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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- APRIL 28, 1997

MANATOS TESTIFIES BEFORE U.S. CONGRESS

Andrew E. Manatos who was invited to testify on behalf of a number of Greek-American organizations before a key subcommittee of the U.S. Congress told them that the U.S. government must take actions which encourage those in Turkey and occupied Cyprus who want peace and discourage those who want war. Manatos delivered this message in his testimony on April 24 before the chairman and other members of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. This subcommittee is preparing legislation to determine how much military and economic aid the United States will send to Turkey, Greece and Cyprus in fiscal year 1998.

Manatos listed for subcommittee members the many ways in which Turkey over the last year has misused U.S. arms and aid to move closer to war with our allies (Greece and Cyprus), closer to the enemies of the U.S. (Iran, Iraq, Libya and Cuba) and further from the human rights of its people. Manatos showed, "a significant correlation between the application of our traditional policy of silence and largess toward Turkey in the face of clear Turkish wrongdoing and Turkey's movement away from U.S. objectives." Manatos concluded that "a step by the U.S. Congress away from such a policy toward the frank treatment of wrongdoing can improve Turkish conduct."

Other issues of importance to the Greek-American community that Manatos highlighted for subcommittee members included: Cyprus settlement efforts; international law and territorial integrity in the Eastern Mediterranean; the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and the Greek minority in Albania.

Manatos testified on behalf of several national Greek-American organizations including the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), the Pancyprian Association of America, and the International Coordinating Committee -- Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA).

For more information, please contact Mike Manatos at (202) 393-7790.