AHI Foundation’s Student Foreign Policy Trip Brings the Cyprus Issue and History to Life
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) College Student Foreign Policy Trip to Greece and Cyprus completed its 15th year as 10 students from across the United States participated in the 17-day program held June 13 to 29, 2023. Following three days of briefings in Washington, the student group first visited Cyprus from June 17 to 22.
“Since its founding in 1974, AHI has been a driving force to uphold the rule of law and advocate for the continued strengthening of relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “The itinerary in Cyprus aims to educate our community’s young leaders about the Cyprus problem and how Cyprus has overcome that tragedy to become a key contributor as a viable EU member country and valuable strategic partner of the United States. Students learned about the political, economic, and humanitarian costs of Turkey’s illegal invasion and witnessed the toll on cultural and religious heritage during the near 50 years of occupation. We encouraged the students to speak out about what they saw and learned upon their return from the trip.”
The group arrived in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, on the evening of June 17. On their first full day, June 18, the students visited Turkish-occupied Cyprus to gain firsthand experience about the area. In a moving experience, the students stopped at a desecrated Greek Orthodox church and cemetery. They also visited the monastery and tomb of the patron saint of Cyprus, St. Barnabas, on their way to Famagusta.
“As the new generation, it will soon be our responsibility to fight for Greek American aspirations and benefits,” Anna Maria Papadopoulos, a senior at American University, said. “It is not enough to read about it anymore, now we have a responsibility to act. This year, for example, marks 50 years from the illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus, this means that the generation which remembers Cyprus free and autonomous is dying, and as a result, awareness is not spread about the Cyprus issue in order to finally find a feasible and acceptable option.”
Students received comprehensive briefings from high-level military officials including Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant Democritus Zervakis. These meetings focused on educating students on Cyprus’ current defense positions and current agreements with strategic partners and allies. Students also had the opportunity to speak with younger members of the National Guard at a dinner hosted by Lt. Zervakis at the Nationals’ Guard Officers Club in Nicosia.
The group visited Makedonitissa Military Cemetery, where they laid a wreath in tribute to the memory of those who fell in the struggle for the freedom of the Republic of Cyprus and visited a National Guardhouse “Kolokasides” in the Nicosia area.
The students learned about Cyprus’ contributions to regional security and safety at briefings held at the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center, an independent agency of the Ministry of Defense, which organizes the Cyprus Republic Search and Rescue (SAR) system in response to aviation or maritime accidents; and at the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS) Training Center, a state-of-the-art security training facility located in Larnaca.
Before receiving a tour of Archbishop Makarios III’s Chambers and the Archbishop’s Palace, students met with His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios. To understand the complexities of the Missing Persons Issue, the students met with the Greek Cypriot Member of the Committee of Missing Persons, Ambassador Leonidas Pantelides. A bicommunal body comprised of Greek and Turkish Cypriots with the participation of the United Nations, The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) was established in 1981. Students learned that of the 1,510 Greek Cypriots and 492 Turkish Cypriots who went missing, 769 and 200, respectively, have not been found. Included among the missing are four American citizens. Through Amb. Pantelides’ expertise, the group gained an understanding for the process to recover the Missing including investigation, excavation, anthropological analysis, identification (DNA testing/matching), and return of remains. He described the continued efforts as a “race against time,” citing the increasing number of eyewitnesses who are passing away before providing search teams with valuable firsthand accounts. A briefing that followed presented by Anna Aristotelous, who serves as the head of Humanitarian Issues, provided further insight about this tragic human rights matter.
Students Connect with Cypriot President, American DCM
Students had the incredible opportunity to sit down and ask questions to President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in their visit to the Presidential Palace on June 20. President Christodoulides would use this briefing to specifically connect with students on the importance of continuing to spread awareness for the issues facing the country on their return to the U.S. Other notable meetings with important diplomatic figures included a briefing and dinner hosted by Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus Ioannis Papameletiou at his personal residence.
In addition, the students had an audience with U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Yaryna Ferencevych when they visited the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia. The US Embassy tweeted: “A pleasure to meet Greek-American and Cypriot-American college students participating in the 2023 American Hellenic Institute Foundation’s College Student Foreign Policy Study Trip to better understand U.S.-Cyprus relations and related foreign policy issues. Thanks to @TheAHIinDC President Nick Larigakis @NLarigakis for organizing another great program with Cypriot partners!”
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group received a briefing from Ambassador Spyros Attas, director at the “Cyprus Question and Turkey Directorate” and Yiannis Koukoularides, head of the ministry’s American Department.
“This trip did not disappoint,” Aleco Hamrick, who is a JD candidate at Indiana University, said. “Cyprus is an island with immense importance. Its location is strategically important, and Cyprus has access to large natural gas reserves.”
The students became immersed in Cyprus’s cultural and historical significance through briefings by Maria Piggoura on the history of Cyprus.
More history was revealed when the group toured the Imprisoned Graves Cemetery at the Central Jail of Nicosia. Thirteen EOKA fighters who were imprisoned during the 1955-1959 liberation struggle of Cyprus from the United Kingdom are buried there.
Finally, the students had the opportunity to take in the beauty of Cyprus with a beach trip to Ayia Napa.
2023 Participants
Alexandra Angelos is a sophomore and a Dean’s List student at Boston University, double majoring in International Relations and Psychology. Her passion for global affairs and politics have led her to pursue a concentration in International Systems and World Order in Europe.
Sophia Dongaris is a senior at Lafayette College majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Economics, with a regional concentration of Europe, and a thematic concentration in development. On campus, Sophia is an NCAA Division I track and field athlete, and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll student.
Peter Furgis is a Junior at American University in Washington DC, where he is majoring in International Relations. Cementing his passions for international relations and politics, Peter interned for Congressman Gus Bilirakis in the fall of 2022.
Aleco Hamrick is a L1 student at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, where he will pursue a focus on international business law. This past spring, Aleco graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.
Anna Alexia Markouizos is a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh pursuing a degree in Late Antique, Islamic, and Byzantine Studies. This is not, however, her first master’s; she attended King’s College London upon being accepted to their program, “The Classical World and its Reception.”
Augostina Mallous is a graduate of Hofstra University where she received a BA in Journalism and minor in Dance. She is the President of the National Communications Honor Society and has been published in several news outlets and magazines.
William Martin is a senior at Washington and Lee University, where he is double majoring in International Politics and Eastern European and Russian Studies. Will serves as a Platform Committee Member for the school’s Mock Convention, focusing on foreign policy and immigration.
Anna Maria Papadopoulos is a senior and a Dean’s List recipient at American University, where she is majoring in Legal Studies as part of a rigorous Politics, Policy, and Law Program and the Leadership Program within the School of Public Affairs.
Peter Papanicolaou is a L1 student at St. Mary’s School of Law. Prior to his legal education he graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where he received degrees in Finance and International Business.
Kelly Skoulikaris graduated with honors from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where she received a BA in Public Policy with a focus on the environment, sustainability, and social impact.
The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
For additional information, please contact Alexander Christofor at (202) 785-8430 or pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.
