"Hands Around the Capitol" Rally Marks 25th Anniversary of Turkey's Invasion of Cyprus

The American Hellenic Institute was proud to take part as co-sponsor in the "Hands Around the Capitol" rally on July 20, 1999 which marked the 25th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus and its continuing illegal occupation of 37.3 percent of the island.

AHI congratulates the rally's organizers, especially Mrs. Katherine Porter of the Human Rights Alliance, and all its members and other participants in the rally. This was an extremely successful occasion, with the Metropolitan Police estimating the numbers at over 3,000. The human chain around the Capitol was completed. The massive turnout at the rally, the presence and speeches of members of Congress together with the Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus and the march along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House sent a clear message to the Administration that the time has come to resolve the Cyprus problem.

Nick Larigakis, AHI Executive Director, was privileged to address the rally and have the opportunity to highlight the need for a new, realistic approach to solving the Cyprus problem by focusing attention on the real issues, namely Turkey's aggression and intransigence.