Chicago June 22, 2006 οΏ½More than one hundred leaders and representatives of the largest Hellenic organizations from the US, Great Britain etc, participated at the works of the 17th Annual Convention for Cyprus that took place in Washington on June 7-9. The Convention was organized by the International Coordinating
Committee-Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) and its President Philip Christopher, the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH) and its President Andrew E. Manatos and the World Council of Hellenes Abroad and its President Andrew A. Athens, also National President of UHAC.
The Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus to the US, Mr. Alexandros Mallias and Evripidis Evriviadis, the MPs and members of the Special Permanent Committee of the Parliament for Issues of Hellenism Abroad, Grigoris Niotis, AοΏ½ Vice President and Stavros Kalafatis, Member and the Director of the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Cypriots Abroad, Marios Ieronimidis attended the works of the Convention.
Thirty one Senators and members of the Congress and important governmental officials that deal with the issue of Cyprus listened to the concerns of the participants and expressed their support to all efforts and especially for the creeping recognition of occupied Cyprus. 
At the conference, for the first time in the two years since the vote on the Annan Plan, a comprehensive statement by the U.S. Administration on the Cyprus issue was presented.  To address the perception of creeping recognition and retribution by the Administration, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried delivered remarks that were very positively received. 
οΏ½None of our policies are aimed at or imply creeping recognition of any other political entity. Cyprus is one country. We have, and will have, only one Embassy, one AmbassadorοΏ½And let me stress to you unequivocally: We do not and will not recognize any government other than the Republic of Cyprus on the island of Cyprus. We are clear about this.οΏ½
He said that the American policy on Cyprus, has been, is now, and shall remain clear and consistent in supporting a settlement establishing a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation which will reunify Cyprus and its two communities into one country.οΏ½  Regarding Turkey s European Union accession, Fried stressed that Turkey must fulfill its obligations to extend its Customs Union agreement with the EU to the Republic of Cyprus by opening its ports to Cypriot-registered ships and planes, saying, Let me be clear: This is an obligation that Turkey has freely undertaken with the EU, and which it must fulfill if Ankara is to keep its EU accession process on track.
The following morning, for over one hour, conference participants held an in-depth discussion with State Department Director for Southern European Affairs, Doug Silliman.  This session offered leaders an opportunity to express in great detail their concerns and frustrations with settlement efforts and to have an open dialogue with those in the Administration who handle this issue on an hourly basis for the U.S. government.
In addition, author, journalist and literary critic Christopher Hitchens discussed the Cyprus issue with participants for 45 minutes.  Hitchens is the author of the book, Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger, and such articles as, οΏ½Talking Turkey: An ally we re better off without.οΏ½  He is a columnist at Vanity Fair, The Nation and Slate and an occasional contributor to many other publications.
οΏ½ Honorees
At a special event held during the Convention the following received awards:
-  Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), was the recipient of the Livanos Award 2006. Senator Sarbanes after 36 years of action will be retiring at the end of the year.
- Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), was the recipient of the Paraskevaides Award. Congressman Bilirakis following 24 years of action will be retiring at the end of the year.        
The 2006 Frizis Award was presented to the Ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA). 
In addition, the establishment of the Marialena Conalis-Kontou Award was announced.  This award will be presented to an individual in the Government of Greece who, like Marialena Conalis-Kontou, has contributed significantly behind-the-scenes, to bilateral relations between Greece and the U.S.  The first recipient was Achilles Paparsenos, the Greek EmbassyοΏ½s Press Counselor.  Lefteris Kontos and Christianna Kontou, the husband and daughter of Marialena, attended this ceremony and were presented with an award that read, οΏ½In memory of Marialena Conalis-Kontou for her significant contributions to Greece-U.S. Relations and in commemoration of the establishment of the Conalis-Kontou Award.οΏ½