To the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the Hellenic News of America.
Dear Mrs. Aphrodite Kotrotsios.
I am writing to reflect on a significant victory for the global Hellenic community and to highlight the indispensable role that the Greek diaspora continues to play in safeguarding the sovereignty, heritage, and historical integrity of our homeland.
On December 16, 2021, Turkey successfully registered the trademark “TurkAegean” with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Alarmingly, the filing initially escaped the attention of official Greek authorities. It was the swift mobilization of the global Hellenic diaspora that brought this issue to international attention. Through the coordinated efforts of Greek-American advocacy organizations, community leaders, media outlets, and concerned citizens, a bureaucratic oversight became a matter of international scrutiny.
Those efforts ultimately produced historic results.
In Europe, sustained pressure from diaspora organizations, combined with diplomatic engagement, led the EUIPO to cancel the trademark, concluding that the term was misleading and lacked the distinctiveness required for registration.
In the United States, several Hellenic American organizations worked closely with the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues to ensure that Turkey’s trademark application received rigorous examination. As a result, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a provisional refusal.
This was never merely a dispute over branding or tourism marketing. The Hellenic diaspora recognized that “TurkAegean” represented a broader effort to advance Turkey’s revisionist “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine, which seeks to challenge established maritime boundaries and raises concerns regarding Greek sovereignty in the Aegean region. By exposing the geopolitical implications behind the campaign, diaspora organizations helped transform what appeared to be a marketing issue into a matter of historical accuracy, international law, and national interest.
While the trademark’s cancellation represents a major success, our work is far from complete. We remain vigilant. Turkey continues to promote elements of the “Blue Homeland” narrative through international media, educational materials, and corporate channels. Any future attempt to distort the geopolitical realities of the Aegean or undermine Greece’s sovereign rights must be met with an immediate, informed, and organized response.
This victory demonstrates the remarkable influence of a united diaspora. It serves as a reminder that Greeks around the world are not merely observers of developments affecting our homeland—they are active participants in defending its history, identity, and legitimate interests.
The preservation of truth requires constant vigilance. The success of the campaign against “TurkAegean” proves that when the Hellenic diaspora acts collectively and strategically, it can make a meaningful difference on the international stage.
Sincerely,
Ergini Batistatou-Martnishn
Vice President
The Hellenic Center of Washington DC
Bethesda, Maryland
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