AHEPA Marks Somber 45th Anniversary of Invasion, Occupation of Cyprus

AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL  PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION July 20, 2019 AHEPA Marks Somber 45th Anniversary of Invasion,  Occupation of Cyprus    WASHINGTON (July 20, 2019) --  Supreme President George G. Horiates has issued a statement on the 45th anniversary of the illegal invasion of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey that occurred July 20, 1974 and subsequent illegal occupation: "Today we observe a somber day-the 45th anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of theRepublic of Cyprus by the Republic of Turkey, an unreliable NATO-member country. This was, and remains to this very day, an intolerable act; one that is a gross violation of the rule of law, human rights, and democratic ideals. We pause to remember the innocent civilians who lost their lives and the individuals who went missing, including five American citizens, four of whose investigations remain incomplete. The illegal invasion and occupation caused the displacement of 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees who to this day are unable to return to their homes which is also a violation of human rights as determined by the European Commission on Human Rights. Moreover, Turkey's restrictions upon religious freedom and destruction of Cyprus' cultural and religious heritage in Turkish-occupied Cyprus have been well-documented by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, the Law Library of Congress, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and several media publications. "It is our hope the two sides resume their dialogue and work to resolve difficult issues that include security and guarantees. Unfortunately, Turkey's renewed hostilities, acts of provocation, and perpetual assault on international law threaten the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, which is a United States strategic partner and European Union member, and does not bode well for the resumption of settlement talks.  Recently, two Turkish drill ships are stationed in Cyprus' designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) leading Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades rightfully to call Turkey's intention to drill a 'second invasion.' The very notion of Cyprus enduring a second invasion is unconscionable. We welcome measures the European Union has taken in response to Turkey's illegal activities, and we have stated our support for the U.S. to follow suit. "Further, Turkish intransigence in the quest for a settlement must end. Turkey must abandon its insistence to be a Guarantor Power of a reunified Cyprus, essentially the right to intervene, especially as the security of all Cypriots in a unified, EU-member Cyprus would be provided by the EU. Again, we urge the U.S. government to convey a strong message to Turkey that it must play a constructive role in the movement of confidence-building measures, which includes the removal of 40,000 Turkish troops from the island. We contend these troops would serve a better purpose elsewhere, especially to NATO, as opposed to Cyprus. "These actions are in the best interests of the United States, which has conveyed appreciation for the 'strategic partnership' it has with the Republic of Cyprus. A just and viable solution to the division of Cyprus will strengthen the Eastern Mediterranean and bring peace and security to the region. This is especially important due to the discovery and potential exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves within the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus by multinational energy firms, including American ones, that could provide Europe with energy security. However, as aforementioned, Turkey has wasted no time taking aggressive measures toward Cyprus and the multinational energy companies that rightfully intend to explore within Cyprus's exclusive economic zone. "Despite these troubling circumstances, we restate our call for a reunified Cyprus with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship; and with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded as described in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. We contend such a solution is in the best interest of all Cypriots and must emanate from Cypriots themselves without arbitrary timetables. "We state adamantly 45 years is too long. Our hope is that we will no longer need to observe this 'black anniversary,' but instead, celebrate the anniversary of a settlement. AHEPA remains committed to doing all within its power, and pledges to continue to work with all organizations, to keep the Cyprus issue in the public eye until a just and viable solution that benefits all Cypriots is realized."

HEPA Military Medal of Honor Presented L-R: Supreme Treasurer Tsivicos, Supreme President Horiates, Lt. Gen. Leontaris, and Board Chairman Karacostas, PSP. AHEPA proudly presented Lt. General Ilias Leontaris, chief of the Republic of Cyprus National Guard General Staff, with the AHEPA Military Medal of Honor, July 11, in New York City. Supreme President George Horiates presented the award accompanied by Board Chairman Nicholas Karacostas, PSP, and Supreme Treasurer Savas Tsivicos. Lt. Gen. Leontaris conveyed his appreciation for the honor and complimented AHEPA as an institution that since its establishment has been a facilitator of enhanced U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus. Lt. Gen. Leontaris was unable to attend the 97th Grand Banquet in Chicago where AHEPA announced the award. Grand Banquet Honors Excellence Miss the 97th AHEPA Grand Banquet? Catch our recap of the gala affair held at the Palmer House Hilton, July 5, 2019. The pinnacle event of the Supreme Convention honored excellence in the community and Archbishop Elpidophoros delivered his first Keynote Address to the AHEPA family.  read more ICYMI | Ahepans Receive National Accolades  During the Supreme Convention, then-Supreme President George Loucas oversaw the presentation of AHEPA's 2019 National Awards to districts, chapters, and Ahepans who excelled during the 2018-19 administrative year: Ahepan of the Year: Antonis Giannikouris, Chapter HJ33, Rhodes, Greece. District Governor of the Year: Dimitrios Papageorgiou, Automotive District 10 District of the Year: Hellas District 25 Chapter of the Year: Delphi Chapter 25, Manhattan, N.Y. We commend the awardees for their service to the Order. Congratulations, Brothers! AHEPA on Twitter | Apollo 50 Commemorated The Ahepan Summer Edition is Out! Share the summer 2019 edition of The Ahepan magazine with family and friends! This issue recaps the 91st annual Leadership Excursion, features a Greek Independence Day pictorial and news of AHEPA Housing's latest property opening; and shares our chapter's community service programs. Give it a read! Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:

Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   August Fall 2019 The Ahepan magazine Greek American News Digest   Editor's Note: Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.   EU Slaps Sanctions on Turkey Over Gas Drilling Off Cyprus New York Times (July 15)   European Union foreign ministers on Monday turned up the pressure on Turkey after approving an initial batch of sanctions against the country over its drilling for gas in waters where EU member Cyprus has exclusive economic rights.  read more Greece's New Groove: Why Athens Is No Longer Europe's Black Sheep Foreign Affairs (July 15) The past decade has been rough for Greece. After the global financial crisis of 2008-9, the country lost a quarter of its GDP and became the bête noire of Europe for nearly catalyzing the implosion of the eurozone. Roughly four years ago, however, Greece began a quiet recovery. Under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Syriza party, the economy inched back to positive growth, populist movements lost their momentum, and Greece's relations with its allies and many of its neighbors improved. But Tsipras's successes, particularly in foreign policy, didn't translate into popularity. So on July 8, Greeks woke up to news that opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his center-right New Democracy party had defeated Tsipras in a landslide.  read more The rift in the relationship between the U.S. and Turkey may be permanent NBC News (July 15) take delivery of a Russian-made air defense missile system Trump cuts off F-35 for Turkey. And lawmakers say sanctions are coming. Defense News (July 16) a Russian-made air defense system US approves MH-60R sale to Greece Jane's Defence Weekly (July 7) The US State Department has approved the sale of seven Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk maritime multimission helicopters to Greece. read more Mobile phone links established between two sides Cyprus Mail (July 11) The first mobile phone call across the divide after interoperability of phones across the island was achieved was made on Thursday just after noon between the two leaders.  read more  The Best Island in Europe Has Stunning White Stone Beaches and Some of the Most Turquoise Water in the World Travel+Leisure (July 10) For a brief moment, I forgot where I was. Suddenly stirred awake by a balmy breeze, I slowly became aware of my surroundings: The warm sand below my belly cooling off as I slept, the shade from the boulder I was tucked under moving ever so slightly away from me as the sun went down, and the sound of the Mediterranean waves crashing along the rock and coral-filled shore. Then I realized it; I just woke up from a drool-inducing midday nap in paradise, otherwise known as Milos. read more

NORWAY's latest

Government.no

Your news alert

Week 30

Press release: Norway to send assistance to Ebola victims in DR Congo News story | 19/07/2019 -The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is serious. We are therefore sending equipment and a team of experts to the country, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide. News alert about: Foreign affairs

Norway increases contribution to UN Environment Press release | 18/07/2019 Norway is increasing its support to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to NOK 360 million. A new three-year agreement will be signed when Minister of International Development Dag-Inge Ulstein meets with the head of UNEP, Inger Andersen, in New York today. News alert about: Climate and environment and Foreign affairs

Statement at the High-level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals Speech/statement | 17/07/2019 Minister of International Development Dag-Inge Ulstein's statement at the general debate at the UN High-level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals. News alert about: Foreign affairs

Norway enters into partnership with the UN Tax Committee Press release | 15/07/2019 Today, on 15 July, Norway and the United Nations marked the start of a new partnership on strengthening international tax policy and enhancing domestic tax capacity. Norway will provide a total of NOK 35 million to the UN Tax Trust Fund over the next three years. News alert about: Foreign affairs

U.S.A.'s interesting latest

The Summary of NLRB decisions for the week of July 8 - 12, 2019 is now available on the NLRB’s website. The summary can be accessed by clicking the links below. https://www.nlrb.gov/cases-decisions/weekly-summaries-decisions/summary-nlrb-decisions-week-july-8-12-2019 Questions? Contact Us

