Here are the facts:
“Regarding Cyprus. I believe the invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish Government was not justified and was a land grab. The poor treatment of Cypriots of Greek ancestry was an abomination. The U.S. policy of non interference was also a mistake. If Turkey wants to be a NATO nation it needs to respect the territorial rights of it's neighbors. As a Congressman I will work to strengthen adherence to these principles. I will work for a diplomatic resolution of these issues. Further inclusion of Turkey in NATO and economic Euro trade would depend on these changes. I would welcome the support of the Hellenic movement.
Best regards.
Ben Graber”
(Letter from Congressional candidate Dr. Ben Graber to HOUGA Hellenic Organization of University Graduates of America, 12 Dec 2007)
At the same time our own lobby that includes Manatos, Christopher, and others support his oposition Robert Wexler, who is one of the most pro-Turkish leaders in the US Congress today.
Why Mr. Philip Christopher? Why?
Wexler’s record is abysmal. His staffer flew illegally into the Tymbou airport in Occupied Cyprus in August of 2005 with a Turkish sponsored congressional trip which included pro-Turkish congressman Edward Whitfield (R-KY). The trip ignored international law because the legal entry points of Cyprus are through Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca, or Limassol. Wexler in an April 10, 2006 CNN Turk interview in Ankara said, “America also has an important role to play in the context of Cyprus. We need to step up our efforts to convince Europe to end the economic isolation of the northern part of Cyprus. We need to develop even more direct contacts between America and the Turkish Cypriots. “During a German Marshall Fund talk on April 12, 2006 in Ankara, Turkey in 2006, Wexler said, “"I think the United States has made a historical error in permitting the Cyprus dilemma to be characterized for decades in the way it has been characterized. When I visited Cyprus for the first time, I was floored by what I saw and experienced in terms of the demonization of Turkey when the facts on the ground suggest something very different. Unfortunately, most people in the U.S. don't know anything about Cyprus. Those that do will often understand it to be a Turkish attack, and not a response to a historical effort to unify Cyprus with Greece.”Recently, Wexler became Chair of the House Subcommittee of Europe, following the Democrat take over of the House of Representatives in the 2006. It is policy by many Chairs to take a neutral stance on issues. For example, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) cosponsored H.R.857 (American-Owned Property In Occupied Cyprus Claims Act) in 2005 in the 109th Congress. When Lofgren became Chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Court, Claims, in 2007 for the 110th Congress, she did not cosponsor the same H.R. 1456(American-Owned Property in Occupied Claims Act) because that bill was also referred to her subcommittee. Although Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) supports the Armenian Genocide, she did not cosponsor H.Res. 106 because as Speaker of the House she has a policy to not cosponsor legislation. Wexler in a March 2007 Subcommittee hearing on US-Turkish Relations said, “the amount of Turkish troops in Cyprus is overexaggerated”. According to Congressional sources, Wexler blocked any attempt to mark up H.Res. 405 in the Subcommittee of Europe. H.Res. 405 expresses support for the July 8, 2006 accord as a move forward to solve the Cyprus occupation which was agreed by Mehmet Talat and President Papadopoulos. Eventually, Congressman Lantos bypassed Wexler to pass this important resolution.
Mr. Christopher, we would like to know why you support Robert Wexler?
Mr. Christopher, do you agree with what Robert Wexler said as recently as last April in the US Congress?
"America also has an important role to play in the context of Cyprus. We need to step up our efforts to convince Europe to end the economic isolation of the northern part of Cyprus. We need to develop even more direct contacts between America and the Turkish Cypriots. So I think there are very important issues where America and Turkey can work together, and have worked together. So let’s talk about our differences, discuss them, put them in their proper context, and move on. "
Please Mr. Christopher say somthing!
