AHI Action Alert

Congressional Staffers to Travel to
Illegally Occupied Cyprus



To: AHI Chapter President, Congressional Contact Team Leaders, Members and Friends

From: Nick Larigakis, AHI Executive Director

Date: July 13, 2005

Re: CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND ASK HE OR SHE NOT TO ALLOW STAFFERS TO PARTICIPATE, IF INVITED, IN A TRIP TO ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED AREA OF CYPRUS DIRECTLY THROUGH THE ILLEGAL TYMBOU AIRPORT IN AUGUST.

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BACKGROUND:

We have recently learned from Congressman Bilirakis (R-FL) that a potential delegation consisting of congressional staffers and their families might be invited by the Friends of Turkey to visit the illegally occupied area of Cyprus sometime during the August recess arriving through the illegal Tymbou airport in Occupied Cyprus.

The Tymbou airport was built on property illegally taken from its lawful owners during the Turkish invasion in 1974. Their visit would constitute a second violation of the rule of law by congressional personnel. During the memorial day holiday, a congressional delegation led by Turkish Caucus Co-Chairman Edward Whitfield (R-KY) that included Representatives Nathan Deal (R-GA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and one staffer of Turkish Caucus Chairman Wexler (D-FL), illegally flew into the illegal Tymbou Airport directly from Turkey bypassing the legal entry points to Occupied Cyprus via Larnaca and Paphos.

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), on behalf of its nationwide membership, is strongly opposed to any congressional trip through the illegal Tymbou airport which violates U.S. law and international law does not serve the best interests of the United States in support of a proper solution to the reunification of Cyprus.

The AHI strongly supports visits to Cyprus, including the occupied area of Cyprus in the north, if they are done in a manner consistent with international law and U.S. law. The internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus facilitates such visits from a legal and internationally recognized airport in the Republic of Cyprus, such as Larnaca and Paphos airports, to the various crossing points in the UN monitored buffer zone.

If members or their staff take part in this trip through the illegal Tymbou airport instead of the legal airports of Larnaca or Paphos, it places them in a position of aiding and abetting the violation of the laws of the Republic of Cyprus, a friendly nation who has helped the U.S. substantially on many important occasions, and the violation of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of December, 1944. It further lends endorsement of the illegal occupation and violation of human rights by Turkey in Cyprus.

Finally, this trip would have an adverse effect against the legitimate government of Cyprus. A message would be sent that certain U.S. Congressmen do not support a resolution of the Cyprus problem that is consistent with UN resolutions and the rule of law. A viable solution to the Cyprus problem that is just and equitable to both sides would undoubtedly set a great example for the region, but supporting this trip will only serve to exacerbate the problem.

ACTION REQUESTED -- CALL, FAX, or E-MAIL:

1. Contact your own Representative to make him/her aware that if they or their staff are invited to participate in such a trip, they should decline.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Information on how to contact your Representative.

2. Fact Sheet on Flying to Cyprus


For more information about the American Hellenic Institute in Washington, D.C., contact Georgia Economou, Director of Public Relations for AHI, at (202) 785-8430 or at georgia@ahiworld.org, or visit the groups' website at http://www.ahiworld.org. AHI was founded in 1974 following Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of 37.3% of Cyprus. It is a membership-based organization with members throughout the nation. AHI's core mission is to promote American values and the rule of law in U.S. foreign policy and to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Greece and Cyprus as being in the best interests of the United States. It conducts an active program with Congress in espousing and supporting legislation designed to promote American interests in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean and is registered with the Congress under the Lobbying Act. The AHI Foundation is the first think-tank devoted exclusively to the study of the issues confronting the Greek American community. This organization sponsors conferences, seminars and publishes books and other materials on the issues.

HCS maintains an extensive archives for AHI articles and press releases which visitors may browse under the American Hellenic Institute Releases section of the archives at http://www.helleniccomserve.com/contents.html.


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