,” she said. Christopher overflowed with pride and joy for his niece, who he said has combined a brilliant career with devotion to her family, her husband Nicholas Tsiolas and her children Eric and Michael. He welcomed all the guests and dignitaries, and thanked everyone responsible for the success of the event, including Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis, who run Terrace on the Park. Turning to Petallides, he offered her some avuncular advice. He said perseverance is essential to success, for individuals and for groups. After noting both personal setbacks and the fact that “We have been fighting for 38 years for freedom for Cyprus” he said: “Success, Nicole, is never final, and failure is never fatal. What is important is the courage to get up every day.” She must have absorbed that from her entrepreneurial uncle at a young age. An emotional Petallides thanked everyone, “For the privilege and honor,” which she accepted also on behalf of all women. “Every single woman in the room deserves to be Woman of the Year to me. She the honor finally hit her in recent days at 4AM – the time she wakes up for FOX News. “It’s a great job. It’s a hard job but I love it. They scream in my ear, it’s chaos all day long but I love it,” she said. Although “everybody told me I would not get there,” Petallides said, “I don’t like the word ‘no.’” She thanked her brother C.J., her father John Petallides, and her stepfather Mort Holliday, but offered moving praise for her mother, Fannie Petallides-Holliday, who raised her as a single mother and was the founder and publisher of the newspaper Proini and gave her daughter the “news bug.” “I thank my mother. Every breath she takes has meaning. She and my family taught me you have to be strong, that the world is not easy.” She offered her personal validation to a FOX viewer’s response to the question “what makes success?” His answer was “as much as you want to breathe, you have to want success.” She added “you have to breathe and die for everything you are doing – and go for it, with a full heart, and hopefully you are as lucky as I am to have th great family and friends that are behind me every day, and this Greek community. “ Petallides told TNH “this is an unbelievable evening. I am so honored ad privileged to be here with the Greek community and friends…I know I am a very lucky girl,” she told TNH, but she paid her dues: “overnights, double shifts, graveyard shifts, back to back shifts, and ultimately you break in when you don’t give up. You keep showing up and you just do it,” she said. Anastos sent a message of congratulations, saying he wished he could have been there “to personally honor my friend and FOX colleague.” The Cypriot homeland, which just elected a new President, was also on people’s minds. Savas Tsivikos wishes the new president much luck and success “I think he is the right leader at the right moment.” He said he has begun by surrounding himself with capable people. He agreed that doesn’t always happen “but that is half of the recipe for success.” He said. Karacostas believes the new president who is “pro-business, pro-EU, has a strong economic background and knows the key EU players, will help Cyprus get back on track.” Christopher also expressed optimism. “The whole country has a challenge. It needs to take swift action. A change was needed. Based on what I have seen , experienced people have taken over. It’s a good sign.” At the start of the evening Constantine Yiannoudes, the Cypriot-born international baritone, offered thrilling renditions of the Star Spangled Banner and the Greek national anthem, Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, also from Cyprus, offered the invocation and expressed his personal pride and congratulations to the honoree. Cyprus’ Consul General in New York, Koula Sophianou, said she felt a special joy at being present , both because of her admiration for Petallides, “a high achiever,” in America who “is proud of her heritage and Kyrenia,” and because the event kicks of the month of March, which culminates in the celebration of Greek Independence. She said that “for Greeks, Freedom is the highest good.” The Greek Consul General George Iliopoulos also offered greetings and congratulations to Petallides and WIN and New York State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas presented her a citation of her own and another on behalf of State Senator Michael Gianaris, who she said regretted that he was unable to attend. President Peter Papanicolaou told TNH “One behalf of the Cyprus Federation of America I wish to express my congratulations and say we are very proud.” AGAPW and John Jay Cohost Forum on Human Trafficking F. mArTin rAmin/wAll STreeT JOurnAl Continued from page 1 parents. The conditions compelled some children to kill themselves with the weapons they were given. She was one of the lucky ones. After being kidnapped from a church school for girls, she managed to escape after a year and now devotes herself helping other children escape from their hell and working to stop the evil. Katerina Stefanatou, UNICEF Global Citizenship fellow at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, was the moderator at the New Building of John Jay College and introduced the panelists who included George Andreopoulos, Professor of Political Science and Criminal Justice, CUNY; Director, Center for International Human Rights, John Jay College, Jennifer Chan, Program Officer for the End Trafficking project of the US Fund for UNICEF, and Dorota Gierycz, Ph.D. Human rights scholar, University of Vienna; Webster University and European Peace University and the Center for International Human Rights, John Jay College. Gierycz began with an overview of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) and how it differs from other criminal activities, such as smuggling in persons, or illegal migration. She talked about the international legal framework (focusing on the Palermo Protocol) aimed at combating THB and the difficulties in its implementation. She believes a human rights approach, as opposed to a law-enforcement paradigm is the best way to fight THB. The essence of the crime is that the mistreatment of the victims goes far beyond exploitation as low wage employees under harsh conditions. These people, especially the children, have lost control of their lives. Because their lives are difficult to distinguish from those of illegal migrants, and live in conditions that fosters behavior like petty crime, local law enforcement lose sight of the fact that evils lurks: the enslavement of human beings. Jennifer Chan introduced the PHOTOS: TnH/cOSTAS beJ Above: Katerina Stefanatou was the moderator at AGAPW’s forum on human trafficking. The panel included Prof. George Andreopoulos of John Jay College, Jennifer Chan of UNICEF, and scholar Dorota Gierycz. The audience (below) was anxious to help trafficking. work of UNICEF which, according to its website “works in 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. In partnership with development partners, governments and NGOs, UNICEF also works on all aspects of anti trafficking responses including prevention, protection, and prosecution.” Chan described the two pillars of efforts to combat THB, first the promotion of birth registration and issuing of identifi- cation documents, second the broader efforts that help strengthen families through education and training so that crushing socioeconomic circumstances don’t cause relatives to traffic their children. They also work with local elders and religious leaders to build up respect for children’s rights and fight against traditional prejudices, and to generally raise awareness in at-risk locations, for example, by warning people against believing the promises made by traffickers. Professor Andreopoulos, focusing on the Balkans, critically examined the different approaches to combating human trafficking such as: law enforcement, human rights, migration and economic. He emphasized the powerful economic forces driving the phenomenon – Interpol estimates its annual worth at $19 billion but other groups place it as high as $31 billion and made the point that the victims are typically “people with no options,” and said the challenge is “How do you empower people to have credible options in their lives.” Andreopoulos, briefly touched upon the situation in Greece and mentioned the importance of the work by groups like Klimaka. He and other speakers spoke of the negative impact of the Greek economic crisis on THB efforts and said that that law enforcement officials in Greece are so hard pressed to maintain basic safety in the streets, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are so stressed in their efforts to fight homelessness that THB cannot be properly addressed. While Andreopoulos said “there is no magic bullet” for eradicating the scourge of THB, more can be done, for example, airlines can look out for signs of sex tourism and Chan said people can visit slaveryfootprint.com to learn about he forced labor and slavery components of the products they buy. People can visit ecpat.net to learn about fighting child trafficking and prostitution. AGAPW founding president Olga Alexakos concluded the evening by thanking the panelists and the guests, including the consuls general of Greece and Cyprus, George Iliopoulos and Koula Sofianou. The latter announced that her government has announced a program to train its diplomatic corps to combat trafficking. The drachma print dress from Mary Katrantzou's spring collection. Drachma Queen: the Story behind The Design By F. Martin Ramin Wall Street Journal A year ago, Greece's potential switch from the euro common currency back to the drachma seemed to many economists the final and inevitable act in a Greek tragedy. But for Athensborn designer Mary Katrantzou, it was an opportunity. In her spring collection, London-based Ms. Katrantzou managed to make a poignant and original statement by taking inspiration from the global economy and giving old currencies, like the drachma, as well as postage stamps, a starring role. Despite the fact that the currency had not been in circulation for more than a decade, Ms. Katrantzou proved that its aesthetic worth remains intact. The fitted Swarovski crystal mesh cocktail dress gets a shimmery effect from a stained-glasslike technique. "It's an innovation that we developed this season," explained Ms. Katrantzou. "It allowed us to use the mesh as a fabric, printing it opaque white, but leaving certain areas bare to allow the crystals to mimic the holographic nature of the bank notes." However, the designer said she intended no overt political or economic message. "I wanted to look at world history, and I thought of bank notes and stamps because they are a means of cultural exchange that signify travel and heritage," she said. "There is so much history and beauty in what is essentially just a piece of paper." The drachma may now be relatively valueless, but as inspiration, it is worth its weight in gold. OBITUARIES CLASSIFIEDS 8 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 Community Bids Farewell to Peter Kikis: Leader, Philanthropist, Scholar, Good Friend Continued from page 1 years old his father passed away and he began working to help support his mother and sisters. He was graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, where he majored in Mathematics. He then served as a Captain in the US Army during World War II in Europe Until 1985, Peter was involved in the shipping industry. From 1950 to the present Kikis was the President and a Principal of Spencer Management Company, a real estate development and management company in New York. He also served as a Principal and CoChairman on McRoberts Protective Agency, a New York based provider of security guard services from 1972 to 1992. He was Chairman of the Board of Command Security Corporation, a public security corporation, since September, 2006. He also served as Director of Deltec International S.A. and Atlas Capital Group Holdings S.A.. He was active in behalf of numerous causes and served as President of the Board of Trustees of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Kikis married the late Helen Kikis (nee Kalevas) in 1955. He is survived by their son, Thomas P. Kikis, daughterin-law Stephanie, and three grandchildren: Elena, Peter, and Terrel Kikis. He is also survived by his sister, Ms. Urania (Uky) Perakos. Friends and family called at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home on Madison Avenue at 81st Street on Tuesday, March 5. He will be buried next to his beloved wife Eleni in Milbrook, N.Y. ABOVE: The mortal remains of Peter Kikis are borne away from the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity he loved. LEFT: Archbishop Demetrios offers condolences to Thomas Kikis, the son of Peter Kikis, as the Cathedral Dean, Rev. Anastasios Gounaris looks on. TRIBUTES TO A FRIEND AND A LEADER Father Alexander Karloutsos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Spiritual Advisor to Faith Endowment and The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, told TNH he felt blessed to have met Kikis in the latter part of his ministry. He said “Peter Kikis embodied the nobility of the American dream,” and noted that he was “one of the first Greek-Americans to graduate from an Ivy League school and became a ‘gentleman’s gentleman in the upper echelons of American so- ciety. He rose from poverty to great wealth, but more importantly, doors that were closed to him he opened for others.” “What our grandparents envisioned for their children, to climb to the mountaintop of great success - in name and character - Peter Kikis achieved. He will be missed but his life will shine, along with his wife Helen’s, from that mountaintop, for the rest of our community. Eternal be his memory,” he said. Fr. Karloutsos added that “he became a philanthropist in the true sense of the word when he became the president of the Faith Endowment, and the Leadership 100, and by advancing the holy cause of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “ Paulette Poulos, the executive director of Leadership 100, told TNH that she met Kikis many years ago through his service at Holy Trinity Cathedral. “He always impressed me as a perfect gentleman, always with that pleasant smile, and always willing to help people whenever he could.” She said she had warm memories of Kikis attending the annual Leadership 100 conference with his sister in Florida in 2011. “He had a wonderful time. He was such a warm man, and a distinguished-looking man.” Poulos was deeply impressed that “he was a person who would to everything necessary to get the job done, but he always stood out to me as a perfect gentleman, and a dedicated Christian.” Michael Jaharis, Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, is a close personal friend of Kikis. He told TNH, “Peter was a very good friend, a good Greek, and a good Christian. He played a critical role in the creation of the Faith endowment.” may be made in her name to the Cornell Hotel Society Scholarship Fund, checks payable to "Cornell University", c/o Cornell University, Box 223623, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-2623. Arrangements are by the Bangs Funeral Home. DEATH NOTICES Days and dates of funerals, memorials, and other events directly correspond to the original publication date, which appears at the beginning of each notice. Orthodox Church. Committal will be held in the spring at Oak Hill Cemetery. You are invited to offer condolences and pay tribute to Antigone's life by visiting her guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com. Those wishing to make donations in her memory may do so to: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 155 Hogan Rd, Lewiston, ME 04240. n MESSINEZIS, GEORGE PHILADELPHIA, PA (From the Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily News on Jan. 13) – George