The 2005 Cyprus Conference, hosted by four leading Hellenic organizations, ended today in Washington, DC, after three days of meetings with more than 35 Senators and House Representatives who pledged to help reverse the effect of recent actions that promote the government of the northern occupied part of the island as a legitimate entity.

World SAE President Andrew A. Athens, who is also National Chairman of UHAC, was presented last night with the Golden Eagle of St. Mamas award by Great BritainοΏ½s Morfu District Association for his work on behalf of Cyprus for more than 30 years.

The 16th Annual Cyprus Conference was hosted by the international Cypriot group PSEKA, the World Council of Hellenes (SAE), the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) and the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH).

The participants focused their presentations on recent visits by U.S. Congressmen and businessmen to the pseudo government at the Turkish occupied part of the island that is recognized only by Turkey.

οΏ½With such visits directly to the occupied northern part of the island, they are trying to provide informal recognition.οΏ½ said Mr. Athens.  οΏ½Also, friends of Turkey in the U.S. and in Europe are attempting to punish Hellene Cypriots for exercising their democratic right to vote against the Anan plan which was openly unjust and overwhelmingly against the people of the Republic of Cyprus. But we are going to work to defeat the impression they are trying to give that instead of victims Hellene Cypriots are the aggressors.

οΏ½Many also forget that not only the Hellene Cypriots rejected the plan with a huge majority, but many Turks also voted against the Anan plan.  If you take the combined Hellenic and Turkish vote, even then 68 per cent of the total vote is against the plan.οΏ½

Determination to mobilize the community to defeat Turkish propaganda was also voiced by PSEKA President Philip Christopher, CEH President Andrew A. Manatos and the representatives from more than 15 Cypriot federations around the world.

Among more than 35 American political leaders at the conference were Congressmen Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Mike Bilirakis (R-FL) co-chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues;  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); Nita Lowey (D-NY); Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Paul Sarbanes (D-MD); Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI).

The participants included Cypriot Ambassador Euripides Evriviades who hosted the welcoming reception at his residence; Eugene Haitidis, chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee for Hellenes Abroad, and Grigoris Niotis, vice chairman of the same committee; former Secretary General for Hellenes Abroad Demetri Dollis; Panicos Papanikolaou, president, Cyprus Federation of America; Nikos Mouyiaris, executive vice president, Pancyprian Association of America; alternate president, PSEKA, Savas Tsivicos; and Chris Tomaras, vice president SAE of North and South America.

During the conference, individuals who were honored for their support of Cyprus are Congressmen Harold Rogers (R-KY) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ); Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and George Allen (R-VA).

The Livanos award was given to Frances Fragos Townsend; assistant to President Bush for Homeland Security.The Frizis award went to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), and a special award was given to Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI).

On the final morning of the conference, participants honored three Hellenes who have served in state legislatures: Demetrios Giannaros, also President of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Union; Leonidas Raptakis and George Panichas.

(For a complete list of officers of organizations who participated, the agenda of the conference and other honorees, go to www.saeworld.org , and search under press releases.)