MILLIONS MORE in cash is needed to form an effective lobby for Cyprus in the US, President of the International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Philip Christopher said yesterday.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, Christopher was speaking at the end of the diaspora’s annual week-long conference in Nicosia about the work of the Greek and Cypriot lobbies in the US.
He said that in the first years following the invasion, the Greeks in the US were not clear as to how to move about on Capitol Hill.
In 1976, their first experience came with the presidential campaign of Jimmy Carter who “gave promises” at the time.
“We were all fooled of course because we soon realised how politicians work,” said Christopher.
“The promises of 1976 and the tolling of church bells in Cyprus – signalling hope for freedom, and the disappointment which followed – all this was a significant lesson for us, and made us more determined to become established, to get into the party ranks, learn how politicians work, how senators move about and most importantly for the US, how much money you are willing to put into some campaigns and public relations”.
Christopher said that for 20 years now, his constant argument was that the Republic of Cyprus needed to spend more money on enlightenment abroad.
“This is an issue which is still not clear. If you look at the Republic’s budget for enlightenment this year, it might only be €4 million, but for defence, it is €300 million. If we buy one or two more tanks, we cannot save Cyprus. But if you can spend $20 million in America to promotion one’s cause, you will have significant developments as far as that cause is concerned,” he said.
The PSEKA President said during the Michael Dukakis presidential campaign, the diaspora contributed $22 out of the $80 million spent on the election campaign.
“This is important, when you think that this was the contribution of a minority. And Dukakis is always referring to the Cyprus issue in every speech,” Christopher added.
Christopher said the diaspora supported Bill Clinton from 1992 until 2000 and with George Stephanopoulos at the White House its influence was wide-ranging.
“A lot of money is needed if the US position is to change, bearing in mind US interests in Turkey,” he said. “There are think tanks that prepare reports.”
Cyprus’ geographic position should be pointed out as an advantage, he said but to turn it into an advantage, it means the interests of the US should be expressed through this”.
“I am one of those who believe that only the US can put pressure on Turkey for a solution. The interest of the US and the interests of Cyprus must be the same As long as they do not converge, you cannot have a solution. And unfortunately, neither the Greek, nor the Cypriot government have dealt with this issue, that we must somehow associate the interests of the US with ours to solve our problem”, he added.
The PSEKA leader expressed optimism that with Obama’s election and Biden’s influence as well as Clinton’s position at the State Department “we can change many things”
“And the first thing that needs to change is for the Cypriot government to persuade the US that a united Republic of Cyprus can secure the interests of the US in the Middle East. The Republic of Cyprus can be the bridge of Europe with the Middle East. These are the things we have to look into”, he said.
Christopher also said the Greeks of the diaspora support the President of the Republic just as they have always done with all his predecessors.
“We should make it clear that we are not stuck back in 1974, now we are members of the EU, and we have to persuade them that we demand the withdrawal of the Turkish troops, we want the refugees to return to their homes. This is a Republic of Cyprus which is economically developed and we should look at economic interests too”, he concluded.