Messinezis, beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews, fell asleep in the Lord on January 9. George is survived by his close friend Mary Petcos and his sister Popi of Greece. Pre-deceased by his beloved brothers Anthony and Savas. George and his brothers were career bridge painters in the Philadelphia area. His Funeral Service will be 11 AM. Tuesday January 15, 2013 at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Luke, 35 N. Malin Rd., Broomall, Pa. 19008. Interment Fernwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church. n MIHALAKOS, GEORGE HAMDEN, CT (From the New Haven Register, published on Feb. 3) – J. George J. Mihalakos, 44, of 23 Lovig Lane, Hamden died suddenly on Jan. 30, 2013. Born in New Haven on May 14, 1968, he was the son of John and Joanna Lekas Mihalakos of Hamden. He was long active in the family operated Clark's Dairy and Apizza restaurants in New Haven and Orange. More recently, he operated a caf in the offices of the New Haven Register for the past 7 years. Besides his parents, he is survived by two daughters, Ana and Sophia Mihalakos, both of Milford; one brother, Louis Mihalakos of Hamden and a sister, Stefanie Fragias in Greece. Also survived by 2 nephews and a niece. For more about George's life, please refer to the news story published in the Friday edition of the REGISTER. Friends may call at The Celentano Funeral Home, 424 Elm St. (cor. Dwight) New Haven Monday between 5 and 7 pm. and are invited to attend funeral services in St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Road, Orange Tuesday morning at 10:30.Interment in Beaverdale Memorial Park. To leave condolence messages, please visitwww.celentanofuneralhome.co m. n MICHELAS, MICHAEL LAS VEGAS, NV (Published online on Jan. 28, courtesy of Dignity Memorial) – Michael T. Michelas passed away Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Michael was a long-time resident of Las Vegas and a first generation Greek. He was born to Theodore and Eve Michelas, who were both born on the island of Crete, Greece. He was born in Rock Springs, Wyo., in 1928. Michael came from a very close and loving family. The Michelas family moved to Las Vegas in 1940. Michael graduated from a prominent acting school in New York City and starred in several plays. He was also a graduate of UCLA, majoring in accounting. Michael returned to Las Vegas and was a stockbroker for 30 years. Michael was actively involved in the family apartment and water company business. Michael was very generous and he loved to read. He was passionate about travel and loved taking family members on trips around the world. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brother-in-law Keith. He loved playing second grandfather to his great nephews, Spencer and Sean. The Michelas family was one of the first founding families of St. John's Greek Orthodox Church. Michael was a brilliant, generous, kind, and loving person. He was greatly loved and will be missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Eve Michelas; and sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Keith Campbell. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Robison (Robert); nieces, Diane Robison, Michelle Clark (Jerry) and Stacey Riggs; nephew, Ted Campbell (Cheryl), grandnephews, Spencer (Laura) and Sean Campbell. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1, at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 5300 El Camino Road. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Johns Greek Orthodox Church. n MORDECHAI, ESTHER GREENSBORO, NC (From the News Record, published on Feb. 23) – Esther Mordechai passed away peacefully on Feb. 20, 2013 at age of 93 at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. at the Greensboro Hebrew Cemetery on High Point Road with Rabbi Eliezer Havivi officiating.Esther lived in Greensboro for over 50 years immigrating to the United States from Ioannina, Greece with her husband, Elias, and two daughters in 1951. She was a member of Beth David Synagogue and had many friends in the Jewish congregation, the Greek community in Greensboro and in the Sunset Hills neighborhood where she took her legendary two mile walk every day. Esther was a Holocaust survivor, imprisoned in Auschwitz for 18 months during WWII. Although it brought back painful memories, she recognized the importance of telling her story as a tribute to those who were killed and as lesson for future generations. She was one of the first Holocaust survivors to be videotaped by the Steven Speilberg Foundation and was frequently invited to speak at schools in the area. Esther is survived by her daughters, Evelyn Mordechai and Anny Hall, and granddaughter, Emily Hall. Donations can be made to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund through the Beth David Synagogue, 804 Winview Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410. Hanes Lineberry Vanstory Chapel is assisting the Mordechai family. Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com n NATSIOS, CHRISTINE LOWELL, MA (From the Lowell Sun, published on Feb. 20) – Christine Daphne Natsios passed away after a battle with cancer on Feb. 16, 2013 at the Cayuga Medical Center of Ithaca, NY. She was born Jan. 2, 1953 in Athens, Greece, daughter of the late Nicholas Andrew Natsios, a US Foreign Service Officer, and Mitzi (Peterson) Natsios. She was a member of St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church in Ithaca. Ms. Natsios grew up in Greece, Vietnam, France, Korea, Argentina, and the Netherlands, where she acquired a unique perspective on global cultures as well as a talent for languages. A childhood spent traveling within the world of international diplomacy provided apt preparation for her subsequent career in the hospitality industry. A 1985 graduate of the Cornell Hotel School, Ms. Natsios had 30 years experience in special events management, catering, and sales with organizations such as the RitzCarlton, Four Seasons Hotels, Sheraton, Intercontinental Hotels, The Columbus (Ohio) Athanaeum and Columbus Museum of Art. She was appointed director of alumni affairs at the Cornell Hotel School in 2005, where she served until present as the school's primary liaison to the 9,000-member Cornell Hotel Society and the Cornell Hotel Society Foundation. She traveled throughout the world on behalf of 59 international alumni chapters. Ms. Natsios was active in the Cornell Hotel Society, Washington, DC chapter for almost 20 years, serving as the group's president from 1991-1992, and an active member of the Cornell Alumni Association of Central Ohio. She was a valued member of the Greek Orthodox community, contributing organizational, interpersonal and culinary skills to church societies and festivals. She is survived by a son, Brian J. Barton and granddaughter, Kayla S. Barton of Columbus, OH; and partner, Charles (Chuck) T. Lilly of Cortland, NY. She leaves her mother, Mitzi Peterson Natsios of Alexandria, VA; sisters and brothers-in-law, Deborah A. Natsios and her husband John L. Young of New York City, Valerie S. Natsios-Mundell and her husband Robert A. Mundell of New York City and Siena, Italy, and Alexandra R. Natsios and her husband Joel D. Wall of Alexandria, VA. She is also survived by niece, Allegra Andreadis Natsios; nephew, Nicholas R. Mundell; and many beloved cousins, aunts and uncles. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church, 120 West Seneca St., Ithaca, NY. A private interment will be held at a later date at Westlawn Cemetery in Lowell, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations This is a service to the community. Announcements of deaths may be telephoned to the classified Department of The national Herald at (718) 784-5255, monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eST or e-mailed to: [email protected] CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED LEGAL NOTICE FALLS CHURCH, VA/DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, for Saint Katherine Hellenic Education Center (HEC). Submission Requirements: 1) A Curriculum Vitae (CV), 2) a one page description of objectives, describing the candidate's approach to teaching Greek as a second language in the U. S., and 3) Three references. E-mail "soft copy" to: [email protected], "hard copy" to: Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church c/o Mr. Jim Stoucker, Parish Council President 3149 Glen Carlyn Road Falls Church, VA 22041 (Due Date for Submission: 30 April 2013). Email questions to [email protected]. 117146/18500/03-30 Journalists, women and men, to work part-time at The National Herald. Send resume to: [email protected] 117039/2/03-19-13 LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Formation of ANNA CORINNA DESIGNS, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/20/13. Office location: Kings County. Princ. office of LLC: 34 Sharon St., Brooklyn, NY 11211. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Anna Sellinger at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 272549/17976 LEGAL NOTICE MERMAID UNITED LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 8/13/12. Office location: Kings County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 381 Park Ave. S, Ste. 1001, NY, NY 10016. General Purposes. 272486/10709 NOTICE FORMATION OF DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Take notice that Folksbier Brauerei, LLC was formed as a domestic Limited Liability Company on December 13, 2012. The LLC office is located in Kings County. The New York State Secretary of State has been designated as the agent of the LLC for the purposes of service of process. Copies of service shall be sent to Travis Kauffman at 195 Luquer Street, Apt. 4R, Brooklyn, NY 11231. The purpose of the LLC is any lawful purpose. 272456/18448 FUNERAL HOMES LITRAS FUNERAL HOME ARLINGTON BENSON DOWD, INC FUNERAL HOME 83-15 Parsons Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432 (718) 858-4434 • (800) 245-4872 APOSTOLOPOULOS Apostle Family Gregory, Nicholas, Andrew Funeral Directors of RIVERDALE FUNERAL HOME Inc. 5044 Broadway New York, NY 10034 (212) 942-4000 Toll Free 1-888-GAPOSTLE CONSTANTINIDES FUNERAL PARLOR Co. (718) 745-1010 Services in all localities Low cost shipping to Greece ANTONOPOULOS FUNERAL HOME, INC. Konstantinos Antonopoulos Funeral Director 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, New York 11105 (718) 728-8500 Not affiliated with any other funeral home. LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Formation of BRMED Capital LLC a NYS ltd. Liability Company. Formation filed with SSNY on 11/7/2012. Office location Kings County. SSNY des. as agt. of LLC, upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process c/o Lynch & Associates, 464 New York Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743. Purpose: All lawful purposes. TO PlAce yOur clASSiFieD AD, cAll: (718) 784-5255, exT. 106, e-mAil: classifieds@ thenationalherald.com 272469/15477 REAL ESTATE NAPLES FLORIDA REAL ESTATE Vicky Lewis realtor 272454/17902/7-27 n BOURNAKEL, ANTIGONE LEWISTON, ME (From the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, published on Jan. 21) – Antigone Bournakel of Lewiston, ME, passed away on Jan. 20, 2013 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough after a brief illness. She was 99 years old. Born in Arkadia, Greece, on March 15, 1913, to Michael and Emily Lysikatos, she was the sixth of ten children. Antigone came to the U.S. in 1935, as a young bride. She and her husband, Spiro Bournakel, settled in Lewiston where they raised three children. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, grandmother, sister and aunt to her family, Antigone was an active, faithful, and devoted member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church community. The depth of her faith and dedication to the church was exemplified over 75 years of service, as she lent her talents to every need of the church. In 2002, Antigone received a Boston Diocesan Award for her service to the church community. Antigone was the spiritual and emotional center of her family, raising her three children and maintaining intimate connections with her grandchildren as well as all of her relatives throughout her life. Antigone and Spiro always took time to support their families in Greece; after WWII, bringing nephews from Greece into their home where they completed their schooling; and later, sponsoring other family members to relocate to the U.S. Along with dinners and holidays surrounded by her children and grandchildren, Antigone loved cooking and hosting family and friends at Tacoma Lakes in Litchfield, as well as spending time in Livadi, Greece, with her beloved family, near the village of Melana where she grew up. Antigone's loving, generous heart and positive spirit will be forever missed by her family, friends, and all who had the good fortune of knowing her. Predeceased by her husband of 46 years in 1981; her son, Charles Bournakel in 2012; and her grandson, Stefan Bournakel in 2004. She is survived by her son, George Bournakel of Yarmouth and his wife, Kay, her daughter, Angela Bournakel of Yarmouth, her daughter-in-law, Kiki Bournakel of Lewiston; and her sister, Fani Alexandrou of Athens, Greece. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Dean Bournakel of Largo, Fla., Christina Bournakel of Portland, Christopher Bournakis of Auburn, and Nicholas Bournakel of Portland; one great-grandchild, Nicos Bournakel of Kentfield, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews. In recent years, Antigone lived with her daughter in Yarmouth, and for the last two and a half years, she was a resident at Falmouth By The Sea, in Falmouth. Funeral Service will be on Thursday 11 AM at Holy Trinity Greek 239-777-4904 [email protected] www.VickyLewisNaples.com Μιλώ Ελληνικά DOWNING-FRYE REALTY, INC. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 COMMUNITY 9 ALL HISTORY Role of Greek Performers in American Circuses, Carnivals, and Rodeos By Steve Frangos ought to be assumed that Bockus and Kilonis were ultimately in charge of their circus, they had hired seasoned circus veterans. James Swafford, was general manager, and he had worked in a wide array of circuses since the 1890s. B&K’s superintendent, was George A. Manchester, "the first man on the lot in the morning and the last one off at night" is described as a circus veteran who "has been in the circus business 42 years...and who was with the Buffalo Bill circus...in 1899 [and]...had charge of erection of the tented city (Fitchburg Sentinel May 6, 1936)." So what exactly did Manchester do as superintendent? "Long before the performers, animals and attractions arrived the cook tent, the dressing rooms, the animal tent, the side TNH Staff Writer PART 5 CHICAGO- That the Bockus and Kilonis Wild Animal Circus (B&K) was owned and operated by Greek-Americans Curtis Bockus and John Kilonis and lasted less than one full season is a matter of history. The precise reasons for its quick demise, however, remain unconfirmed. The only publicly available account of that circus from either of the principal owners comes from Bockus. In the January 21, 1950, edition of Billboard magazine, a concise history of Bockus' career was published. Bockus offered only a passing account of B&K, stating that he formed a partnership with the Kilonis where "each contributed the same among of cash: nothing." Given the size and complexity of the show, as we shall see, that cannot be true. Bockus' few other remarks, while revealing, are again short of the full complement of known facts. Over the course of this series about B&K, we have established that Bockus and Kilonis were seasoned owners and operators of circuses, athletic shows, and other midway entertainments. Incorporation papers for B&K were filed on April 30, 1936 with Crystal Lake Park in Manchester, NH, which was identified as its headquarters. Perhaps it was nothing but show business hokum, but B&K repeatedly claimed to have been the only New England-based circus. That promoters and entertainers involved with circuses and other outdoor entertainments would collectively join forces, from season to season, was not uncommon. As part of the overall preparations, aside from Bockus and Kilonis joining forces, some arrangements were made with William Schultz and Ted Merchant. A curt vignette on William Schultz is found in Above: One of the attractions at James E. Strates’ Carnival Midway. Right: A carnival poster. Strates Shows’ history dates back to 1923. Strates came to America in 1909. “Bockus & Kilonis Wild Animal Circus, Season of 1936: Short Sketches of Former Shows,” by Joseph T. Bradbury that appeared in the January-February 1967 edition of the circus history magazine Bandwagon: "An important personage connected with the new show was Capt. William Schultz who was signed to furnish several wild and domestic animal acts in the performance. Schultz also added a number of his own trucks which photos indicate were used not only to carry his own animals and props but also to load seats and other properties of the show. In the early 30's Schultz had operated his own circus using the rather unusual title of ‘King of the Beasts.’ His vehicles were still painted with that title while on the Bockus & Kilonis show. One of Schultz's animal acts was trained lions worked in the steel arena by Marion Knowlton who later gained fame on the Cole Bros. Circus. She also worked horses, dogs, and ponies. Schultz furnished the majority of stock and other animals on the show." Various accounts give different numbers to the animals in Schultz show, but over 80 seems a reasonable number. Merchant was an early Hollywood cowboy actor who also ran his own independent company: "Ted will have with him his entire troupe of cowboys and cowgirls from Hollywood, including Miss Jackie Moore, leading lady in many of his recent films: Crooning Dan, cowboy songster, and his wonder horse, Scout. There are many frontier experts in the Wild West show and they will give the circus fans a real example of rip-roaring riding, roping and fancy shooting (Fitchburg Sentinel May 5, 1936)." B&K has been described as only a "medium sized motorized circus," but newspaper reports attest that there were 50 trucks and a large number of house cars. It was with this same compliment of vehicles that the circus gave a parade in each city it toured. In Bradbury's article we learn that B&K "had received 10 new Ford V-8 trucks equipped with 24 ft. semi-trailers from the Charles Carrol Co. and later reports stated that 7 additional new trucks were delivered. A total of 26 trucks plus 3 advance vehicles were claimed by the show and this figure should be substantially correct." The accepted explanation for why B&K failed is poor management. It is argued that Bockus and Kilonis had only operated as carnival and sideshow men, which at least in the case of Bockus is incorrect. While it show and finally the main top arose as if by magic. An army of employees were busy; each one had his appointed task (Fitchburg Sentinel May 6, 1936)." The circus credentials of other members of the B&K Circus could be offered. Putting aside the issue of poor management, the next logical question is: how were all these individuals paid? Neither Bockus nor Kilonis, no matter how convincing a speaker he might have been, ever could have convinced so many individuals to work for no food, pay or gas money. Extending that argument, who paid to feed all the animals? No writer has faulted the roster of circus performers. The April 29, 1936, edition of the Nashua, NH newspaper the Telegraph, offers a succinct over view of B&K's performers. Miss Faith Ryan and her blue ribbon horses are first mentioned and then "the roster of circus stars embrace the following well known artists: William Shulz, Wild Animal Exhibit, of jungle bred lions and tigers put through an amazing routine by Mariom Knowlton, world's greatest female wild animal subjugator; De Marlow and Marlette are a European duo of aerial gymnasts; the ‘freeborn Trio’ are skillful equilibrists and high perch experts; Raymond and LaFrance, astounding head balancers and acrobats; Leo and May Jackson, champion tight wire and nifty jugglers; Harry Barrows aerial rings in daring drops and catches; Madame Dale's stable of Kentucky and Arabian horses; The DeMarco sisters, dainty and youthful trapeze performers; Ted Merchant, cowboy screen star, has his own company of cowboys and girls and spirited broncos and presents thrilling ‘Frontier Life’; Jinks and Clifford head the merry clown contingent, who present their grotesque absurdities and ludicrous comedy. Al Massey's Military band will offer concerts before each performance which commences at 3 and 8 p.m. "Effie Nelson, a daring aerialist and trick rider sees mention as well as side show attractions, Madame Rhonda, palmist; petrified man; Airlene; Guy Sampson, musical cowboy playing glasses, bottles, handsaw, mandolin, guitar, and novelty instruments; snake charmer; Punch and Judy; magic; legless man; dancers; and Bill Freeman's colored band and minstrels." All of that information seems to point to a mixture of the very forces of nature along with the bad luck of daring men that led to the Bockus and Kilonis Wild Animal Circus’ demise. [email protected] GREEK AMERICAN STORIES The Perfect Crime By Phylis (Kiki) Sembos Special to The National Herald It was Saturday. The table facing the front window in the Dixon cafeteria on Forty-third and Eighth Avenue hosted its regular patrons; Dimos, Kipreos, John and my papa, George. Their warm coffees remained at half-way so that the manager couldn’t accuse them of loitering, as they spoke animatedly on various subjects ranging from politics in Greece to politics in the city – all ending with the same results. Nothing solved, but each felt a measure of satisfaction for having contributed invaluable information that had been, until that day, unbeknownst to the rest of the world. Egos uplifted, they moved on to another subject, one with teeth, Yiannis’ grisly, pennypinching ways. “His wife now works overtime, I hear, while he stays home,” said Kipreos, observing his buddies reactions. “Someone has to take care of their kid.” remarked John, shrugging. “I hear they have oatmeal for dinner because it’s cheap.” said George, hoping to ruffle their composure. “Possible.” Dimos nodded. “Maybe, when he becomes rich he’ll serve it with nuts and raisins.” “That’ll be dessert.” quipped Kipreos, lifting his cup as if it was full, the manager eying them, curiously. “Poor Areti! Comes home to do more work; washing dishes, cleaning up, ironing and taking care of baby Barbara. At least, he does the shopping, you know,” said John. “Sure! Doesn’t trust that she might buy something expensive.” George grinned, sipping his own coffee. “He says he doesn’t want to confuse her.” “I’ve seen them at the super market. Their bags are sure light. He says he doesn’t want her to hurt herself while carrying them home.” “I’ll bet she fantasizes herself as widow,” George’s eyes twinkled mischievously. The others objected, waving that thought away. “Areti’s a good, Christianly woman, uncomplaining, makes her cross often. I’ve never heard her say one word against him. My wife has more complaints against me than can fill an encyclopedia.” complained John, stirring a half empty cup, vigorously. “Y’ gotta remember; Areti was dirt poor in her village in Greece, grateful Yiannis rescued her from humiliating poverty, being an orphan, an’ all. When he noticed her hair was curly and she wouldn’t go to beauty parlors for curls, an’ stuff – that cinched the deal.” Dimos explained, thinking of his wife’s beauty parlor bills. “God! That IS an economy!” “I hear he gives her just enough money to go and come from work with the bus. He packs her lunch for her, too. I wonder what’s in them.” Kipreos rubbed his chin. “Oatmeal sandwiches, maybe?” said George, looking serious. “Look how she dresses, for God’s sake! Clothes she brought with her as a bride. Hey! It’s been ten years now. Even her shoes are the very same.” John informed. “My wife buys clothes all the time – and says, she doesn’t have a thing to wear to church.” “Let’s face it, guys. He’s got it made and you don’t! Could envy have something to do with it,” said Kipreos, the bachelor among them. “Are you sure you all want to know? This is lethal business, the perfect crime, I’m talking about here.” “Anyway, I’ve been thinking. Suppose Areti wants to get rid of him. I could help her.” All eyes were fastened on George, who leaned back in his seat, sporting a smug expression, tinted with devil – pink. He gazed at them as if he knew the combination to the Chase bank’s vault. “Get rid of Yiannis?” John looked aghast. “What would happen to Areti?” “I’d marry her.” offered Kipreos, thinking of all the benefits in that situation. “We’d have nothing to talk about with Yiannis gone.” John was rueful. “Gotta admit life would be dull, then.” “Besides, it’s illegal to kill anyone, y’ know. – even Yiannis,” said Dimos, restraining laughter. “Then, Areti would be found out and jailed. What happens to the baby?” “They’ve got visiting days in prison.” said John, tantalized at a world without Yiannis. “I’ll drive her there, myself. No sacrifice!” “What happy endings! Think of it, guys!” continued George, still serious. “Areti relieved of Yiannis, Kipreos gets a worthy wife and we find a new subject for gossip and conjecture. But, you haven’t heard my way of getting rid of Yiannis, yet.” The interest he aroused caused a quiet that brought the attention of the manager who had stood close enough to overhear most of their conversations. Intrigued, he came closer to hear what George had in mind as, George, pleased with their avid attention explained, “Seriously, I know a way to get rid of Yiannis without any trouble to anyone – no police involvement, no detectives, no knives or guns, poisons or baseball bats as evidence – nothing!” A long silence ensued. Curiosity reigned. But, doubts clouded their thinking that such a crime existed. John broke the curiosity-ridden silence. “Ok George! How is that done? What do you know that the world never thought of?” “Yeah! You’d better make it quick! He’ll be here any minute now.” Kipreos urged as all eyes went to the wide window, searchingly. “Are you sure you all want to know? This is lethal business – the perfect crime, I’m talking about here.” George’s grave expression became almost sinister. Fascinated, they begged him to reveal the mechanics of the perfect crime. George’s captivated audience included the manager as he took a seat beside them, listening and waiting with curiosity and suspense. George began slowly to reveal the facts with measured precision. “Now, I’m not saying it would work on just anyone. No! This only on Yiannis! Now! Everybody has a weak spot. So, one must study his victim carefully before plotting. So, here’s what I’d do if we are all in agreement to kill him.” “WE?” cried Kipreos. “No, George! You! It’s your idea.” “But, I expect your loyalty when the coroner comes.” George’s face remained placid. Tension stilled every voice, every finger, and every empty cup as George revealed the solution of ridding the world of the tyrannical, skin-flint known as Yiannis. “First, I’d wait until he seated himself there – in that chair – drinking his coffee – calmly and thoughtfully, as he usually does. Then, I’d ask him how he feels. He’d say he’s fine, as usual. After a few quiet moments, I’d, nonchalantly, take out a fifty dollar bill and wave it. He’d look at it with those bulging eyes and ask what it was for. His temperature would begin to rise. I’ll tell him it’s something I don’t want anymore. Of course, he’d say something like – ‘if you don’t want it, I do!’ I’d wait until he asked for it. I’ll tell him he can have it – a little at a time – and then, proceed to tear it a half inch down. That’s when his heart will begin to race, palpitation will rise.” Every face registered awe as the scene played in their minds; even the manager appeared mesmerized as George continued. “I’ll tear off more and more, until his color pales and his hands sweat. He’ll object, saying, ‘what’re you doing?’ I won’t answer. I’ll tear it down all the way and continue the next strip, laying them beside his shaking hands. By that time, the fifty dollar bill now in shreds, Yianni will begin suffering cardiac arrest. One of you can call the paramedics as I take out another bill – a one hundred dollar bill. I’ll start tearing that one, too. By the time the paramedics arrive Yiannis will be dead.” George leaned back in his chair, pleased, enjoying the despair and amazement painted on the stunned faces around him. “What’s wrong? It’ll work, I tell you.” Familiar with the devious workings of George’s mind, they sobered at once; John chuckling, Dimos shaking his head, Kipreos, closing the mouth that had fallen open. Laughter, slowly, rose up from them as the manager, feeling silly to have been taken in by another of George’s tales, offered them free coffee. “Ingenious!” said, John, wiping his eyes of laughing tears. “Aw, George!” said Dimos when the laughter subsided. “Have a heart! Think of Areti and Barbara.” “I am!” remarked George as the front doors of the cafeteria opened and the portly figure of the resurrected Yiannis approached the table, giving a salutary nod to each. “Anybody treating today?” Yiannis asked. “I forgot my wallet and Areti doesn’t get paid until Friday.” George lowered his head to stifle surging laughter as the others displayed objections at the master moocher. One could only wonder what thoughts went through their heads at that moment. Had a machine been invented to reveal invisible thoughts, a fifty dollar bill and a hundred dollar bill would, probably, be, gladly, volunteered as a small contribution to the perfect crime. Ekali the most "exclusive" suburb of Athens, lovely villa about 24.000 s.f. for sale. can be used as is or as 4 independent homes depending on the needs of the owner. For more information tel: (011-30) 6984-100-977 e-mail: [email protected] www.villaekali.com www.GreekKitchennyc.com GREECE CYPRUS 10 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 Eurozone Bailout of Cyprus is Stalled by Suspicion of Money-Laundering By Charles Forelle And Matina Stevis Wall Street Journal NICOSIA, Cyprus - Cyprus's newly elected government is bargaining for a €17 billion bailout from its euro-zone peers. But the little island won't get a cent until it wrestles with a long-standing issue: money laundering. Cyprus's reputation as a transit point for shady cash, and its unusual connections to Russia, are making many of its would-be rescuers nervous. Monday, euro-zone finance ministers agreed that Cyprus would have to submit to a fresh outside examination of its money-laundering controls—an audit that many here resent. The new president, Nicos Anastasiades, sworn in last week, has pledged cooperation with the euro zone—"We have nothing to hide," he told a German newspaper—but his new finance minister said Sunday that there "has to be a balance" between a tough audit and bank secrecy. The country's rescue, though small, is an essential test of the currency bloc's newly proclaimed cohesion, which has calmed financial markets after years of turmoil. If Cyprus's longdelayed bailout descends into discord, much of that progress could be undone. Mr. Anastasiades's task will entail piloting the reluctant Mediterranean island back toward Europe, after a period when Cyprus flirted with other rescuers—to the consternation of the European Union. When Cyprus was fast running out of cash in late 2011, for example, Mr. Anastasiades's predecessor, a Russophile Communist, dispatched his finance minister to Moscow for a loan of €2.5 billion, or about $3.3 billion. The next year, Cyprus got another lifeline, when Tanzanian bank FBME Bank Ltd., angling for a Cypriot banking license that would give it access to all of Europe, invested 13% of its balance sheet in the government's junk-rated