never forget

Dear friends and supporters,

As we are all facing such troubling times, we must take time to remember the fateful events of July 20, 1974. On that day some 46 years ago, Turkey launched “Operation Attila” and began a full fledged air, sea and infantry invasion of the Republic of Cyprus.  A flotilla of 33 war ships delivered some 60,000 infantry, along with armored divisions and over 30 tanks that stormed the beaches of Northern Cyprus. Driving through with the landing of paratroops, Turkey attacked the capital city of Nicosia. Ultimately, some 160,000 Greek Cypriots were forced to evacuate the north to reach safety.  Greatly outnumbered and overwhelmed, the 12,000 Cypriot military stood strong to prevent the fall of Nicosia!  4 weeks & 1 day later, in August 1974, the United Nations established a cease fire and Buffer Zone along the Green Line.

Ending with Turkey occupying 37% of the island and not accounting for some 1800 missing persons. Still the port city of Farmagusta, remains a ghost town surrounded in barbed wire and Turkish military.

To this day the so-called “Federated Republic of Northern Cyprus” remains unrecognized by the world community.

Immediately following the invasion of Cyprus, the Save Cyprus Council was formed. The immediate task was to organize our community and lobby Congress to cut off all military aid to Turkey, citing the the Foreign Assistance Act and Foreign Military Sales Act, all aid to Turkey was cut off!  Under the leadership of our initial founders, Theodore Saloutos, Aris Anagnos, Peter Caloyeras, Andreas Kyprianides, Spiro Vryonis and others, the Save Cyprus Council continued to organize, instruct and lobby.

This successful effort became today’s American Hellenic Council.

Never forget,

Dr. James F. Dimitriou
President & Chairman
The American Hellenic Council