No. 100

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On November 5, 2023, American Hellenic Institute President Nick Larigakis sent a letter to the editor of the Washington Post urging that their coverage of the legacy of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger includes recognition of his involvement in the invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus.

Read the letter below:

The Washington Post
1301 K Street NW
Washington DC 20071

Dear Editor:

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s role in supporting Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in the summer of 1974 receives insufficient mention in Lippman’s obituary (Henry Kissinger, who shaped world affairs under two presidents, dies at 100, Nov. 29) and no mention in the Associated Press article the Washington Post published (Henry Kissinger’s complicated legacy draws admiration and scorn from across the globe, Nov. 30).

The obituary rightfully details Kissinger’s responsibility for the “secret bombing” of Cambodia and additional actions throughout the world that led critics to brand his policies as unethical. His approach to Cyprus and failure to prevent Turkey’s invasion is an example of how these policies not only had questionable morality, but were also ineffective at securing the long-term interests of the United States.

Yet, absent from the obituary is the appropriate degree of attention to Kissinger’s role in the invasion of Cyprus. Kissinger’s position on whether the U.S. should allow Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus to occur is abundantly clear; a declassified 1974 State Department memo that revealed he believed “The Turkish tactics are right—grab what they want and then negotiate on the basis of possession” because “There is no American reason why the Turks should not have one-third of Cyprus.”

Kissinger’s failure to uphold the rule of law and American values in Cyprus has led to a half-century of division, hardship and suffering for the people of Cyprus. His complicity warranted more than an 11-word phrase about Cyprus in a 6,100-word obituary.
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The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

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