treasury bills. FBME says the investment wasn't linked to its application. At a euro-zone finance ministers' gathering in Brussels on Dec. 3, Maria Fekter, a blunt Austrian with little time for collegial niceties, captured the mood in the currency union over the prospect of bailing out Cyprus. "What about the Russians and their fake companies laundering their cash through your banks?" she asked her Cypriot counterpart at the time, according to two people present at the closeddoor meeting. "Are we giving them our taxpayers' money too?" Cyprus—which joined the European Union in 2004 and the euro zone in 2008—needs the money. Four years of deficits from a free-spending government run by a Communist have eroded public finances. A munitions explosion at a naval base in 2011 badly damaged a critical power plant, stunting the economy. A major Cypriot bank's investments in Greece have nearly ruined it. Skepticism abounds among Cyprus's would-be rescuers, especially Germany, where parliament must assent to a bailout. "We will not secure deposits of Russian black money in Cypriot banks with German taxpayer money," said Carsten Schneider, of the leading SPD opposition party, last month. Cypriot officials reject such characterizations and say they ignore substantial reforms of recent years, and wrongly assume that money from Russia must be tainted. "Cyprus is doing a lot more than other countries" to combat illegal financial activity, says Eva Rossidou-Papakyriacou, the longtime head of Cyprus's anti-money-laundering agency. Yet Cyprus is having a hard time shaking its reputation, thanks to an industry skilled at forming shell corporations and trusts that can camouflage assets. It also has favorable accommodations for Russians, such as low taxes on cross-border transactions. So much money flows through Cyprus to Russia that in war. Couriers flew cash from the Yugoslav customs agency to Cyprus—hundreds of millions of dollars in a fistful of currencies, according to a report prepared in 2002 by a fraud investigator for prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which tried Mr. Milosevic and others for war crimes. There, the investigator said, it was deposited in the Cypriot bank accounts of front companies. Much allegedly went through Cyprus Popular Bank, which today needs a massive government rescue. A spokesman said the bank didn't breach United Nations sanctions and "fully cooperated" with authorities. The tribunal's investigators asked Mihalj Kertes, the head of Milosevic's customs agency, why cash was brought to Cyprus. "Probably there," he said, "there was a passage to the world." FBME has made Cyprus its portal for years. It was spun off from a Lebanese bank and established in Cyprus in 1986 with reuTerS A billboard in Russian advertising a property development in Limassol, Cyprus. the official statistics the little island is Russia's largest source of foreign investment—accounting for nearly a quarter of the total in 2011. For some in Europe, Cyprus's moment of need is also an opportunity to pull it closer. The island is deep in the eastern Mediterranean, barely 150 miles from Beirut. It was at various times under the sway of Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans. Richard the Lionheart seized Cyprus on his way to the Holy Land. Britain ruled it from World War I to 1960. Cyprus doesn't control the northern part of the island, which was invaded by Turkish Army troops in 1974. They are still there. A United Nations buffer zone separates 860,000 people in the south from another quarter million in the north. Cyprus's financial industry blossomed after the split. It became a haven for Middle Eastern money, and the collapse of the Soviet Union brought new clients. The unsavory reputation was cemented in the 1990s, when Slobodan Milosevic and his associates funneled money through Cypriot banks to pay for its legal domicile in the Cayman Islands. A decade ago, the Cayman Islands evicted banks with no real presence there. FBME found a new home in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania isn't a financial center. It is on an international blacklist of jurisdictions that don't do enough to stop money laundering. And FBME itself has drawn scrutiny from antimoney-laundering officials at the U.S. Treasury Department, according to people familiar with the matter, in part because of its links with a Lebanese bank. FBME was spun out of that bank, Federal Bank of Lebanon SAL, in the 1980s and has the same controlling shareholders. FBME hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. In a 2011 civil complaint filed in New York federal court, the Justice Department outlined an alleged scheme in which money linked to Hezbollah operatives and drug traffickers was laundered around the world. According to the complaint, money was transferred from several Lebanese banks to the U.S., where it was used to buy cars that were shipped to West Africa and sold, and the proceeds brought back to Lebanon. One of the banks was Federal Bank of Lebanon, the complaint said. It handled the smallest amount of money among the four banks described in the complaint and it is not a defendant in the case. Its lawyers say the bank "always complies with Lebanese laws and international standards." FBME says it does less than 10% of its business in Tanzania. The bulk is in Cyprus. In the statement, it said it is "fully applying" money-laundering regulations of both countries. As Cyprus's government fell into financial trouble in 2011, FBME stepped up. In July 2011, according to a brief public statement last November, it bought short-term Cypriot government debt. Over the next year, it quadrupled its holdings. By November, it said it held €240 million worth. On the day in May 2012 that Cyprus's parliament authorized an initial bailout of Cyprus Popular, FBME applied to move its legal headquarters from Tanzania to Cyprus. That would make it a fully European bank with access to the entire EU. It currently has a license to operate as a foreign branch in Cyprus. Averof Neofytou, a member of Cyprus's parliament, asked the central-bank chief if there was a quid pro quo. He says he was told there wasn't. In its statement, FBME said its decision to buy the debt was "made on the basis of commercial interests and at no time linked to any other consideration." Cyprus's would-be EU rescuers fret over the dense stacks of shell companies based here, which critics say abet tax evasion and money laundering. Cypriot officials say the concern is unfounded. Ms. Rossidou-Papakyriacou, the antimoney-laundering chief, points to her office's broad powers to block suspicious transactions and laws requiring shell companies to maintain ownership records. She brandishes a folder of letters from foreign counterparts thanking her for cooperation, and points to Cyprus's largely positive evaluation under the international money-laundering regime—better marks than Austria. In December, Cyprus passed more anti-money-laundering laws, among them one that sub- mits corporate-service providers to closer regulation. "We've done everything," Ms. Rossidou-Papakyriacou says. Still, she acknowledges that the corporate-service business is a major industry. "We rely on tourism and services. We don't produce cars," she says. An industry of thousands of lawyers, accountants and socalled corporate-service agents in Cyprus beaver away forming companies, whipping up corporate skeletons and dressing them with directors, paperwork and bank accounts. Their handiwork is evident in a civil fraud action brought by BTA Bank, one of Kazakhstan's biggest lenders, against its former chairman, Mukhtar Ablyazov. BTA claims Mr. Ablyazov and another former executive looted billions of dollars from the bank before it was nationalized in 2009 and they were fired. BTA says Mr. Ablyazov squirreled the money away inside a paper empire of companies. A London judge's order freezing Mr. Ablyazov's assets lists hundreds of companies alleged by the bank to be shells—entities from Cyprus to the British Virgin Islands and the Seychelles. Mr. Ablyazov is a critic of Kazakhstan's strongman president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and he has said the bank is trying to silence him. He has argued that he needed complex structures to shield assets from what he says are Mr. Nazarbayev's predations. His lawyer, Richard Leedham, says that such practices are commonplace in the former Soviet Union "because of the fear of state intervention" in business affairs. "Everyone in this game operates like this," he says. "That's how it's done." Mr. Ablyazov was granted asylum in the U.K., and he lived for several years in Carlton House, a nine-bedroom mansion with a Turkish bath in north London. Last year a judge sentenced him to 22 months in prison for violating the freezing order and lying to the court about his assets. He has fled the U.K., and it isn't certain where he is. Mr. Leedham says Mr. Ablyazov "completely disputes the bank's contention that he has in any way siphoned off assets." Cyprus was the engine room of Mr. Ablyazov's alleged operation. In court documents, BTA bank claims Mr. Ablyazov used a London company to direct agents in Cyprus who administered companies there—while apparently asking few questions. One agent was Paul Kythreotis, a 45-year-old Briton with offices in Limassol. Mr. Kythreotis's assignments included handling the corporate affairs of scores of companies the bank alleges are linked to Mr. Ablyazov. "We need some intergroup restructuring," an official at the London management company emailed Mr. Kythreotis in 2008, according to court documents. The official instructed Mr. Kythreotis to change the recorded owner of "all companies under your administration." There were 102. Among entities in Mr. Kythreotis's stable were five British Virgin Islands companies that BTA alleged Mr. Ablyazov ultimately owned. (A London judge has ruled he did own at least one.) BTA says $300 million worth of bonds owned by the bank ended up in the coffers of those companies. Mr. Kythreotis was sentenced to 21 months in prison in the U.K. for refusing to turn over documents. He has remained in Cyprus, where last year he was sentenced to two months in jail for refusing a court order to search his house and Limassol office. His lawyer declined to comment. Residents of Cyprus, meanwhile, welcome the Russians. The money brings jobs and investment. And, many say, the island provides a refuge for legitimate Russian businessmen. Elias Neocleous, a lawyer at one of Cyprus's most prominent firms, with an office in Moscow and a hefty client list, says Cyprus needs to capitalize on its position in the world. He envisions making the island a global center for arbitration, "for people who don't trust their own systems." Cyprus's future is in "facilitating business, bridging cultures and geographies," he says. "We don't have anything else." Jay Solomon contributed to this article. A version of this article appeared March 5, 2013, on page A1 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Money-Laundering Suspicion Stalls Europe's Latest Bailout. Euro Crisis Now Breeds Comics: Italian Funnyman Wins 25% of Vote By Gideon Rachman The Financial Times Some months ago, I was discussing the euro crisis with a high-ranking US diplomat. “It’s back to the 1930s, isn’t it?” said my companion with a mixture of gloom and relish. “The extremists are on the rise.” After the Italian elections, these doom-laden predictions are redoubling. The Spectator, a British magazine, has labelled Beppe Grillo as “Italy’s new Mussolini”. Even some Italian commentators have made the same comparison. That is not just unfair on Mr Grillo, a comedian whose Five Star Movement has just scooped up 25 per cent of the vote. It is also a misreading of how European politics are likely to develop, under conditions of economic stress. The temptation is to argue that because the Depression of the 1930s led to the rise of fascists and communists, the current economic crisis will provoke a similar flight to the far right and the far left. There are a few similarities between Europe then and now. As in the 1930s, a financial crash, followed by austerity policies, has led to high unemployment. Once again, new political movements are springing up that heap scorn on the governing class. But dig a little deeper and the comparisons seem superficial. When the Depression arrived in Europe, only 12 years had passed since the continent had suffered the horrors of the first world war. About 40 per cent of French and German men aged 19-21 in 1914 were killed in the next four years. Italy also suffered terrible casualties. Overall, more than 10m soldiers died in Europe. Millions more were mutilated. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini were both veterans of the war and the movements they led were profoundly shaped by it. Mussolini took power in the 1920s, before the Depression even hit Europe. When it got under way in the 1930s, Europe was ill-prepared. Welfare states were vestigial, so unemployment often spelt destitution and hunger. By contrast, modern Europe is a much richer and less traumatised continent. Of course, times are tough in countries such as Portugal, where wages and pensions have been cut. Unemployment is high across the eurozone and many people fear for the future. But this is not the 1930s. The country that looks closest to producing 1930s-style politics is Greece, whose economy has suffered the deepest contraction of any in Europe – shrinking by 25 per cent. That has led to the rise of Golden Dawn, a far-right party that flirts with fascist themes, from ultranationalism to anti-semitism. Golden Dawn is currently at about 10 per cent in the polls and the far-left Syriza party came a close second in the last election. But, for now, an unpopular centrist government continues to hold power. What is striking about Greece, moreover, is that it remains exceptional in contemporary Europe. If you look at the rest of the continent, the far right and the far left have not yet made dramatic headway – even in countries such as Portugal, Italy and Spain, whose economies are suffering badly. In Spain, where youth unem- ingram Pinn illustration©ingram Pinn ployment is now higher than 50 per cent, the big new political development is the rise of Catalan nationalism. This is a serious phenomenon that threatens the unity of the country. But it is not to be confused with a resurgence of Francoism or the anarchist movements of the 1930s. Italy’s regional separatists, the Northern League, emerged well before the economic crisis but did badly in the most recent election. The new force in Italian politics is Mr Grillo and his movement – whose political style is very different from that of the Italian fascists. Mussolini was militaristic and bombastic. Mr Grillo uses humour and informality as his trademarks. It is true that he ridicules the Italian parliament and political class. But he has never rejected democracy as a system. In fact, modern Europeans seem more likely to react to bad times by voting for a comedian than for a fascist. Mr Grillo is not an isolated example. In Iceland, whose economy was devastated by a financial crisis, the voters elected Jon Gnarr, a stand-up comic, as the mayor of Reykjavik, the capital. Mr Gnarr’s political pledges included a drug-free parliament within a decade. A comic’s ability to combine anger and humour works politically, when things look bleak. Comedians can also make unconventional proposals that subvert the pomposity of politics as usual. Mr Grillo has promised to slash the pay of politicians, make the internet faster and create more bicycle lanes. The difficulty for politicians who make their breakthroughs as truth-telling clowns is that actually wielding power presents them with some distinctly unfunny choices. That may be Lesvos, Once Famous for its Wine, is Bottling Once Again The island of Lesvos has been famous from antiquity and the middle ages