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HUMANITARIAN AID
Press Release
Tbilisi, Georgia, 19/4/2005

The President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), Mr. Andrew A. Athens is visiting from the 17th to the 22nd of April Georgia in order to discuss issues of security and the violation of the human rights for Hellenes in Tsalka. Mr. Athens� first stop following his arrival in Georgia was at the villages of Tsalka. SAE President was accompanied by the Greek Ambassador to Georgia, Ms. Konstantina Mavroskelidou, the Consul General, Mr. Dimitris Frangoulis, the Georgian Minister for Refugees and National Minorities, Ms. Estemirova, the Deputy Governor of the area, the Medical Director of SAE�s Medical Program, Mr. Charles Kanakis from Chicago and the President of the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Georgia, Mr. Kyriakos Iordanidis.
The delegation visited the home of Mikael Tsamourliev who was brutally murdered by an armed gang on February 23 to express their condolences to his family, while later the delegation attended a memorial service at Tsalka�s church for the deceased Hellene.
SAE President toured Hellenic houses that have been damaged and had the opportunity to talk with many Hellenes who expressed their anger and described to him the conditions of terror they are experiencing during the past two years. The crimes against Hellenes include armed robberies, arsons of crops and sometimes even murders.
At a large meeting of Hellenes organized in Tsalka by the President of the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Georgia, Mr. Kyriakos Iordanidis, Mr. Athens stressed the fact that Hellenes of the Diaspora have the power to contribute to the improvement of this terrible situation and the living conditions of Hellenes in the area who are experiencing such attacks for the last seven years and more intensively during the last two years. 
�In no case we will accept such attacks against our brothers and sisters in Tsalka�, Mr. Athens said. Mr. Athens has launched an international awareness campaign for the living conditions of Hellenes in Tsalka and has already sent a series of letters to the UN, the EU, Human Rights Organizations and Hellenic-American leaders to inform them of cases of violence against our fellow Hellenes.
�Hellenes from all over the world united our efforts and came in 1997 in Georgia to offer solutions to the everyday problems of both our fellow Hellenes and their neighbors, by establishing our Medical Centers and offer free medical services. Unfortunately now we have to request help to ensure security and basic human rights for our fellow Hellenes�, Mr. Athens said. �I am glad that the Government of Georgia has shown its sensitivity on this matter. Following a discussion I had with the Minister for Refugees and National Minorities, Ms. Astemirova, who accompanied us to Tsalka, I hope that we will cooperate and with the assistance of Greece we will be able to end this situation. We must find a solution and that is why we are here. On behalf of all Hellenes of the Diaspora we would like to thank the Greek Ambassador to Georgia, Ms. Mavroskelidou for her valuable assistance�. 
SAE President will also meet with the Prime Minister of Georgia, EU and UN officials in Georgia and the American Ambassador, Mr. Richard Miles, who has already send staff from the Embassy to Tsalka in order to have an initial assessment of cases of violation of human rights.
Mr. Athens� visit to Tsalka coincided with another sad event, the death of the President of the Association of Hellenes of Tsalka �O Pontos�, Pavlos Kotanov. SAE President visited his family and expressed his condolences.
 ï¿½The death of Pavlos Kotanov, who was a well known scientist acknowledged in Georgia and Russia is a great loss for local Hellenism. We will continue his work for the promotion of the rights of our fellow Hellenes in Tsalka�, Mr. Athens said.


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