AHIF-supported PBS Cyprus Documentary Screened in Atlanta Suburb

Decatur, Georgia Marks 23rd Major Metropolitan Area to Host a Town Hall Screening

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) took its series of “Town Hall Screenings” of the one-hour documentary “Cyprus Still Divided: A U.S. Foreign Policy Failure” to Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, September 20, 2012.

The event was held in cooperation with AHEPA Mother Lodge Chapter 1, Atlanta, which hosted the town hall screening at the AHEPA One Home, a residential complex for senior citizens. Past AHEPA Supreme Governor Sandy Papadopoulos, who moderated the town hall discussion; AHEPA Chapter 1 President Pete Pappas, and Dr. Victor G. Polizos helped organize the event which drew an audience of 110 persons. Rev. Father Paul Kaplanis, dean of the Annunciation Cathedral and Lambros Kakissis, consul of Greece, attended.

“The documentary sheds light and scrutinizes U.S. foreign policy toward Cyprus surrounding the 1974 Turkish invasion,” said AHI President Nick Larigakis, who led the discuss that followed the documentary’s screening. “We are deeply grateful to the outstanding support provided by the Greek American community of Atlanta. It was a pleasure to work in cooperation with community leaders, and we thank the individuals who attended and expressed a commitment to raising awareness about the Cyprus issue in the community. Our goal is to encourage communities to urge their PBS affiliates to air the documentary.”

In addition, Larigakis reiterated the overarching goal to encourage communities to urge their PBS affiliates to air the documentary. It has aired on Maryland Public Television (October 17, 2011) and Detroit Public Television (September 13, 2010). The documentary was made possible by the support of the American Hellenic Institute Foundation.

To view a preview of the documentary on YouTube, please click here.

The screening in Atlanta brings the total number of cities across North America in which the documentary has been viewed to 23. AHI previously hosted “Town Hall Screenings” at Clearwater, Fla., New York City, Ohio, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento; and Portland, Ore., and Phoenix, Mexico City, Mexico, New Jersey, Chicago and St. Louis, Norfolk, Va, northern Virginia, Miami, Atlantic City, Detroit and Boston, San Diego, Seattle, and Hollywood, Fla., and Las Vegas. The next screening is scheduled for Friday, October 12, 2012, in Stamford, Conn. Please visit www.ahiworld.org calendar for updates on future screenings.

AHI President Nick Larigakis provides an overview of the documentary to the Atlanta audience.

AHEPA Chapter 1 President Pete Pappas addresses the audience.

AHI President Nick Larigakis with AHEPA Past Supreme Governor Sandy Papadopoulos, who moderated the town hall discussion.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center 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 Web site at https://www.ahiworld.org.