US Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has reaffirmed that he would continue fighting for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus.

He also said he would continue to back efforts for a solution of the dispute over FYROM’s name, which will respect Greek history and for safeguarding the independence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Menendez was speaking at the Greek Consulate in New York, where he was unanimously selected by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York to be the Grand Marshal of the 2012 Greek Parade, in recognition of his steadfast support for Cyprus and the Greek national causes.

Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded in 1974. Repeated UN-backed efforts to find a negotiated settlement to reunite the country have so far failed to yield results due to Turkey’s intransigence.

According to the Federation’s website the details surrounding the 2012 Greek Independence Day Parade were announced during a press conference, held under the auspices of the Greek Consulate and Ambassador Aghi Balta, on Tuesday, at the Greek Consulate, in New York.

The President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Elias Tsekerides, noted, “Senator Robert Menendez exemplifies the American Democratic values for freedom and human rights, and the Hellenic ideals of Greek revolution that provided Greece, the birthplace of democracy, its freedom and independence from the Ottoman Empire. He has been a commanding voice and advocate of our issues throughout his service in the House and Senate.”

This year marks the 74th year that the Greek Independence Day Parade will take place on New York’s Fifth Avenue, starting at 64th and continuing to 79th Street on Sunday, March 25, 2012.

More than 50 floats and bands, as well as 100,000 participants and spectators are expected to attend the parade, commemorating the 191st anniversary of Greece’s independence after 400 years of Turkish Ottoman rule on March 25, 1821.

Cyprus Weekly