The Chios Societies of America and Canada are organizing the 5th International and 53rd National Chian Convention in Chios, Greece, from August 2nd-6th, in 2007. This year's International Convention will include a beach party in Vrontados, the birthplace of Homer, and excursions for the young adults in order to familiarize them with the cultural heritage of our island. Also, in Daskalopetra (the rock of Homer) from evening to daybreak, passages from The Iliad will be read by an international panel put together by The Readers of Homer featuring Ms. Kathryn Hohlwein & Mr. Yiannis Simonides. At the Homeric Intellectual Centre, in Chiostown, there will be an art exhibit of featuring the works of Aspasia Melis, a line of invited speakers from Athens, Australia, and the USA, that will participate in seminars and discussions about Hellenic and Chian issues with a focus on the young adults of the Diaspora. The Grand Banquet will take place at the Golden Sand Hotel, in Karfas, on Saturday, August 4th where we will recognize the recipients the Dimitrios Bouboulis Memorial Scholarships and honor guests who have had a record of contributing to the benefit of the island of Chios, the Hellenic Republic, and the Greek-American community. The Convention concludes with an excursion to the island of Psara.
The Convention is dedicated to strengthen the relations amongst Chians living around the world, to encourage the young adults of Chian descent to maintain a professional and cultural dialogue amongst themselves, and to support the economy of our island by additional tourism from our delegates and their families and friends.
The emphasis has been given to invite and get more young adults involved, which will hopefully lead to better communication among all the societies and federations that will participate in the Convention. The Convention also provides an opportunity to present to young professionals of Chian descent, a different aspect of the Greek society and its economy, and to possibly encourage them to look into new business opportunities in Greece.
The organizing committee of the 5th International Chian Convention welcomes and assures all Chian associations and federations of Europe, Australia, along with the local associations in Greece, that they will have the opportunity to send delegations to the meetings to participate with the member societies of the CSA&C.
Contacts:
Dimitrios B. Kontolios, CSAC Supreme President
201-960-9260, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
The Organizing Committee,
John M. Kontolios, 201-767-6267
Stefanos Bouboulis, 781-589-7567
Steve Siderias, 201-262-4976

A strong message was delivered by the Pan-Macedonian Association USA, in the city of Baltimore, MD where the 61st National Convention was carried from June 26 until July 1, 2007.

Prior to the opening of the Convention, which was blessed by His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, an academic conference took place in the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC titled, A Search for a Roadmap to Peace in the Balkans. Non-Greek and Greek academicians and experts sent everywhere a strong message that the successors of Alexander the Great established the Hellenistic period and were indubitable Greek. The hoe of the archaeologists in all parts of the Hellenistic East was excavating nothing other than monuments and coins with Greek forms, insignias, and inscriptions, similar to those that were discovered in the territories of Greek city-states of that time.

Dr. Potitsa Grigorakou from the Open University of Athens was the Coordinator of the morning panel. Archaelogist Professor Pierre Leriche from Centre d' Archeologie pour l' Orient of Paris via a power point presentation informed the audience about the monuments and the architecture of the Hindo-Hellenistic East, while Dr. Osmund Bopearachhci, from Centre D' Archeologie, E.N.S. Paris presented an abundance of currencies of the Hellenistic era on which the Greek language is engraved and leading figures with Greek names are depicted on them. 

The afternoon panel was coordinated by Mr. Gene Rossides, Chairman of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) and the experts Ted Galen Carpenter, Vice-president of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, CATO Institute, Washington, DC and Gregory R. Copley, Vice-president of International Strategic Studies Association, Alexandria, VA, presented a geopolitical analysis of the southeastern Balkans. Dr. George Papavizas with his presentation of A Country with a Borrowed Identity made a detailed analysis of historical facts that were instrumental into the further development of the FYROM issue. The presenters emphasized that the proper and just resolution of the FYROM issue, based on historical truth is critical for peace in the Balkans and beneficial to the interests of the United States. The Coordinator of SAE, Mr. Theodore Spyropoulos, with his wife Errica, was present during the academic presentations, while Congresswoman Ileana Ros Lehtinen was the main speaker of the lunch which followed. Greek origin Congressman Zachary Space, also gave a warm greeting in support of the efforts of the Macedonians.  

