Security Council renews Unficyp mandate for a year
By Gina AgapiouCyprusMailThe foreign ministry on Monday welcomed the decision to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) for another year.It said the security council will continue to be updated semi-annually on both the Good Offices and the Peace Force through the UN Secretary General’s Reports.But the Unficyp mandate will now be […]
Only America Can Resolve the Cyprus Question
Without a viable solution to the Cyprus dispute, Western security will remain in a perpetual state of fragility.by Sinan CiddiIn 2013, a political counselor at the Turkish embassy in Washington asked me out to lunch to discuss my plans and vision for the Institute of Turkish Studies, which I was then executive director of. After ordering […]
Turkish Cypriots protest Islamification of north
By Nikolaos PrakasJanuary 16, 2023(Cyprus Mail)Turkish Cypriot opposition parties, non-governmental organisations, and unions took to the streets on Monday to protest the Islamification of the north, after religious authorities pushed Islamic rhetoric at mosque courses attended by underage individuals.Aside from courses teaching Islamic values to children, as reported in the north a few weeks ago, […]
Pallone Calls for Congressional Action Blocking the Sale of F-16 Fighter Jets to Turkey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Mary Werden202-225-4671January 18, 2023Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today called for Congressional action to immediately block any proposed transfer of U.S. fighter jets and components to Turkey. Reports suggest that the Biden Administration sent an informal notice of the potential $20 billion sale to Congress late last week as Turkish […]
Menendez vows to block plan to sell fighter jets to Turkey
The senator blasted Turkey’s human rights record in a statement.By ALEXANDER WARD, CONNOR O’BRIEN and PAUL MCLEARY01/13/2023 (POLITICO) The chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is vowing to continue blocking the transfer of warplanes to Turkey unless Ankara improves its human rights record and ceases threatening U.S. regional allies.The Biden administration is considering a $20 […]
Turkey’s ‘Crimes against Humanity’ and Illegal Occupation of Cyprus
By Uzay BulutJanuary 4, 2023 [T]he invading Turkish forces [in 1974] murdered innocent civilians, raped women and children, and plundered northern Cyprus. They forcibly displaced around 170,000 Greek Cypriots, or a third of the total population of the Republic of Cyprus…. “The widespread or systematic practice of enforced disappearance constitutes a crime against humanity as […]
Happy New Year!
Dear Friends,As we approach the New Year, we are reminded that 37% of the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union, is still under occupation by Turkish troops. We have endured 48 years of an illegal occupation by staying true to our Hellenic values that provide our unity and strength to continue to […]
US Senator slams Erdoğan over his foreign and domestic policy
SOURCE: MEDYANEWS20 DECEMBER 2022“I condemn the recent actions of the Turkish President which are not only disturbing—they are totally unacceptable,” said US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez. “In November he launched an air, artillery, and drone assault on Kurdish cities in Northern Syria and suggested ground forces would soon follow, an operation against […]
Menendez: ‘US needs to hold Erdogan accountable for his behavior’
Menendez: ‘US needs to hold Erdogan accountable for his behavior’Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Robert Menendez, called on Turkey to withdraw ‘every last Turkish soldier from Cyprus’Turkish President Erdogan should stop all overflights of Greece and withdraw every last Turkish soldier from Cyprus, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Robert Menendez, said on Monday. Given all […]
38th Annual PSEKA Cyprus Conference will now take place in May 2023 in Washington, D.C.
