50th Anniversary Congressional Commemoration of the Invasion of the Republic of Cyprus Hosted by AHI on Capitol Hill In Conjunction with Hellenic Caucus.
(L-R) AHI Foundation Chairman Leon Andris, AHI Foundation Board Member John Alahouzos, Congressional Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Ambassador of The Republic of Cyprus to the United States Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Greece to the United States Ekaterini Nassika, and AHI President Nick Larigakis.
No. 80
WASHINGTON, DC — On September 12, 2024, 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.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States, Evangelos Savva, the 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.
AHI president Nick Larigakis moderating the event.
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.
Ambassador of The Republic of Cyprus to the United States Evangelos Savva
Ambassador of Greece to the United States Ekaterini Nassika
The forum featured as speakers (in order of appearance): U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). Statements on the anniversary were provided by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), U.S. Rep. 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), U.S. Rep. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).
Highlights of Statements & Written Remarks
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Today, we mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s illegal invasion of Cyprus, a brazen violation of the United Nations Charter that displaced over 200,000 Greek Cypriots. Generations on both sides of the Green Line have grown up under an unacceptable status quo. That must change for future generations.
As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will continue to push for the United States to help broker a bi-zonal, bi-communal settlement that upholds the principles of international law. I am also committed to holding Turkey accountable in the Eastern Mediterranean, both for its belligerent actions against Cyprus and Greece and its troubling behavior as an unfaithful NATO ally
On a brighter note, the US-Greece and US-Cyprus relationships are stronger than ever. We are bound together by our common values, and we have stood together and deepened our ties in response to recent crises like the war in Ukraine. I am committed to further strengthening our partnerships, including through recent wins in defense collaboration like delivering F-35s to Greece and bringing Cyprus into the U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program. I was an enthusiastic supporter of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, and I remain committed to seeing the law fully implemented—including the establishment of the United States Eastern Mediterranean Energy Centre in the U.S., as well as the Crisis Energy Centre in Cyprus.
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Thank you for the opportunity to join you and supporters of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) in commemorating the division of Cyprus.
Marking the division of Cyprus is particularly solemn this year, the 50th anniversary. Despite the pain this anniversary brings, I am inspired by the continued close partnership of the United States and Cyprus and particularly the deep ties New Hampshire has with the Greek and Cypriot American communities that call our great state home. Together, we are building a lasting commitment to peace and security for the people of Cyprus.
In Congress, ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Cypriot partnership are underway and contribute to the democratic aspirations of the people of Cyprus. Earlier this year, my colleagues and I were pleased to join AHI in celebrating the annual “Congressional Salute to Greek Independence Day” and look forward to continued collaboration and friendship in support of Greek and Cypriot communities.
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
For the families who must confront the pain of their missing relatives, the trauma of the destruction of their ancestral homes, and historical and religious sites, the illegal invasion and occupation continues to have a lasting impact.
As a member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus that was mentioned, and a co-sponsor of the resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of this invasion, I am proud to support bipartisan initiatives that strengthen US-Hellenic relationships. I was also proud to lead a bipartisan letter recognizing Cyprus’ leadership in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Greek American and Cypriot American communities represent values of hospitality, friendship, and equality, that help make our communities strong. So as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, that strength will guide us as we work together to bring peace and prosperity to the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
I want to thank the American Hellenic Institute for inviting me. This is an important event - let's face it, the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey was illegal, immoral, and wrong. It cannot be justified. The American people and we in Congress stand with the Republic of Cyprus and look forward to the resolution of this injustice someday.
Cyprus is an important pillar, along with other nations, like Greece, Israel, and Egypt, that are helping build a more prosperous and secure Eastern Mediterranean. The U.S. will remain a strong partner to all of those striving for freedom, dignity, and prosperity.
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
I know you all have your hearts in this. It's an American issue, because Greece and Cyprus have been wonderful allies over the years, and continue to be. We can always count on Greece and Cyprus.
We will one day, hopefully during my lifetime, and definitely during your lifetime - all the young people here - have a free Cyprus.
Remind your colleagues, remind your friends, of how terrible Turkey has been over the years. And I can say that with Erdogan, with his statements recently in regard to Israel.
I urge the Secretary General of the U.N. to firmly assert the U.N. authority to administer and prevent the resettlement of Varosha, pursue the immediate and full implementation of U.N. security council resolutions on Verosha, and examine sanctions against Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot attempts to illegally and unilaterally reopen and resettle this city. Verosha is part of Cyprus, and the Turks are trying to resettle it and redevelop it, and that’s a huge issue.
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.
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY)
I know that this is a very tragic part of your history. You’re commemorating the 50th anniversary of a tragic event.
If we look around what's going on in the world these days, where in the case of Russia going into Ukraine, when they just made the decision that they’re going to go take over someone else's property by force, it reminds us of what actually happened here and why that as a society, as a world, we have to figure out how we are going to stick together with our friends to stand up against what is clear abuse.
What they did here was just completely wrong. We need to figure out how as a world, where people don’t want to go to war and don’t want to kill people, how we’re going to stand up against the bullies who abuse their power and affect people's lives. You have a small community that’s been hijacked by a greater power and everybody's ignoring this thing because they don’t want to make it into a bigger issue, but meanwhile people are missing, people were killed, people were evacuated from a place that was their home. We just know it’s wrong.
U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)
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.
Thank you for being here, I love to see you all on the Hill.
U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI)
I’m grateful to be here this morning for this 50th anniversary commemoration. I am relatively new to Congress, I was elected in a special election last November to replace David Cicilline, who represented Rhode Island for about 12 years, and in his time I know that he was a member of the Hellenic Caucus and the Foreign Affairs committee, and I happen to be both. I am grateful to both ambassadors for their leadership and for making sure these issues are on the radars of all Members, including those who are newer to the chamber like me.
For 50 years, as you know, Cyprus has been a divided nation with residents living under the constant threat of violence and instability. This threat of violence and instability is unsustainable. I am grateful that the United Nations has continued its peacekeeping mission, but that is not a permanent solution - as I said, the current state of play is unsustainable. So as a member of both the Hellenic Caucus and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I support reunification efforts in Cyprus. I’ve met with leaders from Cyprus to talk about strengthening the ties between our two countries. We must facilitate the enduring peace that the Cypriot people deserve.
I look forward to continuing to work with you, to support our allies in the Mediterranean. I want to be a voice on this issue in rooms that may not be the rooms where this conversation is happening by default. I heard reference of the Congressional Black Caucus - I am the 60th Member of said caucus, and our next Speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries, is a member of that caucus, and I will do my part that the freedoms, the stability, the safety, that the Cypriot people deserve, remains on the agenda.
U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD)
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.
U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Usually 50th anniversaries are a time for celebration, but this is a time for reflection, since it is the 50th anniversary of the illegal invasion of Cyprus. I’ve served on the Foreign Affairs committee for 28 years, and for 28 years I have fought against the illegal occupation of Cyprus.
We have seen three cross-border invasions in Europe since World War 2 - yes we’ve seen the attack on Ukraine, and many of you are aware of the attack on Artsakh and the 100,000 Armenians who fled, but it started with Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus. And if we’re going to have peace and respect for law and for borders in Europe, it's going to start by ending that illegal occupation.
I look forward to working with all of you, I know it's been a long 50 years, and I commend you for continuing the effort, and as John Sarbanes said, ‘we will get there’.
U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Turkey has used its position in NATO throughout the cold war to stalemate the portion of Cyprus that they occupy. That will come to an end in the foreseeable future, because as of 2003, Turkey has not acted as a NATO ally, just the opposite. Under its current dictator - elected, but still a dictator - they have chosen to move further and further away from their NATO obligations, further and further away from the west, and onto a course that puts them closer to Iran in many ways, than in fact, the new members of NATO and the newly expanded members of the European Union, and obviously the European Union includes Cyprus.
I’m likely to be the chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee in the coming Congress, and I can tell you that you have my commitment that Turkey is going to be held accountable, not only for a 50 year old invasion, but in fact for their movement away from free and fair democracies, of which they were once one.
You have the vast support of Congress, and its time for us to act, even if that means that the next administration has to do things that previously made us uncomfortable.
U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
Thank you to the American Hellenic Institute for hosting today's event and working to ensure that Members of Congress stay engaged on this important issue.
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the invasion and division of Cyprus, we are reminded that we can never give up on advocating for justice and peace. The occupation not only violates international law but also hurts the safety and security of all Cypriots.
As a member of the Hellenic Caucus, I support the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and will work to maintain a strong relationship between the United States, Cyprus, and Greece. We must never give up on upholding the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and self-determination.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ)
I welcome all those joining the American Hellenic Institute to mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion and occupation of Cyprus. Your presence and participation in this significant event are invaluable and greatly appreciated.
I must also mention the strong and vibrant Greek American community in my home state of New Jersey. As a state with one of the highest proportions of Greek Americans in the United States, New Jersey has been blessed to have generations of Greek Americans call the Garden State home. This includes generations of Greek American veterans who have served in the United States military and the many who have spilled blood in defense of the values that we hold dear life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We owe a debt of gratitude to these brave men and women.
This same cooperation and fighting spirit continue through the New Jersey National Guard's State Partnership Program with the Republic of Cyprus. Since 2023, this crucial work has ensured that the United States and the Republic of Cyprus build joint military capacity, improve interoperability, and enhance military-to-military ties. From our cooperation in the Cyprus Center for Land Open Seas and Port Security to the joint work of the 3+1 format with Israel, America's partnership with Cyprus is strong and only growing stronger.
These developments are a solid product of our common appreciation of our shared values and the understanding that the wider Eastern Mediterranean is a region of crucial geopolitical importance.
U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
As we commemorate the dark 50th anniversary of Turkey's illegal invasion of the Republic of Cyprus, it's essential to remember the decades of international law violations, the loss of life, and the displacements that remain unaccounted for. I have consistently raised Turkey’s illegal occupation and human rights abuses on the House floor and through legislative action.
In response to Turkey’s escalating aggression in the region, I opposed the Biden Administration’s plans to sell fighter jets to Turkey and continue to ensure no such jets are used against Greece or Cyprus. A stronger alliance between Greece, Cyprus, and the United States—built on our shared values—advances the interests of the American, Cypriot, and Greek people.
Together, we must remain resolute in seeking justice—the withdrawal of Turkish Troops and the reunification of Cyprus
The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit 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 us 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.