for its wine, which was the most expensive in the markets of ancient Athens, Rome and Constantinople.During Ottoman rule, it was the only wine consumed in Turkish harems. Eventually however, in the course of the island's turbulent history, including the many changes in rulers, the viticulture tradition was lost on the island;the grapes were killed by the lethal disease Philloxera and, since Lesvos by then had specialized in the production of ouzo, vineyards on the island were abandoned. Recently , a couple of quality labels, Methymnaeos and Daphnis & Chloë have put the name Lesvos back on the wine map. Methymnaeos wine was launched by the Lambros family following their discovery of the last remaining vines of the traditional red grape of Lesvos in the surroundings of the village Chidira. partly why Mr Grillo is currently rejecting all overtures to form a coalition government. Where his Five Star Movement has gained power at the local level, it has governed pragmatically. In Parma, Mr Grillo’s followers found themselves in charge of a city that was hugely in hock. They responded by refinancing the debt and pushing through spending cuts. Similarly, in Reykjavik, the comedy mayor has had to cut jobs and raise taxes. By contrast, Mr Grillo’s proposals for Italy’s national economic crisis hint at much more radical policies. He has talked of stopping payments on Italy’s huge national debt – and flirted with the idea of Italy leaving the euro. Most mainstream politicians treat these ideas as a bad joke. But, unless they can find a way forward that looks more attractive than another five years of austerity, Mr Grillo and his imitators could have the last laugh in Italy. The grape, named after the village Chidiriotiko, was replanted in 1985 in the family estate, inside the crater of the extinct volcano which, millennia ago, had created the Petrified Forest of Lesvos. Daphnis & Chloë, red and white, is produced at the vineyard Oenophoros, at Megalochori with rare indigenous varieties. Source: AMNA GREECE CYPRUS THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 11 After Positive Signs of Progress, Greece-Troika Talks Have Hit a Roadblock By Andy Dabilis TNH Staff Writer ATHENS – With some positive signs emerging for Greece’s battered economy, the uneasy coalition government led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras took a setback when his talks with international lenders were postponed after administration officials could not reach agreement on demands for accelerated reforms. The Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) that is putting up $325 billion in two bailouts to prop up the country’s flat-line economy is demanding Greece open closed professions, privatize state enterprises, and start firing public workers to reduce their numbers by 150,000 the next three years or face likely cutoff of more rescue loans. Fearing a backlash from unions and workers already beset by three years of crushing austerity measures, the government had hoped to persuade the Troika that firing some 7,0008,000 disciplinary problems and early retirements would prevent the need for immediate layoffs, or at least delay them now. Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras said that there was a “long road ahead” in the talks between the two sides aimed at checking the progress of reforms. The Troika in December agreed to start releasing some $69 billion as part of a second bailout of $325 billion but has insisted that the government meet fiscal targets to reduce its debt-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio and start chasing tax evaders. At stake now is the next installment of 2.8 billion euros, about $3.63 billion, which now has been delayed a month and AP PHOTO/THAnASSiS STAVrAkiS Former Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, surrounded by police, arrives at a court in Athens, Monday, March 4. Tsochatzopoulos was sentenced to eight years in prison after a court found him guilty of submitting false income declarations. The court also fined Tsochadzopoulos euro 520,000 ($676,000) and ordered the seizure of his Acropolis-view home. without which the government doesn’t have enough money to pay workers, pensioners and banks. Successive governments have dragged their feet for three years over dismissal of public workers – their voter constituency – as private sector unemployment has hit a record 27 percent, some 61.7 percent for those under 25 and plunged Greece into a six-year recession. The Troika also wants a payment plan for companies and individuals that owe social security contributions and a program giving bank customers longer to repay their loans. Banks are hounding workers buried by pay cuts, tax hikes, and slashed pensions to repay their loans in full while New Democracy and one of its coalition partners, the PASOK Socialists, have not paid 250 million euros ($324.3 million) in bank loans. The government reportedly wants approval for a five-year installment plan for social security fund debtors, some of whom have reportedly been keeping worker contributions and putting them in their own pockets, but the Troika has balked. The newspaper Kathimerini said that the government also proposing that for the next four years some low-income households, pensioners, the unemployed, large families and disabled people be allowed to only repay the interest on their loans, which will be set at a fixed rate of 1.5 percent. The Troika, however, doesn’t favor such leniency and reportedly wants only to allow a twoyear repayment of interest-only so that banks and investors can be protected. CUT! CUT! CUT! A plan to consolidate government ministries, which is close to completion, will result in around 2,000 employees being laid off for a year at reduced pay and then fired if other positions for them can’t be found as part of a plan to cut the public workforce by 25,000 by the end of the year, although the government hopes it won’t be necessary. Approval has already been given though for the reduction of 900 workers at six ministries to save 19.8 million euros, ($25.6 million). Speaking to Kathimerini, a high-ranking Finance Minister official said negotiations had “a long way to go” as government officials met with the IMF’s Poul Thomsen, the ECB’s Klaus Masuch and the European Commission’s Matthias Mors. Greece remains a volatile mix of economic sentiment, with the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) reporting that its monthly index showed a bounce although consumer confidence remained low. “The stability we see confirms that citizens and businessmen are trying to come to terms with the reality created by the enforcement and implementation of additional (austerity) … but also the continued funding of the Greek economy by our partners,” IOBE said. However, it added that “the concerns about the issue of increasing long-term unemployment remains intense and reinforces uncertainty at high levels.” Greece remains deep in recession with the economy expected to contract by more than 4% this year. Many economists fear unemployment will rise further to about 30% this year. IOBE expects the economy to shrink by 4.6% in 2013, compared with a slightly more optimistic government prediction of a 4.5% economic contraction this year. CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN PICKS UP Sensing growing public outrage could undo its hopes for a recovery, the government has stepped up its crackdown on corruption and on tax evasion although not a single major alleged tax cheat has been prosecuted. Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, the former mayor of Thessaloniki and a New Democracy stalwart, received a swift life sentence after being convicted of embezzling 18 million euros ($23.35 million) while former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos was sentenced to eight years for failing to disclose his assets and his mansion was confiscated. Tsochatzopoulos, who has been jailed for 11 months, faces trials on more serious charges of masterminding money-laundering schemes to steal as much as 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) from defense contracts. Three other former ministers were also caught up in the corruption sweep. Among them was Yannos Papantoniou, a prominent Socialist politician who was finance minister after Tsochatzopoulos when Greece joined the euro in 2001. He faces misdemeanor charges for failing to disclose in 2008 that his wife had 2.2 million euros ($2.85 million) in deposits in a Swiss account of the HSBC Bank, where another 2,062 Greeks have $1.95 billion in hidden monies that still hasn’t been checked for possible tax evasion. Former Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis, 53, was also accused of hiding from the state that his wife had deposits of 117,000 euros ($152,000) in a foreign bank account in 2007. The country’s international lenders are ramping up the pressure to go after tax cheats who hide their assets. Papantoniou and Voulgarakis both denied the charges, which stem from a probe into the socalled “Lagarde list” of potential tax evaders published that sparked an outcry among Greeks angry at a wealthy elite partly blamed for dragging the country to the brink of bankruptcy. It is named for former French finance minister Christine Lagarde who gave the HSBC list to former finance minister George Papaconstantinou in 2010. He is being investigated after it was discovered the names of three of his relatives were removed. Papantoniou and Voulgarakis told a parliamentary committee that is looking into the Lagarde list that the accounts belonged only to their wives. Former Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas, a member of the ruling conservative party, was also charged with felony after the prosecutor refused to accept his explanation over the disappearance of 1 million euros ($1.29 million) from his bank account in 2010, court officials said. Doukas, 60, has denied any wrondoing. He has said the money was transferred to an investment account, which was declared in his income statement. Greek politicians are required under law to declare the origin of their wealth after Parliament toughened legislation in 2010 soon after its debt crisis erupted. Samaras and Erdogan Seek to Resolve Cyprus Issues Northern Greek Policemen Injured in Gold Mine Clash Continued from page 1 ister Antonis Samaras following meetings in Istanbul on Sunday and Monday. In a joint declaration, the leaders said they are committed to "engage in cooperation with regard to the technical and related aspects in the organization of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games." The agreement said the two sides will "explore ways of enhancing the benefits of the Olympics for the two countries as well as for the entire Balkan and Black Sea region" if Istanbul wins the bid. Greece, the home of the ancient Olympics and birthplace of the modern games, last hosted the Olympics in Athens in 2004. Istanbul, bidding for a fifth time, is competing against Tokyo and Madrid for the 2020 Games. The International Olympic Committee will select the host city in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7. "The ties between Turkey and Greece have been strengthened today, thanks to the power of the Olympic Movement to build bridges," Istanbul bid leader Hasan Arat said. "The closer cooperation between our countries will be a valuable and lasting legacy of our bid." Greece and Turkey mounted a joint bid for football's 2008 European Championship, which were awarded to Austria and Switzerland. Turkey and Greece nearly went to war three times be- AP PHOTO ABOVE: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras shake hands after a joint news conference in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 4, 2013. tween 1974 and 1996. Relations between the uneasy NATO allies have improved greatly since the late 1990s, but Athens and Ankara remain at odds over a broad range of issues, including war-divided Cyprus, Aegean Sea boundaries, and illegal immigration. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras greets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to Constantinople. THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Residents of a northern Greek village who object to the construction of a gold mine clashed with riot police Thursday, with some claiming that police fired tear gas into a school yard. Two police officers were hurt. Police have been conducting frequent searches in the village of Ierissos, looking for evidence in connection with a February nighttime raid on the mining company's facilities during which people set fire to machinery. The mining facilities are being operated by the Vancouver, Canada-based, Eldorado Gold Corp. The Greek government says the gold mine would provide badly needed overseas investment and create jobs during a time of national economic crisis. Local campaigners argue the mine would damage the environment and put farmers out of business. On Thursday, residents set up a roadblock at the village's entrance, burning tires to prevent the riot police from entering Ierissos. Police said tear gas was fired at the roadblock. A former local mayor, Michalis Vlachopoulos, said tear gas also was fired inside the village, including in the yard of a high school, and that students were suffering breathing problems. Police denied the allegation. "We categorically deny claims made in the news media that (tear gas) was used at a school and outside homes in the area," a police statement said. It said two police officers suffered minor injuries after being hit by rocks thrown by protesters. No arrests were made. Unemployment dips to 26.4 % ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Unemployment in Greece dipped marginally to 26.4 percent in December, but experts warn that more significant improvements are unlikely in coming months. The Greek Statistical Authority said Thursday the November figure had been revised from 27 percent originally, a record high, to 26.6 percent. The agency said the discrepancy was due to a seasonal adjustment recalculation. The rate has fluctuated around the record levels in recent months, with some economists — as well as a government-funded study — predicting an increase to 30 percent this year. About a million Greeks have lost their jobs since the start of the recession in late 2008. Only 3.7 million people work out of a population of nearly 11 million. Cyprus, Seeking Eurozone Bailout, Hindered by Money Laundering Charges Continued from page 1 holders and owners of large bank deposits take a hit is controversial, because many economists and leaders fear it might set a precedent that could spook markets, undermining recently regained confidence in the eurozone as whole. Cyprus has vehemently rejected the proposals, adding the discussion already has led some depositors to withdraw their money.” An extensive article this week on the subject in the Wall Street Journal noted “Cyprus' reputation as a transit point for shady cash, and its unusual connections to Russia, are making many of its would-be rescuers nervous.” On March 4, a week after Anastasiades was sworn in, succeeding Dimitri Christofias, the Communist stalwart who was able to obtain a loan of €2.5 billion, or about $3.3 billion from Russia, the European finance ministers pushed Cyprus into accepting an independent audit. The probe will determine whether its financial institutions comply with international rules against money-laundering. Anastasiades has promised to cooperate. He told a German newspaper "we have nothing to hide," but the Journal reported that “his new finance minister said Sunday that there ‘has to be a balance’ between a tough audit and bank secrecy.” Cyprus’ partners are not in a polite mood however. Maria Fekter, the Austrian finance minister, was blunt at a December 3 gathering in Brussels, but she reflected her colleagues’ feelings regarding a bailout of Cyprus. She asked her Cypriot counterpart "what about