Πανηγυρικά επιβεβαιώνεται δυστυχώς το Greek American News Agency όταν στις 11 Φεβρουαρίου μεταδώσαμε σύμφωνα με ασφαλείς πληροφορίες και πηγές μας ότι είναι παντελώς αστήριχτα και ανακριβή όσα μετέδιδαν άκριτα και ανεύθυνα, και μάλιστα με πρωτοσέλιδους τίλους και εκτενή ρεπορτάζ σε γνωστά και έγκυρα ΜΜΕ- αναφορικά με το ταξίδι του πράγματι ισχυρού (και προσωπικού φίλου του Αμερικανού προέδρου Barack Obama) Dick Durbin ( D-IL) σε Λευκωσία, Αθήνα και Άγκυρα.
Τα δημοσιεύματα ωστόσο παρά την διακριτική διάψευση μέσω του πρακτορείου μας συνεχίστηκαν και σε φύλλα του Σαββατοκύριακου έτσι στενοί συνεργάτες του Γερουσιαστή αναγκάστηκαν από το γραφείο του να εκδόσουν και επίσημη ανακοίνωση στην οποία μεταξύ άλλων και μάλιστα με bold γραμμάτα και τονισμό αναφέρει επί λέξει τα εξής:
"Durbin is not traveling as a representative of the Obama Administration. Durbin’s position as a member of the Senate Leadership and Appropriations Committee comes with the responsibility to lead delegations on official visits with senior foreign government officials regarding issues affecting United States bilateral and re gional relationships. The trip will give Durbin the ability to gain firsthand knowledge of progress in the region and the challenges that still lie ahead".
ακολουθεί ολόκληρη η ανακοίνωση του Αμερικανού Γερουσιαστή.
DURBIN TO TRAVEL TO CYPRUS, GREECE AND TURKEY THIS WEEK
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]
– Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin ( D-IL) will travel to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey over the President's Day congressional recess. The primary focus of this trip will be the tense political situation in Cyprus. Durbin will depart Saturday, traveling first to Cyprus, then on to Greece and Turkey. Stops in Nicosia, Athens, Ankara and Istanbul are currently planned. Due to security concerns, specific details of the trip will not be released in advance. "For more than a generation, the situation in Cyprus has left an island and a region divided," Durbin said. "Cyprus, Greece and Turkey are all vital allies of the United States and important to the region. We all hope that a peaceful and enduring settlement can be reached." Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island and the remaining one-third of the island, which is administered by Turkish Cypriots. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004, continues to be the only internationally recognized government on the Island. Last year the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots launched new talks on reunifying the island. In addition to the situation in Cyprus, Senator Durbin will discuss other matters of mutual concern with officials in Greece and Turkey. While in Greece, Durbin plans to meet with the U.S. Ambassador and Senior Embassy staff; Members of the Greek Parliament; Prime Minister Konstandinos Karamanlis; and members of the Foreign Ministry. In Turkey, Durbin will discuss regional matters, including Iraq, with the U.S. Ambassador; Turkish President Abdullah Gul; Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek; and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Durbin also has plans to visit the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul. Durbin is not traveling as a representative of the Obama Administration. Durbin's position as a member of the Senate Leadership and Appropriations Committee comes with the responsibility to lead delegations on official visits with senior foreign government officials regarding issues affecting United States bilateral and re gional relationships. The trip will give Durbin the ability to gain firsthand knowledge of progress in the region and the challenges that still lie ahead. Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois State Treasurer, will travel with the Senator for a portion of the trip. Florida Congressman Robert Wexler (D, FL-19) will be traveling in Turkey next week and may join Durbin for a series of meetings.
For Immediate Release Contact: Max Gleischman 202.228.5244 February 13, 2009