Did you know that July is Independent Retailer Month? Take the time to visit your favorite small businesses and explore new ones. If you’re thinking about starting your own business, follow SBA's 10 steps. Learn more Help Stop Food Waste in the U.S. Did you know that 30–40% of all available food in the U.S. is wasted? The Environmental Protection Agency is funding innovative tech ideas to stop food waste through the Small Business Innovation Research Program. Apply for up to $100K in research and development for your small businesssolution by July 31, 2019. Get started Growing an Established Company When business is good, it's time to expand. Take SBA's FREE online training for an overview of how to evaluate your business and create a plan for growth and expansion. Launch the course How to Protect Your Business  Smart planning can help you keep your business running if disaster strikes. You’ll want to take the right steps to prevent and prepare for a disaster, and know where to get aid if a disaster strikes. SBA has put together checklists and safety tips for different types of disasters. Learn more Webinar: Protect Your Brand- How to Create a Trademark That’s Truly Distinctive July 30, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. ET Your brand is your most valuable and important business asset—and at most risk for theft. Your brand, which includes your business name, your product or service names and your logo, is protected under trademark law. Because trademark law can be confusing, it’s important to get the right help at the right time. Join this webinar produced by SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, to learn: What is a trademark and why it matters to your business How to choose a strong trademark you can protect over time, both online and offline Why federally registering trademarks is an important step when growing your business July 17, 2019 New Data Field In FPDS A new data field entitled “Solicitation Date” has been added to FPDS to comply with section 878 of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which required that civilian agencies measure procurement administrative lead time (PALT). The 'Solicitation Date' field must be entered into FPDS when the FPDS Solicitation Procedures data field is 'other than Simplified Acquisition' and the total contract value is greater than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) which is currently $250,000. For contracts or orders under the SAT, the Solicitation Date entry is optional, but strongly recommended. Visit www.fpds.gov today. Fall 2019-2020 LEAP Class Open The Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals program (LEAP) helps GS-12 to GS-14 employees become well-rounded leaders throughout an eight-month program. Procurement is one of the most important functions of government operations. To deliver on its mission, our government requires strong acquisition professionals who can spearhead agency efforts to reduce costs, improve performance and drive innovation. Submit your application by October 25. Apply today   Enhanced Wireless Mobility Solutions SIN Makes it Easier for Agencies to Buy Mobile Technology on IT BIC Solution Schedule 70 A new mobility acquisition vehicle now is available on Best-in-Class-designated solution IT Schedule 70, giving agencies a single contract for mobile solutions that replaces the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) Wireless Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)! An enhanced Special Item Number (SIN) - SIN132-53 -- allows agencies to purchase a wider range of wireless mobility solutions (WMS) and the new SIN will replace the expiring FSSI Wireless BPAs. LEARN MORE Sign Up to Join GSA’s Federal Marketplace Strategy Community of Practice Do you have ideas that will help GSA improve the federal marketplace? GSA is connecting with problem solvers to shape an acquisition experience that works better for everyone! This group participates in meetings, design workshops, usability testing, and focused feedback opportunities. We want to hear your thoughts on the first release of GSA's Federal Marketplace Strategy, a collection of policy, process, and technology projects to modernize and simplify your buying and selling experience, and we may ask your opinion about future releases. Sign up today! Register for Camp Gateway Today Camp Gateway is happening on July 22, 2019 to August 2, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET.  Attend and learn how the Acquisition Gateway and its tools can help your procurements. Attendees will earn one CLP!  Register now Schedule 84 Industry Day On May 14 -15, 2019 Schedule 84 hosted its annual Industry Day. This year’s event was attended by 175 Industry Partners and Customers. The topics of discussion were focused around MAS Consolidation and its impact on both Industry Partners and Customers. Check out GSA's website for Schedule 84. Industry Engagement “Myth-Busting” Document Now Available Did you know the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) gives acquisition professionals the flexibility to meet mission needs including large, mission-critical requirements in a timely and even expedited manner? Or that applying business innovation in government is a critical, core responsibility of contracting staff, integrated project teams, and the agency's senior leadership? These are just a few topics that are addressed in OMB’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy newly published fourth ”Myth-Busting” memorandum- “Strengthening Engagement with Industry Partners through Innovative Business Practices.” LEARN MORE Acquisition Today is published the first and third Wednesday of each month.  If you have information that you would like to share with the federal acquisition workforce community via Acquisition Today, you may submit your article for consideration by completing this form. If you have feedback that you would like to share with FAI, please email us at contact@fai.gov. Mystery shop ’til you drop? Not so fast by Lisa Lake Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Who wouldn’t love getting paid to shop and dine at cool places and then review them? Whether you’re a student looking for a summer job or someone wanting to start a side or full-time business, mystery shopping sounds like an exciting option. But while some mystery shopping opportunities are legitimate, many are scams that rob you, not pay you. Read more > Business Alerts from the FTC  Starting soon: FTC’s Nixing the Fix By Lesley Fair How do repair restrictions for tech devices, appliances, cars, etc., affect consumers and small businesses? What are the arguments for and against? And what’s the fix? Those are topics of Nixing the Fix: A Workshop on Repair Restrictions – and it’s set to start soon. At 12:30 ET today, you can watch the live webcast. Read more >