the Russians and their fake companies laundering their cash through your banks…Are we giving them our taxpayers' money too?" The Journal nicely summarized Cyprus’ predicament: “Four years of deficits from a freespending government run by a Communist have eroded public finances. A munitions explosion at a naval base in 2011 badly damaged a critical power plant, stunting the economy. A major Cypriot bank's investments in Greece have nearly ruined it.” “Skepticism abounds among Cyprus's would-be rescuers, especially Germany, where parliament must assent to a bailout. ‘We will not secure deposits of Russian black money in Cypriot banks with German taxpayer money,’ said Carsten Schneider, of the leading SPD opposition party, last month,” according to the Journal. Cyprus declares “we have nothing to hide,” but its partners are not in a polite mood these days. Officials in Cyprus say their critics are ignoring major reforms they have undertaken, and they challenge the notion that Russia money must be tainted. "Cyprus is doing a lot more than other countries to combat illegal financial activity,” the Journal quoted Eva Rossidou-Papakyriacou, the veteran head of Cyprus's antimoney-laundering agency. “Yet Cyprus is having a hard time shaking its reputation, thanks to an industry skilled at forming shell corporations and trusts that can camouflage assets. It also has favorable accommodations for Russians, such as low taxes on cross-border transactions. So much money flows through Cyprus to Russia that in the official statistics the little island is Russia's largest source of foreign investment—accounting for nearly a quarter of the total in 2011,” the Journal reported. Cyprus's financial industry blossomed after the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation. The Journal wrote: “it became a haven for Middle Eastern money, and the collapse of the Soviet Union brought new clients. The unsavory reputation was cemented in the 1990s, when Slobodan Milosevic and his associates funneled money through Cypriot banks to pay for war.” According to the Journal, “couriers flew cash from the Yugoslav customs agency to Cyprus – hundreds of millions of dollars in a fistful of currencies, according to a report prepared in 2002 by a fraud investigator for prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which tried Mr. Milosevic and others for war crimes. There, the investigator said, it was deposited in the Cypriot bank accounts of front companies. Much allegedly went through Cyprus Popular Bank, which today needs a massive government rescue." A bank spokesman denied that it violated United Nations sanctions and claimed it "fully cooperated" with authorities. According to the Journal: “Cyprus' would-be EU rescuers fret over the dense stacks of shell companies based here, which critics say abet tax evasion and money laundering…Cypriot officials say the concern is unfounded. Ms. Rossidou-Papakyriacou, the anti-money-laundering chief, points to her office's broad powers to block suspicious transactions and laws requiring shell companies to maintain ownership records. She brandishes a folder of letters from foreign counterparts thanking her for cooperation, and points to Cyprus's largely positive evaluation under the international money-laundering regime—better marks than Austria.” Cyprus passed more antimoney-laundering law in December which call for closer regulation of corporate-service. Rossidou-Papakyriacou said, "We've done everything.” “Still, she acknowledges that the corporate-service business is a major industry. ‘We rely on tourism and services. We don't produce cars,’ she says. An industry of thousands of lawyers, accountants and so-called corporate-service agents in Cyprus beaver away forming companies, whipping up corporate skeletons and dressing them with directors, paperwork and bank accounts,” the Journal added. Elias Neocleous, a lawyer at one of Cyprus's most top firms, has an office in Moscow and a substantial client list. He told the Journal “Cyprus needs to capitalize on its position in the world,” and he envisions Cyprus becoming a global center for arbitration, “for people who don't trust their own systems.” He believes Cyprus has a bright future “facilitating business, bridging cultures and geographies. “We don't have anything else.” EDITORIALS LETTERS 12 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The National Herald A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest to the Greek-American community of the United States of America. Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris Assistant to the Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos Associate Editor Constantinos E. Scaros Senior Writer Constantine S. Sirigos Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros Webmaster Alexandros Tsoukias The National Herald (USPS 016864) is published weekly by The National Herald Inc. at 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 Tel: (718)784-5255, Fax: (718)472-0510, e-mail: [email protected] Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, e-mail: [email protected] Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $66.00, 6 months $33.00, 3 months $22.00, 1 month $11.00 Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $88.00, 6 months $48.00, 3 months $33.00, 1 month $14.00 Home delivery New England States: 1 year $109.00, 6 months $57.00, 3 months $41.00, 1 month $18.00 On line subscription: Subscribers to the print edition: 1 year $34.95, 6 months $23.95, 3 months $14.95; Non subscribers: 1 year $45.95, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $18.95 Periodical postage paid at L.I.C., N.Y. and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send change of address to: THE NATIONAL HERALD, 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 Today’s Turkey Deserves Admiration, Not Distrust To the Editor: Like many first-generation Greek-Americans, my wife and I had an inborn distrust for Turks. It was based on personal experience: not ours, but that of our fathers. For them, it was TO OUR READERS The national Herald welcomes letters from its readers intended for publication. They should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number and be addressed to: The editor, The national Herald, 37-10 30th Street, long island city, ny 11101. letters can also be faxed to (718) 4720510 or e-mailed to [email protected]. we reserve the right to edit letters for publication and regret that we are unable to acknowledge or return those left unpublished. The Greek-Israeli Spring It was friendly, cheerful, joyous occasion, the dinner hosted by Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Michael Oren, and his wife Sally, on February 27. The gathering highlighted a new grouping called the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance. The guests were delighted by “Hellenic Israel Concert,” which stole the show. It was comprised of two Greeks and two Israelis: Magda Giannikou, Dan Nadel, Petros Klampanis and Rafi Malkiel. For one song they were joined on percussion by the Israeli Ambassador. It was noted that many Israeli popular songs have Greek roots. The ambassador pointed out that the land in Israel if filled with Greek remains and that even the location on which the Israeli Parliament stands is leased from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. And he said Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population is growing. The event, which was a "Celebration of Friendship between Israel, the United States, Greece, and Cyprus" was also attended by the Greek Ambassador to the United States, Christos Panagopoulos, Olympia Neocleous, the charge d'affaires at the Cypriot Embassy, and about 50 invited guests: Greeks and Jews from all over America, including some Greek Jews. The official representatives of the three countries spoke with warm and encouraging words, highlighting the common historical experience linking our peoples. But they also spoke about the future. The Israeli Ambassador referred to the joint training of Greek and Israeli Air Forces pilots and mentioned that 400,000 Israelis visited Greece last year. It was indeed an important event. It was not only and evening filled with “kefi,” as it was described by Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida, who spearhead the creation of the Alliance. For now, what matters is to deepen the relationships between our communities and our homelands and place them on a basis of mutual interests and benefits and the common values and principles we share, rather than to rely on impetus from common enemies. We Greek-Americans must work with our fellow Jewish-American citizens for the good of our common country, and for the countries of our origin, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Diaspora Do-Gooders Let's face it: quite often, the community does not always show proper gratitude to those Greek-Americans that provide financial support for the events and projects of the community. Instead, we take them for granted. And then, when they disappear, we get frustrated. Those of us who live in New York usually take the existence of the rest of the community for granted. When we go on the road and travel to places far from New York, however, that is when we feel the joy and thrill of meeting other Greek-Americans. And that is also when one truly appreciates the endeavors of members of the community, in places where there are precious few Greeks and Cypriots. We wish to highlight the recent fundraising gala, the Ambrosia Ball of the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. To note the importance of the work done by the members of our community there. We also want to emphasize the role played by certain people that is crucial for the establishment and support of this inspired and vital project. They are our compatriots acquired great fortunes, and to their credit, they have chosen to spend some of their valuable time and their money to enhance Hellenism in America. The Ambrosia Ball, celebrating Apokries – Greek Orthodox Carnival – was underwritten by a few generous Hellenes according to the commemorative journal. Let us, therefore, express our gratitude to them and to others that support the projects and events of our community. And lets hope they will do even more in the future. understandable. But it was not at all like the unjust tirade against Turks in early March by Secretary of State John Kerry. My wife's father was among victims of genocide when Turkey expelled Greeks and Armenian citizens from their ancestral homes in Anatolia. He was dumped into a pit of Greek bodies. In the dark of night, he climbed out and crawled to the nearby coast, where he found a raft on which he floated to safety on a nearby Greek island. Mine was in the Greek army that fought Turks in repeated battles of the early 1920s. Both men immigrated to the United States. Their antipathy toward Turks remained within them, and was instilled in their children. That inherited attitude grew with the Turkish takeover of part of the Greek island of Cyprus. Today, those of my generation have a new view: an appreciation for Turkey's resistance to Israel's encroachments in the Middle East. Meanwhile, we wonder at the continuing silence of our government about continuing occupation by our ally, Israel, in Palestine. For most of the 20th century, the United States and Turkey were viewed as opposites, the former a symbol of freedom and free expression, the other with a history of repression. Today, that has changed. Turkey has become a more open society, while we have become an aggressor nation in the Middle East. Israel, as well as our thirst for Middle East oil, are given as justifications for our sending troops into the Middle East. Iran may be next, unless we finally develop a Turkish-type spine in dealing with Israel. George Beres Eugene, OR GeOrGe SArAFOGlOu / SPeciAl TO THe nATiOnAl HerAlD AGORA – THE ORIGINAL MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS By Antonis H. Diamataris and Constantinos E. Scaros From time to time, an issue emerges and inspires various minds to converge, often at odds with one another, to discuss it. Hopefully, collective enlightenment will result from such conversations. The Ancient Greeks did that in the Agora, the original marketplace of ideas, and we, their modern-day descendants, aspire to continue that tradition. We (Diamataris and Scaros) rarely disagree with one another, but we think it is valuable to share our thoughts when we do, and invite you to share yours as well. We would never fabricate a difference of opinion for the sake of writing an interesting column. Rest assured, anything we write here are our sincere, heartfelt thoughts. We will share them with you every two weeks. We hope you enjoy them, and we look forward to your taking part in the discussion as well – by contributing letters to the editor in response, and/or commenting on our website: www.thenationalherald.com. Greece Needs a Hand, But Must Jumpstart its Own Economy 1. TNH’s PUBLISHER-EDITOR SHARES HIS POINT OF VIEW Dino, one has to be blind not to see that there is some encouraging news emerging from Greece these days. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is doing his utmost to save the country. Last week, a former mayor of Thessaloniki went to prison for life for embezzling millions of public funds. A former close aid to Andreas Papandreou went to jail for eight years and had his house right under the Acropolis Hill confiscated for similar reasons. Three other ministers also face jail time for misrepresenting their wealth to Parliament. All these incidents point to an increased focus on law and order. In addition, there is not much discussion these days about Greece exiting the Eurozone. Yet, it would be quite wrong to think that the situation on the ground is improving for the people. Quite the opposite, in fact. With an unemployment rate of 27% and wave after wave of new taxes imposed on the urging of the troika in the hope of raising the revenues of the country, the people have just about had it. They simply cannot make ends meet anymore. A conversation today with a friend from Crete, one of the most affluent areas in the country, hit me hard. “There is no hope anymore left in this country,” he said. “If my children were older I would not hesitate for a minute to send them to America. There is no life here anymore,” he continued. It seems to me that before the place explodes in violence or before they elect a lunatic as prime minister – going a step further than the Italians did a few weeks ago – before Greece is set afire, the Eurozone countries, indeed the international community, need to step in and lighten Greece of its debt burden. They all know that this amount of debt is not sustainable. To pretend otherwise might be politically expedient, it might help Mrs. Merkel in Germany until the next elections, but it does not help anybody else. Therefore, instead of waiting for the inevitable, instead of destroying the lives of a couple of generations of Greeks, before a massive exodus takes place, there is no alternative but to move ahead and forgive a great percentage of its debt. The money, then, should be invested in the country in the hope that it might lift the economy out of the depression in which it finds itself. Frankly, I see no other alternative. For if they procrastinate for whatever reason the burden of misery and the loss of hope will be so great that the next possible solution in fact would be Greece’s exit from the Eurozone. 