Mr. Markus Templar, historian and Balkan-analyst, on Friday, June 29, 2007, following the Convention’s business, via a power point presentation, proposed the kinship of Macedonian words with words that exist in the dictionary of Hesychius who lived in the 5th century AD. Mr. Templar’s extensive research gives further evidence that even linguistically the Macedonians were Greek. Dr. Dimitrios Pantermalis, also on Friday evening, June 29, via the new technology gave a thorough examination of work which himself has undertaken, of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens. The museum, as explained Dr. Pantermalis, will be ready to open its doors at an early date!!

Congratulatory messages for the 61st Pan-Macedonian Convention were received from the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, His Eminence Archbishop Demitrios, the President of Democracy Mr. Karolos Papoulias, the Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, from Foreign Minister, Mrs. Dora Bakogianni, from the Chairman of Parliament, Mrs. Anna Benaki, from the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. George Kalantzis, from Lieutenant Foreign Minister Mr. Theodoros Kassimis. Also Mr. Haitidis, Chairman of Inter-parties Committee of Greeks Abroad and Chairman of Alexandreion Institution in Litochoro, Pieria, founded by the Pan-Macedonian Association, sent a message with warm greetings for a successful convention. The General Secretary of SAE, Dr Olga Sarantopoulos, also sent warm greetings. With letters, Mr. Theodore Spyropoulos, Coordinator of SAE in America and Mr. Emmanuel Velivasakis, Chairman of Hellenic American National Council (HANC), offered their support to the efforts of the Macedonians.

His Excellency Ambassador of Greece in Washington, Mr. Alexandros Mallias, observed with great assiduity the proposals of the academicians, but was also the main speaker of the official dinner on Saturday, June 30, 2007. During his speech he presented the leading presence of Greece in the Balkans. Present at the banquet were Congressman John Sarbanes and Michael Sarbanes (candidate Chairman of the Municipal Council of Baltimore). The Pan-Macedonian Association honored Dr. Ioannis Nathenas and Mr. Christos Tomaras during the dinner, for the long-lasting contribution and their support to the Organization and the efforts of the Macedonians.  

The outgoing Supreme President, Mr. Panos D. Spiliakos, stated: This year is particularly significant for the development of the name issue. The FYROM intolerantly in their irredentist stance is predicted that they will be included in NATO in spring of 2008. If the Greek government does not practice its veto power now, even if the neighboring country agrees to enter as the FYROM, Greece will face difficult moments in the future. The resolution of the 61st Convention of the Pan-Macedonian Association states the following: The Greek Parliament should not ratify any agreement for the admission of Skopje into NATO or the European Union even under a temporary name such as FYROM until an agreement is reached on a final name for the country. This also is the advice of the Macedonians to the Greek government.

The newly-elected Supreme President, Professor Nina Gatzoulis said: All the excavated relics in all parts of the world that were touched by the Macedonians were as Hellenic as those of the Athenians, Spartans, and all the other Hellenic city states of that time. FYROM has been challenged on this and has not been able to produce even one shred of evidence to the contrary. It is very important that the entire Omogeneia promotes US House Resolution, 356 that is being introduced by Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Bilirakis, which advises the leadership of the FYROM to stop its propaganda emanating from the governmental and private institution, and to focus their efforts in finding a name of their country. 

