Greek diaspora angry at lawmakers who supported Macedonia
The Greek community in the United States reacted after 40 U.S. congressmen signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging adoption of Macedonia and Montenegro in the upcoming NATO Summit in September. Greek groups in the U.S. are most disappointed by Eliot Engel of New York, the first Democratic congressman in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives who had also signed the letter.
- Engel traditionally had been a strong supporter of our issues that are important to Greek Americans, particularly on the question of Cyprus. We are particularly disappointed that the letter received support of Eliot Engel, Albion Sars, Grace Meng, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee who are also members of the group for friendship with Greece in the Congress and who were great supporters of our community in the past, says Nick Larigakis of the American Hellenic Institute, one of the Greek groups operating in the United States.
Andy Manatos, director of the Washington lobbying firm which represents Greek interests in U.S., expresses hope that Engel will continue to support the Greek interests in the name dispute.
- There is an action in the Congress to promote FYROM acceptance into NATO before every NATO summit. The letter is not unusual, but disappointed that the former Democratic member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Engel and a significant number of members of the Commission and of the Group for Friendship with Greece signed the letter. Perhaps this is a call of awakening to our community that our messages do not reach some members of Congress, said Anthony Kuzunis from the Greek organization AHEPA.