(L-R) Philip Christopher, former Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Andy Manatos WASHINGTON, DC, November 21, 2022 — We are pleased to announce that the 38th Annual PSEKA Cyprus Conference will return in person and now take place in May 2023 in Washington, D.C. Conference participants will once again meet with top-level officials in Congress and […]
Statement by President Joe Biden on the Passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II—a man of remarkable conviction and courage who led Cyprus’ Greek Orthodox Christian Church with grace during a pivotal period.Archbishop Chrysostomos II was a dedicated leader who never shied away from speaking up for the most vulnerable communities in Cyprus. He was also steadfast in his commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Cyprus. In 2014, I had the honor of meeting with the Archbishop in Nicosia. I was touched by his compassion—he was a […]
PSEKA mourns the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II
The International Coordinating Committee “Justice for Cyprus” (PSEKA) mourns the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, a man of courage who exemplified the Hellenic ideals and epitomized the struggle of the Cypriot people for Freedom and Justice.On behalf of all our worldwide organizations, we express our sincere condolences to the Holy Clergy and the people of […]
New Jersey National Guard Partners with Republic of Cyprus
By Maj. Amelia Thatcher, New Jersey National GuardOctober 27, 2022 TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey National Guard has been selected as the new state partner for the Republic of Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, National Guard units throughout the […]
Pappas Condemns Erdogan Speech at UN General Assembly
September 20, 2022Press ReleaseToday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the Hellenic Caucus, issued the following statement condemning Turkish President Erdogan’s remarks to the United Nations General Assembly:“I strongly condemn President Erdogan’s inflammatory and blatantly hypocritical remarks at the United Nations General Assembly earlier today.”“Erdogan’s speech was riddled with disingenuous claims and baseless accusations against […]
Lifting Arms Embargo on Cyprus
Lifting of Defense Trade Restrictions on the Republic of Cyprus for Fiscal Year 2023PRESS STATEMENTNED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSONSEPTEMBER 16, 2022Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken determined and certified to Congress that the Republic of Cyprus has met the necessary conditions under relevant legislation to allow the approval of exports, re-exports, and transfers of defense articles […]
Pappas Raises Alarm on Sale of Russian S-400s, U.S. F-16s to Turkey
Embed from Getty Images August 25, 2022 Press Release Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), member of the Hellenic Caucus, led a bipartisan group of 19 lawmakers in expressing concern about recent reports that Turkey is considering further acquisitions of Russian S-400 missile defense systems and restating their opposition to and requesting an update from U.S. Secretary of […]
Greek-American Leaders Lobby US Policymakers
WASHINGTON, DC, July 14, 2022 – On the eve of a major vote in the US Congress on sending F-16’s to Turkey and the 48th black anniversary of Turkey’s invasion and occupation of Cyprus, top Cypriot-American and Greek-American leaders met with key US policymakers in the White House, State Department and the US Congress. Led by Philip Christopher, […]
House Passes Pappas-Led Amendment Blocking Biden Administration’s F-16 Sales to Turkey
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), alongside co-leads Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Carolyn Maloney, Frank Pallone, Nicole Malliotakis, John Sarbanes, and David Cicilline applauded the House passage of his bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would stop President Biden from selling F-16s to Turkey and put in place needed Congressional oversight to ensure that Turkey does not use F-16s […]
No F-16s for Turkey – Amendment to be debuted in the United States House of Representatives
We are asking all of you to contact your representatives and explain that we must stop the sale of F-16’s Fighter Jets to Turkey!
Malliotakis, Bilirakis Statement on Biden Meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan
Embed from Getty Images malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-bilirakis-statement-biden-meeting-turkish-president-erdogan June 30, 2022 During the meeting, Biden signaled support for Turkey’s plan to purchase warplanes from the U.S. (WASHINGTON, DC) -TodayGreek-American representatives Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), released the following statement regarding President Biden’s meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan where he signaled support for the potential […]
Maloney, Bilirakis, Pappas Oppose Sale of F-16 Fighters and Modernization Kits to the Republic of Turkey
Washington, DC – Today, Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R- FL), along with Caucus Member Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), issued the following statements opposing the Biden Administration’s apparent plans to sell sensitive F-16 modernization kits to Turkey:“I am deeply disappointed with the apparent plan to move forward with […]
Henry Kissinger should apologize for serving Turkish imperialism
By Michael RubinJune 16, 2022(This article appeared in The Washington Examiner on June, 16, 2022)Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rejection of Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession underlines an important truth.Namely, how Turkey is now more of a liability to Western security than it is an asset. Iraq, Syria, Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus all grapple with […]
Does Erdogan’s Turkey Belong in NATO?