2. TNH’s ASSOCIATE EDITOR RESPONDS Antoni, I agree that some loan forgiveness is a very sensible solution. What I do not understand, however, is why – in Mountain Lion John Catsimatidis has been climbing mountains all his life. The latest mountain he has attempted to scale, which is the topic of discussion throughout the community, is his run for the office of mayor of New York City. We are often asked: can he win? In politics a lot can happen from one day to the next. That said, here is what we think: First, Catsimatidis will surprise a lot of people who do not believe that he has a serious chance of winning. His chances are greatly increased by his gift of being able to communicate with the average citizen. Despite his tremendous wealth, he is humble, and he understands ordinary folks and their problems. Second, he did not decide to run on a whim, but only after thoughtful deliberation. We recall his past desire to run, subsequently tempered by prudent evaluation of the facts and circumstances at the time. He would not have entered the race, we suspect, unless he thought he had a strong chance to win. Third, we expect the Greek-American community to support him virtually unanimously. Not just because he is Greek, but because he is the epitome of a resilient, “mountain-climbing” New Yorker. Recently, he told Cindy Adams of the New York Post: “Look, I’ve climbed mountains all my life. I’m from little Greek island Nisyros, where I could’ve stayed a sheep herder. My busboy father, who never made waiter, moved here. To 135th Street. Today, I live in that restaurant’s owner’s same Fifth Avenue apartment. “I’ve always climbed mountains. Working in a supermarket, 80 hours a week, $1.10 an hour – cashiers got $1.20 – my tip was 2 cents a bottle, 10 bottles — then I borrowed money and bought the supermarket. In ‘77, I started buying properties, one a month. I got a pilot’s license. Bought Roy Disney’s plane. Bought Capitol Airlines with offices in 15 cities. Board member Senator Fred Thompson had me write a check to Al Gore, and that started me on politics. “A trustee for my airline was trustee for an oil company. I bought that company. We wrote the deal on a napkin. “Listen, I once made a landing by myself, with one engine out. I was alone. I don’t like being alone. But I don’t sweat. Other candidates did 10 times worse things than I’ve done. Make my day. Let them go after me. “I’ve never said no to anybody. I’m 64. A New York Republicrat who wants the next century’s kids to believe in heroes again. “In ICU, 10 minutes after coming out of the operating room, I wanted my BlackBerry. I love life. I love my family. I love New York City.” And he loves the Greek-American community, Greece, and Cyprus. We wish you a great climb, John. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 addition to austerity measures and crackdown on corruption, both commendable measures, and with an eye toward hope for debt relief – Greece is not doing more to spark immediate robust economic growth by fully utilizing its top resource: that it is a vacationer’s dream getaway destination. Why doesn’t everyone simply slash prices? It doesn’t matter that other Euro countries keep their prices high. Just because Greece uses the same currency doesn’t mean it has to charge The lenders must forgive some of Greece’s debt, but Greece needs to do more to spur robust growth the same amount – just like the cost of living in rural Arkansas is far less than it is in Manhattan, even though the residents of both places use the same American dollar. A bunch of my cousins and I have been talking for some time now about a family reunion in Greece this summer. Ultimately, some will go, and some will not, but none will ignore that the tremendous costs involved is a serious factor in the equation. Why aren’t Olympic and the other airlines running huge bargain sales on tickets for both international and domestic flights? If the price of a roundtrip ticket from New York to Athens were $500, and the price from Athens to and from one of the islands was $50, can you imagine how many thousands more people would go there this summer? Moreover, what if the cost of staying in a hotel, eating in a restaurant, buying food from a supermarket, and riding in a cab – better yet, making sure cabs were not on strike, but available to transport tourists wherever they wanted to go – were cut in half? Why would the restaurateurs care if all food and drink they served was 50% off? After all, whenever they spent money on rent, paying the mortgage, filling their cars, buying a pair of shoes, or paying the utility bill, those expenses would 50% less expensive, too. Of course, there are the lenders to consider: if the Greeks all get by just fine charging each other much less, how can they pay off their loans to foreign lenders? That is where those lenders must do their part, in concert with the domestic price-slashing, and forgive the loan amount commensurate with the price reduction. Meanwhile, the tourists would flow into Greece at record rates. After all, the many splendors of Greece are still there to behold – the Greeks haven’t managed to ruin them. A coordinated effort to forgive loans, slash prices, continue throwing the crooks in jail, and ending the senseless strikes and riots will go a long way to lift Greece from its doldrums much sooner than later. 3. WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? COMMENTARY The Triumph of Truth at Last: Senator Menendez Vindicated By A.H. Diamataris Robert Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants – a carpenter father and his a dressmaker mother – and a U.S. Senator from New Jersey, was not merely persecuted by his opponents, he was crucified. The mainstream media felt compelled to go along with his accusers who circulated rumors on the Internet. It should be noted that the rumors and reports flared up when it became clear after last year’s elections that Menendez would become the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Re- lations Committee. The attacks started on several hitherto unknown websites, which contained allegations about his personal life, and also raised questions about his friendship with an ophthalmologist in Florida. He was accused of having relations with underage prostitutes in the Dominican Republic, where he vacationed. In fact, a girl was filmed saying she actually had sex with the Senator. This "news" was eventually picked up by major media outlets, giving it weight. The Senator struggled in vain Services to our readers: Call us for any information pertaining to the paper or anything else at 718-7845255. • Home Delivery service is available in the majority of the East coast. We start it anytime and stop it anytime. Call us three days in advance at 718-784-5255. Going on vacation, call to discontinue and we will easily renew upon your return. to convince reporters that he did not even know the girls who accused him, that the whole situation was created by his enemies, who were trying to destroy him politically. Indeed, the New York Times called for his temporary resignation from the post of chairman of the Committee until the case is solved. But as the Greeks say, God loves the thief but he also loves the landlord. So a couple of days ago, the same girl who appeared in the video claimed she had a relationship with the Senator revealed that she had been paid • Mail Delivery service is available from coast to coast. Delivery is dependent on Post Office and region. Any unforeseen delays please contact us at 718-784-5255. • Newsstands carry our papers in NY, NJ. CT & MA. Cannot find us on newsstands? Please call us at 718-784-5255 and we will make arrangements to get it there promptly. • Online websites to our subscribers to be accessed online anytime of the day or night with up-to-date information. Read us on line at www.thenationalherald.com. to say that, and admitted that she never met him and does not even know what the Senator looks like. She also revealed that a lawyer approached her and a friend about doing the video, in turn revealing the name of another lawyer that gave him the text and paid him to find the two women. These incredible things are unacceptable. They pollute legitimate democracy. After these revelations, which have restored Menendez’ innocence, both the authorities and the media, must get to the bottom of it and punish the conspirators. • Classified services available with a wide category selection and well read worldwide. It’s the go to paper in the Greek Community. To get results call our professionals at 718-784-5255. • Display advertising available to promote your business to the Greek American Community. Want to reach the movers and shakers of the community advertise with us. Call our advertising experts at 718784-5255. • 20% off your subscription by enrolling a friend or family member. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013 VIEWPOINTS 13 60% of Greek-Am. College The Perils of Running U.S. Foreign Policy on a Budget Grads Abandon the Church By Fr. Steven C. Salaris Last year I attended a clergy gathering where we had several “workshops” discussing the importance of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) ministry to college students, and what I call “The 60%.” This term derives from a recent study revealing that 60% of college students never return to church after college... So why do 60% of our college youth leave Orthodoxy? This is a difficult question to answer, but I have come up with several hypotheses. Some will apply specifically to our Orthodox Church, others will apply to Christian churches in general. Here are my hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: Linguistic and cultural ghettos that masquerade as “Churches” are contributing to “The 60%.” Orthodoxy has been in America for over 200 years. Yet too often our parishes live with the notion that the Church’s primary function is to be an ethnic preservation society. Far too many people go to Kids cannot learn about Christian love when their parents hold grudges church not to encounter Christ, the Son of the living God, but to talk in or listen to foreign languages and eat ethnic foods. Why do we attempt to raise our children spiritually in an atmosphere of dead liturgical languages and the equally dead cultures from which they came? Gee, Toto, we’re not in Byzantium (or Tsarist Russia) anymore! Nonetheless, we continue to offer incense to the idol of “spiritual language” while not gaining a substantive understanding from what we hear. Sure, sending our children to Arabic/Greek/Russian school might make grandma happy, but they will still be unable to understand the liturgical languages they hear in Church. Hypothesis 2: Enmity in our churches is contributing to “the 60%.” Enmity is a word that means “positive, active, and mutual hatred or ill will.” Churches are full of it! – including the Orthodox. It would be great if we hated evil, sin, and the devil; instead we hate each other. Jesus tells us that we are to love one another as he has loved us. Too often, we fail. When we fail we are hypocrites. How can Johnny learn about Christian love when mom has not spoken to “that person” in the parish for fifteen years? Add to this parish splits, gossip, back-biting, the way personality-disordered parishioners treat the priest, vituperative general assembly meetings, etc., is it any wonder that our youth flee once they are free? Hypothesis 3: Lack of stewardship is contributing to the 60%. We don’t regard the Church as the pearl of great price or a treasure buried in a field. Instead we treat the Church like a street beggar. In many of our parishes, clergy and stewardship committees hold out their hands hoping (and begging) that parish families will pay their “minimum dues.” Why must I hear of parishes with hundreds of families that by midyear do not have enough money to pay the electric bill or the priest’s salary? Why must I hear about priests and their families that are expected to live in substandard housing, send their children to substandard schools, drive junk cars, and depend on food stamps? This is scandalous! Even worse, this is oftentimes expected by parishioners who are quite generous to themselves. Why do churches depend on endless fundraisers and festivals for income? The answer to these questions is simple: too many parishioners do not value the Church. We must pass on to our children, by our example, the principle that the Church is worth the stewardship of our time and talents above all else. Hypothesis 4: Failed models of Christian education are contributing to “the 60%. With all due respect to those that have worked so hard in Christian education, it is time we admit that our Protestant-derived models of Christian education have failed. Like us, the Catholics and Protestants also have their own 60%. Christian youth come out of years of Sunday school and still don’t know the basics of their own faith. I know of students educated in Catholic schools that think the Holy Trinity is Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I know Orthodox Christians who think that the Holy Trinity is God, Jesus, and Mary. An organic living knowledge and internalization of the Orthodox Christian faith cannot happen in 45 minutes on a Sunday by cutting and coloring paper doll clergy and iconostases. There was no Sunday School in the early Church and yet families – parents and children – were martyred together bearing witness to the Christian faith (read the life of the early second-century martyrs Sophia and her three children...if you dare). Perhaps a radical re-thinking and new approach to Hypothesis 5: The lack of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is contributing to “the 60%. The Church is like a fig tree with lots of leaves. The leaves are things we get passionate and obsessive about – icons, facial hair (on men), chanting, vestments, ethnic nationalism, calendars, choirs, rants about ecumenists and liberal deconstructionists, spirituality, pseudo-spirituality, and all the rest of the fodder that one can find on “Orthodox” blog sites. However, if the tree doesn’t bear fruit, then it is doomed to whither. I am going to be bold and identify the “first fruits” of the Church as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Some people might think that sounds a bit “Protestant,” but in fact it is entirely Orthodox. