AHI Hosts Landmark “Cyprus: 1974-2024” Conference Featuring Series of Expert Panels

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is presented with an award by Nick Larigakis, AHI President during the conference dinner. Also pictured are Ambassadors Ekaterini Nassika and Evangelos Savva, Leon Andris, AHIF Chairman; Philip Christopher, President of PSEKA; and James Lagos, AHI Chairman.

No. 104

WASHINGTON, DC - – The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) held a landmark two-day conference, "Cyprus 1974-2024: Reflecting on the Past Fifty Years," November 19- 20, 2024, bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, and experts to discuss the critical issues surrounding Cyprus over the past five decades.

The event featured a series of expert panels, fireside chats, and thought-provoking discussions, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical challenges and prospects for peace in Cyprus as well as an assessment of U.S.-Cyprus relations.

A series of videos that capture each of the conference sessions will be released at a later date.

The conference also featured a dinner and luncheon where guest and keynote speakers addressed attendees.

At the dinner, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Senate Committee on Appropriations, provided the Keynote Address. Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the U.S. Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S. Ekaterini Nassika, and Philip Christopher, president of the International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) provided greetings.

The luncheon program included Ambassador Savva as the featured speaker and remarks by Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues Co-Chairs U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Chris Pappas (D-NH).

“We sincerely thank our panelists, guest speakers, board members, and sponsors for their contributions that led to a successful and informative conference for our supporters,” AHI President Nick Larigakis. “We look forward to sharing the conference’s substantive content with our audience when we release our series of videos.”

(L-R) Mike Manatos, President of Manatos & Manatos; Nick Larigakis, AHI President; and Basil N. Mossaides, AHEPA Executive Director, participate in the panel The Role of Greek/Cypriot American Organizations the Past 50 Years, moderated by Lena Argiri, Washington DC Correspondent for Kathimerini & ERT, USA.

(R-L) Philip Christopher, President, PSEKA delivering remarks at the conference. Also pictured is Zac Cotronakis, AHI Executive Director.

(R-L) Brigid J. Ryan, Director for Southern Europe and the South Caucasus at the National Security Council, participates in a Fireside Chat, chaired by William J. Antholis, Director & CEO of the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.

(R-L) Simon Henderson, Senior Fellow and Director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Erik Holmgren, Director of the Office of Middle East and Asia Energy Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources; Andrew Novo, Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the National Defense University; Aristos A. Constantine, Trade Counsellor, Cyprus Trade Center in New York, and John Sitilides, Geopolitical Strategist and Senior Fellow for National Security at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Ambassador Evangelos Savva, Nick Larigakis. AHI President, Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH), Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), James H. Lagos, AHI Chairman, and Leon Andris, AHIF Chairman.

Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) delivering remarks at the conference luncheon.

Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL) delivering remarks at the conference luncheon.

(L-R) Leon Andris, Chairman of AHIF; James Lagos, AHI Chairman, Ambassador Patrick Theros, Former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar and Kostas Alexakis, AHI Board of Directors member.

(L-R) Former Congress Jim Moran, Kostas Alexakis, AHI Board of Directors member, former Congressman Tom McMillen.

Keynote Speaker Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) at the conference dinner

Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador of Hellenic Republic to the U.S. addressing the conference attendees at the conference dinner.

Ambassador Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the U.S. addressing the conference attendees at the conference dinner.

Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Professor in the International Studies Program at Boston College and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center with Nina Shea, Senior Fellow & Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute. Dr. Prodromou delivered a presentation on the Geopolitics and Cultural Heritage Since 1974: Weaponization Versus Reconciliation.

Gregory Graves, PhD Candidate at George Washington University, delivers a presentation on The United States and Cyprus from the Greek War of Independence to the 1974 Crisis.

(R-L) Josh Huck, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, participates in a Fireside Chat, chaired by Ambassador Patrick Theros, Former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar.

Josh Huck, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, addresses the conference.

Conference Program

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The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit U.S. public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen U.S. relations with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, and promote issues important to 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.