CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, JR. (D-NJ) SENDS LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE REGARDING U.S. BUSINESS DELEGATION TRIP TO THE NORTHERN OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS

WASHINGTON, DC—When the news first broke that a delegation of U.S. businesses would be visiting the northern occupied part of Cyprus, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), in one of its many initiatives, contacted numerous Congressional offices to seek their assistance regarding this matter.

AHI is pleased to report that on February 15, 2005, Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. sent a letter to the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to "reconsider this ill-advised and illegal trip" which "would be breaking the law by entering Cyprus through an ‘unauthorized’ airport in the occupied north."

A U.S. business delegation comprising representatives from 8 U.S. companies is scheduled to visit the occupied part of Cyprus this Thursday, February 17, 2005. The delegation of businesses planning to visit northern Cyprus include the following: Shaw/Stone & Webster, El Paso Corporation, FedEX Corporation, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., Comcast Corporation, Oracle Corporation, GNC Corporation and Raymond James and Associates, Inc.

"Representative Pallone is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, a supporter of the rule of law and a friend of the Greek American community. He understands that it is in U.S. interests to reconsider this forthcoming delegation trip to illegally occupied northern Cyprus because it violates U.S. law, UN resolutions and international law. The AHI commends Representative Pallone’s efforts and urges others to also take action," said AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis.

Attached please find Congressman Pallone’s letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

###

For additional information, please contact Georgia Economou at (202) 785-8430 or at georgia@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our Web site at http://www.ahiworld.org.

Back to top