Declaration of the Committee of Hellenism
The Prespes Agreement is the most significant national concession since the birth of the modern Greek State. With this agreement the term “Macedonia” was handed over to non-Greeks (to the Slavic citizens of Skopje) and allowed them to be called Macedonians and their language Macedonian. This, the citizens of Skopje (FYROM) could not have achieved in any other way unless we Greeks conceded it to them, because we are the owners of Macedonia and its history like the history of any other Greek region. Of course, the land around Skopje is not Macedonia nor are Macedonians the Slavic and Albanian inhabitants of that country nor is Macedonian their Slavic language.
This agreement – signed by Greek politicians – puts Hellenism at risk with immeasurable consequences. Of course, on other issues as well, the Greek state has endangered our nation with its handlings, such as with its continued submissiveness to the provocations of Turkey, with the abandonment of Northern Epirus and its Greek inhabitants, with its indifference towards Cypriot Hellenism, by showing tolerance for illegal immigration (the vast majority of illegal immigrants being Islamists) etc. With the Prespes Agreement however, for the first time we have granted part of our history and our identity to another nation which has never hidden its desire for territorial expansion at the expense of our country. The sell-off of Macedonia was the last straw.
This national slump can only be halted by a dynamic counterattack on the part of Hellenism. However, the Greek state and the Greek political parties do not seem willing to fight for the annulment of this agreement. Therefore, this effort should be spearheaded by an organization which will work independently of the Greek state and its political parties and through which every effort will be made in all directions in order to annul the Prespes Agreement.
That is why we are founding the Committee of Hellenism based in Thessaloniki.
In addition to our efforts to cancel the Prespes Agreement, this committee will also concern itself with all our national outstanding issues, but it will also be a channel of communication between all Greeks and Philhellenes.
This committee is not a “Greek Committee”, but a “Committee of Hellenism”. There is a difference between these two terms. Usually by “Greek Committee” we mean a committee composed of people of Greek descent. But the term “Hellenism” in the sense of Greek civilization concerns all people and all nations. It concerns all mankind, because Greek civilization has influenced many cultures and elements of it are found everywhere even if in a latent state. This civilization that passed on enlightenment to other cultures, is recognized by all as great and unique. It is the wonder of humanity and we are blessed to be carriers of it. At the same time, however, because elements of this civilization exist all around the world, there are people who, although they are not Greek, nevertheless literally worship this unique civilization and would not hesitate to become its ambassadors. So, the strength of the project of the establishment of this committee is Hellenism which refers to Greek civilization. Such a powerful weapon is not available to any other nation or state in the world, no matter how powerful it may be economically or militarily. No superpower has this characteristic, which for us is simply our tradition, our history, our identity. This committee will be global for two reasons. Firstly, because there are Greeks on all five continents and secondly because, as mentioned above, Hellenism also concerns non-Greeks.
Apart from the unique Greek civilization, we should also stress the unique geopolitical location held by Greece. Our country sits at a global crossroads of trade, energy, culture, etc. With its land and sea borders it unites three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. If we include the internationally recognized ethnic Greek minority communities in Northern Epirus, Constantinople, Imbros and Tenedos and our brothers in Cyprus, then we cover the area from Northern Epirus to the Middle East. Also, ethnic Greeks remained outside the borders of the modern Greek state, in their ancestral homes in countries neighboring Greece, in the Black Sea and in Central and Eastern Mediterranean. Greece also has unique natural riches (many islands, ideal climate, rich subsoil, etc.). In short, we have an exceptional country and as heritage an amazing civilization. Nevertheless, the Greek state is leading the Greek nation from one defeat or disaster to the next, especially in matters of national concern or security.
Some will argue that by our nature we Greeks cannot agree with each other and that is why we cannot organize ourselves properly. This, of course, is NOT the case. A powerful example is the Filiki Etaireia (Φιλική Εταιρεία) that prepared the Greek Revolution of 1821, thus freeing our nation from the Turkish yoke. The excellent organization of this group of Greeks shows that when we want – we Greeks – we can manage to work with each other very effectively. Emmanuel Xanthos in his book “Memoirs on the Filiki Etaireia” states that the purpose of the Filiki Etaireia was the “rising and liberation of the Greek nation and our Country”. The plan of the Filiki Etaireia was the liberation of Greeks and Greece. They realized that this must be done and persisted until it was achieved.
That is how we are going to proceed. We have already REALIZED the need for the Committee of Hellenism and we are determined to PERSIST until its objectives are achieved. In their time, the members of the Filiki Etaireia organized the fight against the Turkish conquerors. In our time, 200 years after the Revolution of 1821, we are organizing and fighting to achieve what the Greek state either fails to understand or deliberately ignores.
In this effort no one can be left out. All those who want to fight for our country and our culture have a place in the Committee of Hellenism. To participate in this project, one must have fire in his soul for Greece and Hellenism and agree with the rationale and objectives of this declaration, and the statutes of the Committee regardless of the ideology, philosophy or religious doctrine he espouses. Τhis Committee is not an end in itself, but merely a tool for the fight for our country and our nation. A fight that is above all else. Naturally, any disagreement that arises with the political establishment will be expressed without fear and without hesitation. Invaluable help in this effort will prove to be not only the Greeks of Greece and the diaspora, but also the Philhellenes who exist all over the world and consider themselves part of Greek civilization.
The Committee of Hellenism:
– Will have as members Greeks and Philhellenes from all over the world.
– Will act independently and will not be influenced by the changing moods of the Greek state, because the Greek State has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exhibit proper patriotic behavior, at least in some of our national issues.
– Will hold its first conference in Thessaloniki.
This Committee will work:
– For the development of a spirit of unity and solidarity amongst the Greeks, the strengthening of our morale and the defense of our national rights. The showcasing, promotion, and dissemination of Greek culture.
– For the promotion of the universality of Greek culture, the restoration of Greek education, the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of Greek tradition (folk tradition, Orthodoxy, etc.).
– For the demonstration of the Greekness of Macedonia, the Greek origin of the Macedonians and their dialect.
– For the nullification of the shameful Prespes Agreement and the prohibition of the use of the terms “Macedonia” and “Macedonian” by the specific Slavic state of Skopje.
– To draw attention to the Greek populations that remained in their ancestral lands in the neighboring countries of Greece, in the countries of the Black Sea region and in the wider region of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean and to enhance communication with them.
– For the Northern Epirus and the Cyprus issue.
– For the international recognition of the genocide of the Greek populations of Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace by the Young Turk movement.
– To further communication between Greeks and Philhellenes.
– To find legal ways to stop, the illegal entry of immigrants into our country, the continued shrinking of our homeland and to halt Turkish aggression.
– To find ways to address the demographic problem of Greece.
– To build monuments and museums related to Greek culture and national struggles.
– To financially support the Greek diaspora. To distribute Greek books to them and to provide scholarships to Greek and foreign students who wish to study the ancient Macedonian dialect, the history of Greece and Macedonia in particular, but also in general any subject that is part of the purposes of the Committee.
May this committee be the beginning of the end of our national slump and help us Greeks get out of our collective slumber. Thus, we will appreciate the depth of our living tradition and the possibilities we have in order to exploit it. In turn, this awareness will contribute to the realization of a new Greek Renaissance, which is what is needed at a time of decline, such as the one we are experiencing as Hellenism. In this renaissance the role of young people will be of particular importance, so our youth should be encouraged to participate in this effort. In any case it is the duty of all of us towards our nation and Greek civilization. We should all try to live up to our ancestors and our civilization.
The Committee of Hellenism is not a political party.
The Board of Directors of the Committee of Hellenism