AHI Founder Awarded Cypriot Parliament’s Highest Honor During Book Tour of Cyprus, Greece 

WASHINGTON, DC — American Hellenic Institute Founder Eugene T. Rossides received the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Cyprus House of Representatives, Oct. 8, 2014.  President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou presented a medal to Rossides as a token of our gratitude for a lifetime of dedication to Cyprus and its cause.

“As the protagonist in convincing the U.S. Congress to impose an arms embargo on Turkey following the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus and as the frontrunner in the fight in Congress to uphold the rule of law in American foreign policy, Mr. Rossides has proved an important asset for Cyprus and Greece, but also to the United States,” Omirou said. “His untiring advocacy for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles make him a cross-border precious role model for generations to come.”

He added, “We are thankful to be able to have Mr. Rossides as a strong ally and reliable partner and advocate for our cause.”

President of the Cypriot House of Representatives Omirou presents AHI Founder Rossides with the highest award the House can bestow upon an individual.

Rossides received the honor while on a book tour of Cyprus and Greece, October 6 to 16, 2014. His latest work is titled, Kissinger and Cyprus: A Study of Lawlessness. His book explores four themes: 1) then National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger's responsibility for the Cyprus tragedy of 1974 and its aftermath; 2) Cyprus’s importance as a strategic, economic, and political asset to Europe and the U.S.; 3) Turkey's actions as a rogue state; and 4) the Rule of Law and the United States.

Rossides gives a presentation at the Press Club in Cyprus.

At the invitation of the Republic of Cyprus’s Press and Information Office (PIO), Rossides made a book presentation at the Press Club, October 8.  Dr. Eleonora Gavrielides, communications director, PIO for the Republic of Cyprus, moderated the well-attended event. Cypriot Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides introduced Rossides, but prior to doing so, presented Rossides’ book to the audience in Greek. 

Rossides delivers remarks at the book presentation held at the Officer’s Club.

Rossides also made a book presentation at the University of Nicosia, October 9.  There, Ambassador Andros A. Nicolaides who stepped in for Professor Van Coufoudakis who could not attend, introduced Rossides, calling him a “dear friend” and recounted Rossides’ contributions to the Cyprus cause. Professor Andreas Theophanous organized the event at the University of Nicosia.

In Cyprus, Rossides, accompanied by AHI President Nick Larigakis, met with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus John Koenig, and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis.  

In addition, several Cypriot media outlets interviewed Rossides, who appeared on RIK TV and in an article featured in Phileleftheros, Cyprus's largest-circulation newspaper. 

Rossides and Larigakis were invited guests at the Takis and Louki Nemitsas Foundation Awards Dinner held at the Presidential Palace, October 7.

Book Tour in Athens, Thessaloniki          

In Greece, book presentations were made in Athens and Thessaloniki. ELIAMEP (Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy) sponsored the first presentation as part of a larger discussion titled, “The American Role in Cyprus: Past, Present and Future,” which was held at the Krenidotis Auditorium at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oct. 13. DEREE – The American College of Greece also sponsored a book presentation on its campus, Oct. 15. More than 250 persons attended the event.  AHI-Athens President George Economou hosted a dinner in Rossides’ honor where 50 close friends and associates came out to pay tribute to Rossides at the Athens Club.  

“My sincere gratitude to AHI-Athens President Economou for hosting a marvelous event,” Rossides said. “I was deeply touched by it, and I was truly moved to see so many close friends and colleagues.”

While in Athens, Rossides and Larigakis met with President of Hellenic Republic Kostas Papoulias and Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos.  A series of media interviews were also held.  

President of Greece Papoulias and AHI Founder Rossides discuss Rossides’ latest book and developments in the eastern Mediterranean. 

In Thessalonki, Anatolia College and AHI sponsored a book presentation at the Officer’s Club, Oct. 16.  There, Lt. General Ilias Leontaris, commander, C' Army Corps and HQ NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Greece, hosted Rossides for a private dinner.

“We thank our generous hosts in Cyprus and Greece for providing a forum for Mr. Rossides to speak about his new book and how it relates to the current situation in Cyprus today,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “We also appreciated the opportunity to share the book with key government officials from Cyprus, Greece, and the United States.”

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American think tank and 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 website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC.