WASHINGTON, DC – The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) participated in a virtual conference with Members of Congress, Cyprus government officials, Greek and Cypriot American community leaders to mark the somber 39th anniversary of the ‘Unilateral Declaration of Independence of the Turkish-occupied North of Cyprus’ hosted by International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), November 15.

AHI President Nick Larigakis participated along with following individuals:

Members of Congress

• S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
• S. senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
• S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), co-chair, Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues
• S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
• S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), who authored an amendment to restrict the sale of F-16s to Turkey
• S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
• S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Republic of Cyprus Government Officials

• Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides
• Cyprus Presidential Commissioner for Overseas Cypriots Photis Photiou
• Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S. Marios Lysiotis

Community Organizational Leaders

• Philip Christopher, President, International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA)
• Savas Tsivicos, Supreme Secretary, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA)
• Maria Pappas, President, Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Kyriacos Papastylianou, President, and Andy Comodromos, Past President, FCAO
• Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC)
• Andy Manatos, CEO, and Mike Manatos, President, Manatos & Manatos
• Tasos Zambas, Alternate President, PSEKA
• Andreas Papaevripides, President, POMAK
• Chris Tuton, President, NEOPOMAK

“We thank PSEKA for organizing this important timely discussion, and I appreciated the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with members of Congress and colleagues on the policies impacting the Republic of Cyprus and to prioritize them,” AHI President Larigakis said. “These discussions serve to ensure that Turkey’s flagrant violations of the rule of law, and egregious acts of provocation, are not forgotten, especially by policymakers in Washington. I commend all participants for their tireless efforts to achieve a Cyprus whole, free, and at peace.”