Holbrooke,
Sarbanes, Grossman, Iacovou and others honored at the 14th
Annual Cyprus Conference
WASHINGTON,
D.C., June 20 –
“We were proud to celebrate Cyprus’s accession to the European Union
by honoring at our conference the architects of the U.S. effort that made
this possible,” said CEH leaders Andrew A. Athens, Philip Christopher
and Andreas E. Manatos. Over 100 Hellenic leaders from across the country
and around the world came to Washington, D.C., June 10-12, 2003, for the
14th Annual Cyprus Conference.
Participants presented Richard Holbrooke – former Special
Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Assistant Secretary of State for
European Affairs, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN – Senator Paul Sarbanes
(D-MD), and Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman – and the former
Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs and U.S. Ambassador to
Turkey – with a framed, signed copy of the actual Cyprus accession
treaty to the EU. The wording on the award stated, “In recognition of
the fact that without his extraordinary efforts, Cyprus would not be
included in this treaty, from which regional peace will ensue.” U.S.
Ambassador to Greece Thomas Miller – who was also former Special Cyprus
Coordinator – and current Special Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Weston were
also given this award in absentia.
Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou was honored at the
conference banquet along with Senator Sarbanes. The Minister was presented
with a plaque containing an actual piece of the barbed wire that separates
Cyprus. The award read, “For his efforts which are beginning to remove
this barbed wire which has divided the nation of Cyprus for nearly 29
years.” Also honored at the banquet was Greek Foreign Ministry Secretary
General for Hellenes Abroad Demetris Dollis, who was presented with the
George P. Livanos Award. The Livanos Award is given each year to that
individual who, like George P. Livanos, has utilized ancient Hellenic
values to realize extraordinary achievement in modern society while
contributing to the improvement of our civilization. The award contains an
ancient Greek coin below which the text reads, “this Greek coin, like
Hellenic ideals, though ancient, is of rare and enduring value in the
modern world.”
Participants also honored outgoing Cyprus Ambassador to the U.S.
Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, for her outstanding efforts in Washington during
such a crucial time for the future of Cyprus, and the President of the
World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK), Haris Sophoclides. Both
were presented with the barbed wire award.
In addition, George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC news “This
Week”, former Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, as well as the
National Security Council’s top Cyprus specialists – Dan Fried, Senior
Director for European Affairs, and Matthew Bryza, Director for Aegean
Affairs – held in-depth discussions with conference participants about
the future of Cyprus. The President of the Greek Parliament’s Special
Committee for Hellenes Abroad, Grigoris Niotis, and Greece’s Ambassador
to the United States George Savvaides, also played a major role in this
important conference.