ASTORIA – The Cypriot organizations held a meeting on July 8 to discuss the upcoming events in New York City commemorating the dark 50th anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus. They invited the entire Hellenic community to participate in the events which include a memorial service at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center on Saturday, July 20, and a rally at the United Nations headquarters in New York City to be held in September during the UN General Assembly.

At the working dinner held on Monday at Dionysos restaurant, the representatives of the organizations agreed, initially, on the organization of the rally in September, in order to take advantage of the presence of officials and a large number of diplomatic representatives and activists in the American metropolis.

It should be noted that, as the report in the online edition of the National Herald had mentioned, the original plan was to hold a mobilization on Friday, July 19, the eve of the grim anniversary, but everyone agreed that the absence of many community members on summer vacation and the limited time for preparation were inhibiting factors for the success of such an undertaking.

“It’s very difficult to organize something good in a week,” AHEPA Supreme President Savas Tsivicos said. “I agree with September because we will have the opportunity to organize something good when people are in Manhattan. However, we will have to set up an organizing committee.”

Federation of Cypriot American Organizations (FCAO) President Kyriacos Papastylianou also expressed similar sentiments about a July 19 rally in his remarks.

International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) President Philip Christopher noted that the events on July 20 will begin with the Divine Liturgy and a memorial prayer service at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center while a special program will follow, with speeches, a photo exhibition, and a documentary screening at the 60 Pine Street in Manhattan, located in close proximity to St. Nicholas. In fact, Christopher emphasized that the attendees will go on foot, in the form of a small demonstration, from St. Nicholas to 60 Pine Street, following a route that takes about 10 minutes.

“We have also invited politicians, many of whom may be absent, but so far we know that U.S. Representatives Nicole Malliotakis and Tom Suozzi will be attending,” said Christopher.

Finally, the PSEKA President noted out that the choice of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, but also of Manhattan in general, have their own significance, as it was considered important that this year’s events be based in the heart of New York to draw the most attention from the wider community and the American public to the half a century of a divided Cyprus.

The commemoration events are organized by the FCAO, PSEKA, the Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York, AHEPA, the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Cyprus Children’s Fund.

Among those present at the meeting on Monday were Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Maria Pappas, Chamber Founding President and Honorary Chairman Andreas Comodromos, FCAO Executive Vice President Nicos Paphitis, and many members of the Hellenic-American community, eager to participate in the commemoration events and to see a unified Cyprus.

The massive participation of the Community in the events for the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which will culminate in the two days of July 19-20 in New York, is sought by the Cypriot organizations, in an attempt to direct the attention of the American Public Opinion to the political problem of Cyprus.