The 2004 triumphs in football and the Athens Olympics have now been followed with success in the swimming pool at the FINA World Championship in Montreal. Aristidis Grigoriadis won the gold medal in the 50 metres backstroke whilst the menοΏ½s water polo team took the bronze medal. No mention of Montreal would be complete without congratulating AustraliaοΏ½s magnificent collection of 13 gold medals and the great performance by Grant Hackett. And in basketball the Greek team won the silver medal in the FIBA U/21 World Championship final. Sadly this bulletin also notes the tragic air disaster (the worst in Hellenic aviation history) resulting in the death of 121 passengers and crew on board the Helios Airliner. SAE Oceania expresses its sincere sympathies to all families suffering loss including our fellow Greek Australians.

SAE LAW
The draft law which will regulate SAEοΏ½s powers was tabled by Deputy Foreign Minister Skandalakis at the recent Presidium meeting and has been distributed to all regions for final comments. Most of the submissions from Oceania have been adopted such as delegates to the World Conference to be elected at Regional Conferences; office bearers to be barred from holding office for more than two successive terms; abolition of the alternate President, re distribution of regions and increase in the number of members of the Regional Council. The new law proposes that the World Conference be held every 3 years (Oceania proposes every 4 years) with a reduction in the number of delegates attending. OceaniaοΏ½s proposal that representation to the World Conference be fixed for each country on the basis of population has not yet been adopted and there is a grey area relating to the opening of membership to οΏ½first degreeοΏ½ organizations.
Public meetings will be held in most cities to get as much input as possible.

ETHNIKA THEMATA
Turkey signed the EU Customs Union Protocol but as expected Ankara added a statement that Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. What is unexpected is the reaction of the French Prime Minister who said that it is inconceivable for the EU to consider accession talks with a country that does not recognise a member of the EU. These sentiments were also echoed by the Austrian Vice Chancellor and do not bode well for TurkeyοΏ½s European
progress. Accession talks are scheduled to commence on 3 October 2005.

In a further setback for Turkish hopes the European Commission has officially complained to Turkey that its legislation on religious freedom did not meet EU
standards for the rights of non-Muslim communities. The latest Turkish
Government assault on the Ecumenical Patriarchate was to prevent the operation of its youth summer camps in one of its monasteries unless the Patriarchate recognised that the camping grounds and the Monastery belong to the Turkish State. The Turkish authorities have already proceeded to transfer the title in the land registry to the General Directorate of Foundations. The summer youth camps have been held annually at the Monastery of the Transfiguration for the past 60 years.

METROPOLITAN JOSEPH
His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph has announced his resignation from the Metropolitan see of New Zealand on health grounds. New Zealanders will, no doubt, be very saddened to lose their very popular Metropolitan.

Jottings

οΏ½ The date for lodgement of the E9 form has been extended to 30 November 2005. Persons who have an A (tax file number) may lodge the form electronically through www.taxisnet.gr
οΏ½ The much anticipated Greek Film Festival is about to hit our screens. This yearοΏ½s programme will include the Australian premiere of οΏ½BridesοΏ½ by Pantelis Voulgaris. For further details log on to http://www.greekfilmfestival.com.au
οΏ½ The Hellenic Credit Card is the only one that assists Hellenism every time you use it. For more details call the SAE office on (02) 96674733 or Angelo Sikes on 0412393501. SAE Oceania urges readers to subscribe.
οΏ½ The Modern Greek TeachersοΏ½ Association of Victoria in association with La Trobe University and RMIT Greek Centre are hosting a presentation to encourage students to learn Modern Greek. The session will be held in the Odeon room, Union Building, La Trobe University on Tuesday 23 August 2005 at 10.30 am.

This month commemorates the 60th anniversary of the use of atomic weapons which ended World War Two. The dropping of those bombs represents the crossing of a threshold from which there is no return. HumanityοΏ½s future will forevermore lay in the balance. The planetοΏ½s hopes must rest with the universal acceptance of the rule of law and the principles enshrined in the U.N Charter. And just as after 38 years of occupation Israel has withdrawn from Gaza we wait for Turkey to remove its army from Cyprus.

Stay in Touch!

Costa Vertzayias               17 August 2005