Dear Friends,

SAE has been successful in amending legislation that has substantial benefits for Apodimoi with respect to military service.  The term has been reduced to 3 months whilst men over 35 years of age can buy out their obligations.  Other provisions relate to allowing Apodimoi to study in Hellas without losing their status and the issue of passports in previously prohibited cases.  SAEοΏ½s intervention and lobbying in this instance demonstrates the important and unique role that can be played to uphold or protect the rights of the omogeneia.

ENABLING LAW

The main item for discussion at the recent Presidium Meeting held in Thessaloniki was the proposed enabling law to allow SAE to effectively exercise its constitutional rights and obligations.  Each region submitted written proposals and Deputy Foreign Minister Skandalakis indicated that the new law will be enacted early in 2006.  As a result Regional Conferences will be held in May and the World Conference has been put back to the end of 2006.  One issue that the Presidium agreed upon was the need to ensure that the new law obliges the Government to refer all bills relating to Apodimoi to SAE before their enactment.  There was also agreement that SAE should not only be an advisory and consultative body to the Hellenic Government but also a co-ordinating body for Hellenism and one that was capable of instigating projects and programmes in its own right.  After the conclusion of the meeting the Presidium had successive meetings in Athens with the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.  The writer was also privileged to participate in the delegation that attended Jerusalem for the enthronement of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III and to speak at a session of the Interparliamentary Committee for Hellenes Abroad in the Hellenic Parliament.  An issue raised at all levels and all venues was the need to stage the Elliniada in 2006.

Metropolitan Amphilochios
On 20 November 2005 His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochios  was enthroned as the new Metropolitan of New Zealand and Exarch of Korea.  SAE Oceania welcomes His Eminence to Oceania, and extends its best wishes on the assumption of His pastoral duties.  AXIOS!

  (Kentra Exiperitiseos Politon)

The Hellenic Interior and Foreign Ministries have arranged for the establishment of  facilities in twenty-two (22) Hellenic Consulates around the world in 2006.  Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide will all provide the service by which applicants will be able to obtain most certificates on line.

ETHNIKA THEMATA

The EU has set specific guidelines for Turkey to follow in its accession process including:
(i) The need to repeal the threat of war (casus belli) over its dispute with Hellas in the Aegean;
(ii) Ankara must fully recognise all EU member states οΏ½ viz. its failure to recognize Cyprus;
(iii) Turkey must ratify and fully implement the Customs Protocol by opening Turkish ports to Cypriot flagged ships;
(iv) Calls on Turkey to protect the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to re-open the Halki Theological College.

This has been an important year for Turkey which was given the green light to commence accession talks with the EU.  Hellas and Cyprus have been supportive of TurkeyοΏ½s application (despite major European opposition on the one hand and on the other TurkeyοΏ½s obstinate and paradoxical refusal to recognize Cyprus on which it depends for its progress to membership) in the hope that Turkey will observe international norms and the rule of law.  Surprisingly, however, the U.S. State DepartmentοΏ½s Human Rights Report has found that the situation for the Christian minorities in Turkey has actually deteriorated and that there is οΏ½a systematic campaign against ChristiansοΏ½.  The PatriarchateοΏ½s οΏ½ecumenicalityοΏ½ is challenged, its property confiscated and the Halki Theological College remains closed.  Turkey stubbornly refuses to recognise the genocides perpetrated against the Christians last century. The occupation of Cyprus continues. If Turkey is to have a European future it must come to grips with its past.

The EU also sent a clear message to FYROM that it must find a mutually acceptable solution to its name dispute with Athens.

National Committees for the restoration of the Parthenon Marbles from 11 countries met in Athens with the Deputy Culture Minister and agreed to establish a World Co-Ordinating Committee.  At its recent Board Meeting SAE passed a resolution calling on the Hellenic Government to launch a fresh world wide campaign to coincide with the completion and imminent opening of the new Acropolis Museum.

Finally on behalf of SAE OceaniaοΏ½s Regional Council I wish you all a joyous Christmas

Costa Vertzayias