Embed from Getty Images Ankara is the only member resisting Finland’s and Sweden’s admission to the alliance. Under current conditions, Turkey wouldn’t qualify. By Joe Lieberman and Mark D. Wallace May 18, 2022 1:18 pm ET (This article appeared in WSJ on May, 18, 2022) Every member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has enthusiastically welcomed Finland […]
Pappas Leads Bipartisan Opposition to Biden Administration Proposal to Sell Weapons to Turkey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 13, 2022Contact: Collin GatelyCollin.gately@mail.house.govPappas Leads Bipartisan Opposition to Biden Administration Proposal to Sell Weapons to TurkeyAhead of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit to Washington next week, Pappas joined by Hellenic Caucus co-chairs in opposition to the sale of advanced weapons and equipment to upgrade Turkey’s F-16 fleetWASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Chris […]
Freedom for Cyprus to be featured at World’s Oldest and Largest Marathon
BOSTON, MA, April 5, 2022 – In just two weeks, when over 20,000 runners hit the streets of Boston before 500,000 spectators in Boston and thousands more around the world watching on TV and online, to race in the 126th Boston Marathon, “Freedom for Cyprus” will be passing before their eyes. On April 18, Dr. […]
“We Stand With The People of Ukraine”
Embed from Getty Images Dear Friends, Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they endure a brutal and violent invasion. The terrifying world changing invasion of Ukraine did not start in 2022, nor did it start in 2010 when Russia invaded Georgia. It started in 1974 when the free world […]
PM Mitsotakis: 48 years later, we still live with the open wound of Cyprus
“48 years later, we still live with the open wound of Cyprus. {…}Therefore, we cannot stand indifferent against authoritarian leaders who want to redraw borders”. [8:35 / 39:05 ]
Dangerous double standards (ekathimerini.com)
BY ENDY ZEMENIDES, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 02/21/22 21:30 AM ESTAdvocating for justice for Cyprus in Washington, DC requires levels of commitment and stamina that most people do not appreciate. Listening to administration after administration loudly declare commitments to human rights and international law while reducing such commitments to whispers with regard to Cyprus is maddening. […]
PSEKA supports the upcoming plays (March 1 & March 16) to benefit women of domestic abuse.
Sometimes Justice is Blind! Four years ago, Cypriot Georgia Kontogeorge in fear for her life, escaped to Cyprus with her eleven-month-old son, Leonidas. Unfortunately, from a victim she is now labeled a kidnapper. The courts in Cyprus failed to protect Georgia and her son Leonidas and was forced to bring her five-year-old son to a […]
State Department’s response to letters spearheaded by Congressman Chris Pappas and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis on the sale of the F16 fighter planes to Turkey.
