The Washington Times Publishes AHI’s Letter to the Editor on Cyprus 

WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Times published the American Hellenic Institute’s letter to editor, “Turkey not committed to Cyprus peace,” March 6, 2014.  AHI President Nick Larigakis wrote the letter in response to a February 25, 2014 letter to the editor submitted by Mr. Ahemet Erdengiz.

President Larigakis rebuts Mr. Erdengiz’s letter by identifying two key points where the latter was off-base on Cyprus.  The first point pertained to Turkey’s invasion of the Republic of Cyprus and the second point identified the flaws of the failed Annan Plan.

• Larigakis’ published letter is found here.
• Larigakis’ original letter for submission is found below.

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.

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For additional information, please contact Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC.

Dear Editor:

Erdengiz’s letter “Securing peace in Cyprus” (Tues., Feb. 25) is off-base on two points in particular.

First, Turkey’s 1974 invasion of the Republic of Cyprus occurred in two phases. The first on July 20 with the illegal use of U.S.-supplied arms and equipment in violation of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the UN Charter, the NATO Treaty, and customary international law. Turkey occupied about four percent of Cyprus following this initial phase.  On August 14, three weeks after the legitimate government of Cyprus was restored, Turkey launched the second phase of its invasion, grabbing another 33 percent of the island to expand its occupation to nearly 40 percent of Cyprus’s sovereign territory, which it continues to illegally occupy nearly 40 years later.

Second, the Annan Plan was fundamentally flawed.  The plan lacked the viability to provide a just and lasting resolution to the division of Cyprus.  It also incorporated unacceptable last-minute demands submitted by Turkey.  In democratic fashion, Cypriots rejected the plan; not a solution. 

Sincerely,

Nick Larigakis
President
American Hellenic Institute
1220 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20036
202-785-8430