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Senator Raptakis Calls for Macedonia Preservation

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Greek-American Rhode Island Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis wrote the following letter to Congressman David N. Cicilline, regarding support of House Resolution 477.  Congressman Cicilline proudly serves the 1st District of Rhode Island.

The resolution was proposed by New York Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney on February 11, 2014, and centers around FYROM's usage of the word Macedonia and the controversy surrounding it.

The letter's entirety can be found below:

March 31, 2014

The Honorable David N. Cicilline
128 Canon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Cicilline:

I am writing to ask for your support in co-sponsoring House Resolution 477, which was introduced on February 11, 2014 by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and currently rests with the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

This measure expresses the sense of the House that the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia(FYOM) should work with Greece in good faith and within the framework of the United Nations process to find a mutually acceptable name which reflects the fact that geographic Macedonia is within the borders of three countries, the largest part of which is Greek and lies within the Greek province of Macedonia. The resolution also calls on FYROM to abstain from all hostile activities and to stop violating provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement signed in 1995 with Greece to find a new name for FYROM.

Like Sparta and Athens, Macedonia was part of the ancient Hellenic world, its population worshipping the same Hellenic Gods and speaking the same language. The naming issue seeks to ensure that the Greek nature of geographic Macedonia is preserved.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Leonidas P. Raptakis
R.I. State Senator District 33