The International Coordinating Committee “Justice for Cyprus” (PSEKA) continues its efforts with all Hellenic organizations to stop the sale of the F16 fighter planes to Turkey.Attached is the State Department’s response to letters spearheaded by Congressman Chris Pappas and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.Although the State Department respects the longstanding NATO ally, Turkey, it is committed to […]
America’s strategic mistake in the Mediterranean (thehill.com)
BY ARIEL COHEN, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 01/31/22 10:00 AM ESTTHE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL As tensions between the Kremlin and NATO over Ukraine highlight Europe’s strategic dependence on Russian gas, a critical natural gas pipeline stretching across the Mediterranean finds itself at the center of competing geopolitical […]
Cyprus: Turkish Occupation and Unpunished Crimes Against Women and Children
By Uzay BulutOn December 16 and 17, Democracy Today, an NGO that focuses on human rights issues, organized its annual international conference in Armenia’s capital of Yerevan. This was part of a cooperation with the Working Group (WG) on women and gender realities in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) region.This year’s agenda […]
Congress Approves Menendez Legislation to Bolster U.S. Defense Partnership with Greece as Part of National Defense Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 15, 2021 CONTACT Juan Pachon WASHINGTON – Following the Senate’s approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of FY22, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), issued the following statement announcing he was successful in including his U.S.-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act as an amendment to this year’s […]
UN undermines its own authority in new Turkey deal
By Michael Rubin. Published on December 9, 2021UN Secretary-General António Guterres often laments limits to the UN’s authority. In the United States especially, many politicians often roll their eyes at UN pronouncements and then proceed to ignore them. In 1994, for example, John Bolton—who, ironically, would briefly serve as the US Ambassador to the United Nations […]
U.S. lawmakers express concern over reports of potential Turkey F-16 purchase
WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Democratic and Republican U.S. lawmakers urged President Joe Biden’s administration not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and said they were confident Congress would block any such exports. In a letter to Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 11 members of the House of Representatives cited “a profound […]
Malliotakis leads the fight to stop the sale of F16 to Turkey
October x, 2021 The Honorable Joe Biden The Honorable Antony BlinkenThe White House Department of State 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW […]
Greek, Cypriot American Groups Applaud Passage of Titus Amendment
The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), International Coordinating Committee-Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), and American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) applauds the House of Representatives for passing and incorporating amendment #579 into the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) [H.R. 4350]. The amendment, introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee […]
Statement by the Hellenic American Leadership and the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA)
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 NEW YORK — With heavy hearts, PSEKA and HALC express their disappointment with the recent events surrounding the Turkevi Center in New York and the response from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America after the ensuing uproar. We are particularly dismayed by the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and His […]
Hellenic Caucus Letter to UNSG Guterres on Varosha and Turkish Actions
September 13, 2021 His Excellency António GuterresSecretary-General of the United NationsUnited Nations Headquarters405 East 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10017 Dear Secretary-General Guterres: In light of recent events, we urge you to firmly assert the United Nations’ authority to administer and prevent the resettlement of Varosha, pursue the immediate and full implementation of United Nations Security […]
CALL TO ACTION! To Enforce UN Security Resolutions to end continued Turkish occupation in Cyprus.
Dear friends,As a constituent of your Congressional District, I ask you to join your fellow members of Congress and co-sign the letter below to the UN Secretary General, H.E. Antonio Guterres urging him to enforce UN Security Resolutions to end continued Turkish occupation of Cyprus.”Find your Congressional Representative at www.house.gov.Enter your zip code to be […]
Statements on Varosha from the U.S. State Department and from the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Transfer of Parts of Varosha to Turkish Cypriot ControlPRESS STATEMENTANTHONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATEJULY 20, 2021The United States condemns the announcement by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today regarding the transfer of parts of Varosha to Turkish Cypriot control. This move is clearly inconsistent with UN Security Council […]
Menendez, Van Hollen, Rubio Lead Colleagues in Urging U.S.-EU Response to Turkish Provocations in Varosha.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 14, 2021 CONTACTJuan Pachon (Menendez)Francesca Amodeo (Van Hollen)Dan Holler (Rubio)Menendez, Van Hollen, Rubio Lead Colleagues in Urging U.S.-EU Response to Turkish Provocations in Varosha WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the Committee, today were joined by 11 of their […]
Greek American organizations letter to President Biden
July 8, 2021President Joseph R. Biden 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden: As we approach the 47th anniversary of Turkey’s illegal invasion of the Republic of Cyprus, the undersigned ten nationwide Greek American and Cypriot American Organizations write to convey grave concern regarding the new and renewed existential threats currently facing Cyprus coming from […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Malliotakis, Colleagues Call on UN to Take Immediate Action Against Turkish Aggression in Cyprus
July 1, 2021Press Release(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today led a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urging the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take immediate action against “the Republic of Turkey’s aggressive, illegal and unilateral reopening of Varosha in […]
PSEKA applauds and congratulates the election of Annita Demetriou, as the new President of the House of Representatives.
