WASHINGTON, DC – On September 12, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) hosted the 50th Anniversary Congressional Commemoration of the Invasion of the Republic of Cyprus held in conjunction with the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues.

Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Greece to the United States Ekaterini Nassika, and Members of Congress gathered to convey their reflections on Turkey’s illegal invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974 and the ongoing occupation of the country.

The event was moderated by AHI president, Nick Larigakis, and organized with the assistance of AHI’s legislative director, Alexander Christofor.

President Larigakis thanked the attendees for their words of support and expressed his gratitude to the 16 Members of Congress who participated through providing remarks, issuing written statements, or sending staff to attend in their place. Larigakis also spoke on the ongoing struggle of the people of the Republic of Cyprus, who for half a century have endured an illegal occupation by Turkey, along with massive violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

A special thanks was given by President Larigakis to the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), for their cooperation and their support of the event.

The forum featured as speakers (in order of appearance): U.S. Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Gabe Amo (D-RI), John Sarbanes, Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Darrell Issa (R-CA).

Statements on the anniversary were provided by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), U.S. Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY).

Congressional staff attended on behalf of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

Rep. Bilirakis said: “As always, I will stand to work with international allies to pursue a free and unified Cyprus because I believe a solution is beneficial to the Cypriot people and will strengthen the strategic partnership between Greece, Cyprus, and the United States, to bring peace and stability to the region.”

Rep. Titus said: “Lifting the arms embargo, getting [Cyprus] in the visa waiver program, continuing the military and commercial relationships, supporting the development of the energy triangle between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, all of those are very positive things, so you can always count on me to support those things and be engaged with them, as I sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee and will continue on the European Subcommittee.”

Rep. Sarbanes said: “First let me thank Nick Larigakis and the American Hellenic Institute for your relentless advocacy for so many issues that are near to the hearts of Greek-Americans, Cypriot-Americans, and all Americans, I would argue, because when you educate my colleagues here in Congress on the knowledge of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, they become advocates themselves in a very powerful way. I would like to thank Ambassador Savva and Ambassador Nassika for their service to their countries and for building these strong bonds among our countries. We gather, sadly, repeatedly, year in and year out, to commemorate the invasion of Cyprus and to lament the continued division of the island. Because you keep showing up, because of the continued advocacy, I have absolute confidence that there will come a day, that will come sooner than maybe we can hope, when these gatherings will not be to commemorate the division of Cyprus, but to celebrate the reunification of Cyprus.”

Further highlights of statements and written remarks are available online: https://shorturl.at/dhPgV.