THEY THOUGHT we’d simply lost it, but Cyprus’ own piece of the moon, the Apollo Goodwill Moon Rock, was never given to the government in 1974 and instead ended up for sale on the black market in 2003, a retired NASA agent revealed yesterday.
The Goodwill Moon Rock given to the Republic of Cyprus has remained unaccounted for – and almost unheard of – for decades. But new information has now emerged which holds the key to a little-publicised 35-year-old mystery.
Until yesterday, the moon rock was considered to be have been lost in the tumultuous events of 1974, when the Presidential Palace was burned to the ground. Even representatives from the Palace believed the priceless artefact to have been lost forever.
Tassoulla Tatakoudi, a representative of the Presidential Palace, said “I have investigated but found nothing. Of course, the palace was burnt down in 1974, so if it was here it would have been destroyed. Everything was destroyed. There are no records here due to the fire, no photos, nothing. Everything we have is from after 1974.”
However, it came to light yesterday that the Goodwill Moon Rock was never given to Cyprus at all but was kept at the US embassy in Nicosia during the events of 1974. The coup d’état, the Turkish invasion and the subsequent occupation of the island led to the presentation of the moon rock being delayed.
However, US ambassador to Cyprus, Roger Davies, was shot dead during the events of 1974 and American diplomatic personnel were evacuated from the island. During this time, the moon rock mysteriously disappeared.
It has now emerged that the moon rock of Cyprus, complete with the accompanying plaque and flag, was put on the black market in 2003. The would-be seller was a US diplomat’s relative.
Unfortunately when US law enforcement got involved, the seller went underground and the moon rock disappeared yet again.
Joseph Gutheinz, a retired NASA Special Agent now a college Professor at the University of Phoenix, has spent years looking for the missing moon rocks of the world.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, Gutheinz said “I have just received an allegation that the Cyprus Goodwill Moon Rock was kept by an American and offered for sale. I am chasing that down now… I will be jumping all over this today.
“It is one thing when a foreign leader or a common thief steals a moon rock – that is bad. However when an American keeps a moon rock gift intended for a foreign nation that is even worse. If this is true, it is a black day for America.”
“It appears that in 2003, a report was made to NASA and I would have to think was also made known to the Department of State; alleging that the Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock, designated to be given to Cyprus was in fact retained by a US diplomat and later someone tried to sell that moon rock on the black market.
“Apparently, at the time that the moon rock was to be handed over to Cyprus, [the] nation was experiencing some difficulties and the gift was delayed initially, with good intentions, and then retained.
“I have two concerns here,” said Gutheinz. “First, an invaluable American treasure may have been stolen. Second, because of that possible theft the people of Cyprus have been denied what 134 other nations of the world received, a Goodwill Moon Rock.”
Gutheinz has also requested a Congressional Enquiry into the matter.
In an earlier interview, Gutheinz said, “Everything that happened has now become clear.
“The moon rock was sent to Cyprus but was retained by the US embassy because of the turmoil. My gut tells me that the diplomat probably kept it originally for legitimate reasons. But then following the shooting of the US ambassador and during the subsequent evacuation of [Americans from] the country, it went missing. Whoever kept it was wrong.
“I have a good idea of who stole it, I won’t tell you exactly but it was a diplomat’s relative. In 2003 a diplomat’s kid tried to sell it on the black market. But law enforcement would’ve got involved and they would’ve muddied up the water.
“It’s unlikely that it will be found now, although by generating publicity it is possible that the person who has it may come forward, maybe they don’t know that it’s illegal for them to have it.
“It’s just damned sad that I didn’t hear about this in 2003. I could’ve pretended to be interested in buying it like I did with the Honduras rock. I could’ve got it in 2003.”
Gutheinz hadn’t slept for two days when he spoke to the Cyprus Mail and was “running on 100 per cent adrenaline.”
Of all the stories from across the world that I’ve come across while investigating these moon rocks, this is by far the most interesting,” he said “I just can’t believe this story. I can’t tell you how exciting it is for me.
“I would never have guessed that it was an American that kept the rock. In every other country it has been someone in the government of the recipient country that took the rock. I have not once come across a story like this in all the years I have been looking into these moon rocks.
“It’s just incredible. I am blown away. The reasons why this moon rock was forgotten all makes sense now. This story just has everything. It’s an international mystery. We’re talking terrorism, theft, war, murder, black market intrigue. It’s just an amazing story.”
Gutheinz said that he would assign his whole graduate class to the investigation. “I’ll tell them all, this is our new project. Drop everything else, this is all that matters.”
“I have two aims now,” he said.
“I want this thing found. And I want the people of Cyprus to be given a Goodwill Moon Rock. It is fundamentally wrong that you don’t have one.”