PRESS RELEASE PSEKA applauds and congratulates the election of Ms. Annita Demetriou as the new President of the House of Representatives. The new President is a trailblazer for equal rights for women, and we salute her dedication and commitment to the Democratic values of the Republic of Cyprus. We extend our […]
PSEKA Applauds President Biden for Recognizing the long overdue Armenian Genocide Declaration
INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE JUSTICE FOR CYPRUSApplauds President Biden forRecognizing the long overdueArmenian Genocide Declaration“A nation that forgets its past has no future”It’s time for Turkey to recognize its human rights violations including the ethnic cleansing of 200,000 Greek Cypriots as a result of the illegal, brutal invasion of July 20, 1974. We call on the Biden […]
US Senate Officially Recognizes Greece’s Bicentennial with Record Support
WASHINGTON, DC, March 24, 2021 – On the eve of Greece’s 200th anniversary of independence, a resolution highlighting the strong ties between the US and Greece, authored by the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, was unanimously passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is expected to be passed by the […]
Happy Greek Independence – Message from Philip Christopher
Dear Friends, Happy Greek Independence Celebrate the Greek Bicentennial with a short film prepared by the office of the Presidential Commissioner for Overseas Cypriots. PSEKA joins all Hellenic organizations and freedom loving people in saluting the 200th anniversary of Greek independence. May the spirit of 1821 bring Freedom to Cyprus! Philip ChristopherPresident https://youtu.be/BJYgVsUNGCw
Blinken says US will be ‘fully engaged’ in Cyprus issue
By Source: Cyprus News Agency US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that American diplomacy will be “fully engaged” in the Cyprus issue, while testifying on Wednesday evening before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Responding to a question by Congressman David Cicilline, Blinken, from the Democratic Party, referred to the engagement of President Biden throughout his […]
In Memoriam: Ambassador Andros Agathocleous Nicolaides (1938-2021)
The International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus Mourns the Passing of Ambassador Andros NicolaidesDuring the past forty plus years that we have been involved in the struggle of the Cypriot people for Freedom and Justice, we had to bear the loss of friends and co-workers who died with the dream of returning to their homes […]
Message for the New Year
Dear Friend, I hope this message finds you and your family in good health. As we come to the end of an unprecedented year, we prepare ourselves with optimism and hope for a better and brighter 2021. The year 2020 will go down in history as the year that countries across the world united against a […]
Secretary Pompeo’s call with the Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglou
U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATESecretary Pompeo’s Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu12/17/2020 06:13 PM ESTOffice of the SpokespersonThe following is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown:Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke this week with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to discuss the December 14 imposition of sanctions by the United States on our NATO […]
Engel and McCaul Statement on Turkey Actions Undermining NATO Alliance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 16, 2020 – Read OnlineCONTACTLeslie Shedd WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Lead Republican Michael McCaul have released the following statement on their deep concern over Turkey’s actions under President Erdogan that endanger the NATO alliance, the broader region, and democracy and the rule of law in Turkey.“We are gravely […]
U.S. Sanctions Turkey
Immediate Release PSEKA welcomes and applauds the imposition of sanctions against Turkey pursuant to Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).Turkey, the so-called “reliable ally” member of NATO, has been acting as an adversary for many years. In 1974 Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus with the illegal use of American arms […]
In Memoriam: Paul S. Sarbanes and Cyprus
By Philip Christopher, Andy Manatos and Mike Manatos We mourn the recent passing of our dear friend and fellow justice-for-Cyprus advocate former US Senator Paul Sarbanes. His role with Cyprus is historic and his impact on the well-being of the country and its people extraordinary. Ever since the immediate aftermath of Turkey’s illegal invasion of Cyprus, the […]