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is so deep, intimate, and personal, that He feeds us with this very own Body and Blood in the Eucharist (beginning for many of us when we are babies). That “first fruit,” that intense personal relationship with Christ, should then yield the fruits of repentance and spiritual growth in the lives of every Orthodox Christian. If we are unable to bear these “first fruits,” our youth and our Churches will wither. Fr. Steven C. Salaris, MDiv, PhD, is Protopresbyter of All Saints of North America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Maryland Heights, MO GUEST EDITORIALS The national Herald welcomes manuscripts representing a variety of views for publication in its View Points page. They should include the writer’s name, address, telephone number and be addressed to the View Points editor, The national Herald, 37-10 30th St., lic, ny 11101. They can also be e-mailed to [email protected]. Due to considerations of space we enforce a strict 850word upper limit. we reserve the right to edit. These are not exactly times without challenge. The Arab world has launched into the most transformative epoch since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire whose final development cannot be discerned. Palestinians and Israelis have locked themselves into a political death grip that threatens to undermine the last forty years of diplomacy. Iran and Israel have together convinced us that the former is determined to become a nuclear power. China and Japan are on a collision course over a chain of semi-submerged and uninhabited islands. Russia behaves as if Mott Romney won the recent election and seems to be treating them like the “greatest threat.” Hopes that the young new dictator of North Korea would change the behavior of his unhappy nuclear-armed country appear to have been dashed. Islamist-inspired terrorist groups have gained new footholds in North Africa. Europe has paralyzed itself into a downward economic spiral through mismanagement and confusing economic and political objectives. At this crucial moment, the administration and the rest of the country allowed a lunatic fringe of ideologues to stampede us into a monstrosity called sequestration, perhaps the dumbest political decision since Prohibition. But, as Will Rogers once said: “There is nothing in the Constitution of the United States that forbids the American people from making damned fools of themselves.” We weren’t listening then and we aren’t listening now. I am not, however, going to go into one more Jeremiad about how stupid this all is. We did it and now we have to live with it. Living with it does deserve more serious attention than silly arguments about how The time has long we will have to come for the United wait in lines at airStates to act like a ports. Nothing tertrue historical great rible has happened power. The yet to damage Olympic-class pracAmerica’s national titioners of diplosecurity but rereadmacy, the Byzantine ing the first paraand British Empires graph can reveal a survived for cenlot about what can turies. Romans, like happen. disbumbled Americans, We dained diplomacy, blithely into two by AMB. PATRICK N. put their faith in unnecessary wars, THEROS military force and which are arguably could not survive a among the most imSpecial to The National Herald change in the balportant proximate ance. causes of our curThe principals of diplomacy rent inability to deal with the world. Our problems stem have remained unchanged for largely from our national obses- centuries; only the tools evolve sion that a unilateral threat to with technology. The first is the go to war is the only way to pre- most difficult to learn and to vent one. As a consequence, we practice: know your limits. No have seriously weakened our amount of military strength can armed forces and today realisti- force every one to do your bidcally lack the capacity to threaten ding. If you overdue military coa medium-sized country. Since ercion your allies, sooner or later, we seem to regard diplomatic will join your enemies. Pick your tools such as building alliances, wars; modern technology dicpersuading others through tates that no foreign occupying bribes, or subtle persuasion as power can defeat a nationalist somehow un-American, this has insurrection. Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan all failed because we further paralyzed us. The good news is that there made them American wars unare some very competent Amer- like the defeat of the communists icans who do know how to man- in Greece, a Greek civil war age our national security and fought by Greeks alone. Never who may be able to do so if only destroy your opponent: the cost because our politicians do not is not worth it and besides you really care much about foreign will almost certainly need him policy. The further good news is as an ally in the future against a the State Department, with the stronger threat. Vietnam’s intersmallest budget among federal ests regarding China now coinagencies, has escaped much of cide with ours. Get your allies to the mindless micromanagement join you in the fight or better that allowed the sequester to still, fight on your behalf. Don’t paralyze so many of the other go to war without a realistic government agencies. It is one endgame; a mistake Americans among the few agencies that has repeat over and over again. The some leeway to move funds invasion of Iraq drove the Iraqis around sufficiently to keep its into the embrace of their ancient most valuable and effective asset, enemy the Iranians. Bribing forthe men and women of the U.S. eign countries works; it may sound dirty but I can assure you Foreign Service, on the job. it is a lot less dirty than leaving thousands of young soldiers dead or maimed. In fairness to the Obama administration, its conduct of foreign policy marks the first real attempt by American Government to protect our national security within our means. It has failed to articulate its success very well. “Leading from behind” in Libya is an unfortunate term that describes exactly what we needed to accomplish: the removal of a criminally insane dictator with the help of allies. Managing the aftermath is tough but we are working on it despite the tragic loss of diplomats. Obama correctly refuses to be stampeded into attacking Iran or jumping into the Syrian swamp without trying everything else first. The obvious first step in Syria would be to enlist Assad’s allies, Russia, Iraq and Iran, and, together with our allies, force the warring parties to reach a compromise solution. Making compromise a dirty word in American politics produced the sequester; refusing to find a compromise in Syria would be equally stupid. As a nation we have to realize that we were once powerful and well-meaning adolescents. We had made ourselves into a benign super-power that could crush anybody who would not allow us to save him. That time has passed. The time has come to grow up. The Hon. Ambassador Theros is president of the U.S.-Qatar Business Council. He served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 36 years, mostly in the Middle East, and was American Ambassador to Qatar from 1995 to 1998. He also directed the State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Office, and holds numerous U.S. Government decorations. LETTER FROM ATHENS Greece’s Famed Flying Doctor is Now Grounded for Life Vassilis Papageorgopoulos earned the sobriquet “The Flying Doctor” because won two medals at the European Indoor Track Championships and the bronze in the 100-meter dash in 1971 before going on to become a dentist. Then he got involved in politics in 1978 when was elected a City Councilor in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest municipality and his star was rising. He kept practicing dentistry as well, although, as it turned out, he was better at drilling for gold in the city’s coffers. He had all the elements that the New Democracy conservatives wanted and at one point Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the Party leader, called him an “honest man,” in tones that would have made you think Diogenes was the King of the Prevaricators by comparison. From January 1999 to the end of 2010, Papageorgopoulos was the Mayor of Thessaloniki until Leftist Yiannis Boutaris was elected and immediately complained that someone had cooked the books. An investigation ensued and Papageorgopoulos wasn’t fast enough to get away from the long arm of the law after he was convicted of heading a gang of thieves of city officials charged with embezzling 51.4 million euros ($66.9 million) and given a life sentence in jail, although it remains to be seen if that will ever be carried out given Greece’s penchant for letting politicians plunder with impunity. Predictably, he denied any wrongdoing. “I declare that I have nothing to do with this case,” he told the Thessaloniki stealing from the court, which conpetty cash acvicted him of direct counts, but only 1.2 complicity in emmillion euros bezzlement. “Some ($1.56 million) and people will go to given the high their graves prices in Greece weighed down by even during a remorse.” crushing economic He claimed his crisis who could trial had turned blame them? A into a “political guy’s gotta eat, process,” coneven if it’s Beluga ducted “to satisfy by ANDY caviar. the general mood DABILIS You can’t make that calls for politithis guy up, even as cians’ blood,” with Special to a character in a BGreeks buried unThe National Herald film noir. From jail, der pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions de- he wrote a letter demanding anmanded by international lenders swers to 13 questions that in return for $325 billion in res- weren’t revealed so maybe one cue monies, while tax cheats of them was, “Can I get a shovel and politicians have largely es- or a nail file?” Apparently overlooking his caped sacrifice. It’s rare in Greece for a politi- conviction, the 65-year-old cian to even be charged with a grounded sprinter called on crime and it wasn’t until former anyone with “the smallest piece defense minister Akis Tsochat- of concrete evidence that I parzopoulos, who elevated arro- ticipated in embezzling” to degance to an art, was charged last clare it on television, although year with stealing as much as they already did in court, maybe $1.32 billion from defense con- while he was asleep. He said he tracts and thrown into detention wouldn’t appeal if they did, a that any high-ranking official move so dumb you wouldn’t see had seen the inside of a jail in a it used by someone trying to convince Judge Judy they didn’t long time. Two other former high-rank- steal their girlfriend’s car and ing former Thessaloniki city of- wreck it on a date with another ficials also got life in jail for their woman. This guy is a walking mispart in the scheme to scam taxpayer money, although they take. How else can you explain were convicted of stealing only how he got caught when other 18 billion euros ($23.44 mil- politicians who are still stealing lion) so who knows where the are walking around and drinking coffee at upscale cafes while other $43.46 million went. Apparently not content with avoiding beggars? Greek newspaper reports taking millions, according to prosecutors, Papageorgopoulos showed his greed knew no limand 16 other former officials in its because while he was knockthe gang that couldn’t steal ing down a big paycheck as straight were also accused of mayor, he was collecting two pensions, one for being a dentist and the other for his time in the Greek Parliament, where you can earn a pension for serving about 10 minutes. He wasn’t the only lame brain using the city treasury as a personal ATM, according to prosecutors. Former general secretary Michalis Lemoussias and former treasurer Panagiotis Saxonis are the others who will see him around the jail yard for the rest of their lives if the sentences are carried out. Media reports said they were spending like drunken sailors, although that gives drunken sailors a bad name. Saxonis was responsible for forwarding to social security funds the contributions withheld from municipal employees’ salaries but the court found he put the money in his pocket, apparently thinking no one would notice why they were bulging. But he kept only 10 percent and forwarded the rest to Lemoussias, who prosecutors said split the difference with Papageorgopoulos. Even in Greece that’s a crime and when the social security office asked, “Hey, where’s the money?” the jig was up. Presiding judge Giorgos Apostolakis said that “Papageorgopoulos was in charge, and without his approval Lemoussias could have done nothing.” “His silent stance on the sidelines showed that he knew everything.” Now the disgraced former mayor will find that this race is different than his dashes for Greece and glory: they are neverending and there is no finish line. [email protected] The Elections in Italy, Viewed in Wider Context, Reveal Overall Threat to Democracy By Mark Mazower The Financial Times The turmoil produced by the Italian elections has directed attention back to where it should have been all along – to the politics of the eurozone crisis. We have had six months of complacency, rising stock markets and wishful thinking. The conventional wisdom was that the crisis had been contained, with Ireland recovering and the risk of a Greek exit from the eurozone reduced. But this view always ignored the politics. Greece, in particular, showed that even if capital flows might be going in the right direction, the democratic deficit was widening. No one has much cared outside Greece that a neoNazi party could shoot to above 10 per cent in the polls. But it is a warning of what can happen to other eurozone members. There is, fortunately, no parallel to the rise of Golden Dawn in Italy. But the crisis of democratic legitimacy has been shown to be equally deep there. As in Greece, the voters have a reasonably clear view: they want to remain in Europe and – knowing the defects of their own economic system – they may even accept some measure of austerity. But the Rome-based political class has lost all credibility in their eyes – they were creators of the mess, and of the corruption that accompanied it. They cannot be trusted to clear it up. Those who have made no sacrifice themselves lack the moral credibility to ask them of others. Technocrat prime minsters, such as Italy’s Mario Monti or Greece’s Lucas Papademos, are no alternative: they may have clean hands because they remained outside party politics. But they are creatures of banking and economics. While they may understand money, that no longer recommends them to the voters who would rather have someone who understands them. The result is dangerous. It is but a short step from writing off the political class to writing off the institutions of democracy. So far most voters have not done this in either Italy or Greece. But some have and the temptation is there for more to do so, whether by drifting towards the far right, towards an anti-capitalism that is the prisoner of its own revolutionary rhetoric, or towards a kind of anarchic alternative to party politics – the direct democracy espoused by Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement in Italy. The response from Brussels and the creditor north to all this has been robotically unimaginative – to insist that the debtors, like the little fish in Finding Nemo, must just keep on going. And so they may – for a while. It is possible that southern Eu- rope will give the Germans until the autumn to come around to a new approach. But toleration for austerity is unlikely to last much beyond then. A moment of truth is surely approaching. Joachim Gauck, the German president, has called for a new debate on Europe, and suggested that its future lies in reviving the idea of a commonwealth of nations. But if such a debate is to go anywhere, it will have to confront the question of monetary union. For Europe may be approaching a stark choice: giving up the euro; or keeping it and seeing the political crisis spin out of control. As Mr Gauck noted, the original European idea saw supranational policy making not as something that would suffocate individual member nation-states but rather as a means to help them out of the existential crisis that had beset them during the second world war, to restore their prestige and their ability to govern. European co-operation emerged alongside economic planning, exchange controls, Keynesianism and corporatist management of industrial relations. The whole approach was discredited by the stagflation of the 1970s. Under the leadership of Jacques Delors, European Commission president from 1985 to 1994, and his successors, the EU went in a different direction. It emphasised monetary co-ordination, free capital flows, privatisation and a soft touch in financial regulation. The older vision was abandoned, but it produced higher growth rates than the model that succeeded it. It also nurtured domestic political institutions rather than undermining them: credibility was painstakingly restored to parliaments and parties. So, from today’s perspective, the 1950s and 1960s look like a golden age. Its achievement now looks in danger of being undone. For it is not written in stone that Europe will always be identified in the minds of its citizens with growth and democracy. A different future may lie ahead in which Europe is identified instead with stagnation, unemployment and tyranny. Those preaching austerity probably do not see themselves as contributing to a crisis of democracy, but they are. The Italian elections should remind eurozone leaders to pay attention to their voters. Economic fixes have failed to staunch a political crisis that has the capacity to harm not only EU integration, but the legitimacy of the continent’s democratic order itself. The writer is a professor of history at Columbia university and author of ‘Governing the World: The History of an Idea’ 14 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 9-15, 2013