The following are the new officers who were elected the last day of the Convention:

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Supreme President: Nina Gatzoulis

Supreme Vice-President: Dr. Antonios Papadopoulos

Β! Supreme Vice Presiden (Youth): Anastasia Kasseris

Supreme Secretary: Maria Hatzinakos

Supreme Treasurer: Kostas Hatzistefanidis

Treasurer’s Aide: Demitrios Tassopoulos

Legal Advisors: Theodore Vassilakis

 Demitrios Ioannidis

GOVERNORS

1. New England: George Tsitsopoulos

2 Southern New England George Vlahopoulos

3. Greater ΝΥ: Mike Barbalios

4. Upstate NY: Nick Kousmanidis

5. Midwestern States: TBA

6. Mid-Atlantic: Stelios Kirimlis

7.  Eastern-Midwestern: Christos Papademas

8. Southern States: Paul Voulgaris

9. Plane States: Athanasios Deros

10. Southwestern States: TBA

11. Rocky Mountain: Nick Komnenos

12. Pacific States: Dr. Karl Konstantin

The Pan-Macedonian Association of the USA in a duly convened meeting at its 61st Annual Convention on June 26 to July 1, 2007, in Baltimore MD, USA declares the following:

 We strongly oppose the recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia (The FYROM) as the Republic of Macedonia by the government of the United States of America.

 We demand that the continuous irredentist propaganda emanating from The FYROM, including the falsification of the Hellenic heritage of Macedonia, stops immediately.

 We shall never accept an Orthodox Church with the term "Macedonia" or its derivatives in its name.

 We oppose the use of the name Republic of Macedonia in any legal document within the Hellenic Republic, or by Hellenic interests worldwide.

 We condemn terrorism in all of its forms.

 Turkey must respect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, which is a full EU member, it must immediately remove all its occupation troops, it must remove the illegal settlers who were brought to Cyprus from the mainland of Turkey, it must return all properties to the rightful owners and make all reparations to the Cypriots.

 We regard the continued discriminatory acts, rules, and policy of Turkey against the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, as a violation of freedom of religion that is inconsistent with the country's aspirations to become a member of the European Union. We demand the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, the restoration of the confiscated property of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and we demand respect for the property rights of Hellenes in Constantinople.

 We demand recognition by the U.S.A. and Turkish governments of the genocides against the Armenian, Assyrian as well as the Hellenic genocide. We note that the recent decision by Turkish Supreme Court rejecting the ecumenicity of the Patriarch is contrary to European Union Laws.

 We oppose the continuous violations by Turkey of the Greek territorial space. 

We demand from the Republic of Bulgaria the return of the Holy Relics that were stolen from the monasteries of Drama and Serres.

We demand the return of the Parthenon Marbles to the place of their origin.

 The Kalash of the northern Himalayan region of the Hindu Kush Mountains of Pakistan are Hellenic descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great. The Kalash Indigenous people have sustained their ancient culture and traditions since the 4th century B.C., yet they are in danger of extinction. Being our Hellenic Macedonian brothers and sisters, we support their efforts to sustain their ethnic values and identity.

We support the Kalash proposal to Bring the Glory Back which is, to apply the rule of Law of Alexander the Great, as the guideline for the Security Council of the United Nations.

The retrieval of bones of Greek soldiers, who fell during WWII against the Italians in the mountains of Northern Epirus, is not an economic transaction, but a humanitarian issue and our national duty. The road of Albania to the European Union requires the Respect of Human, Political, Cultural, Religious and Educational Rights of the Greek minority.

The Albanians should cease all propaganda regarding the Chams if Albania is to proceed in its Euro-Atlantic integration.

We regard as Hellene whoever wants to be considered as such, regardless of his language.

We urge all Greek-Americans to register to vote and exercise that right in all upcoming elections. We also urge them to influence their local, state and national Representatives to support the Hellenic national issues and specifically support HR 356 regarding the irredentist propaganda of the FYROM.

The Greek Parliament should not ratify any agreement for the admission of Skopje into NATO or the European Union even under a temporary name such as FYROM until an agreement is reached on a final name for the country.

The Committee:

Panos D. Spiliakos

Nina Gatzoulis

Athanasios Vulgaropulos

Dr. Antonios Papadopoulos