AHI Hosts Capitol Hill Book Presentation by Professor Van Coufoudakis

“International Aggression and Violations of Human Rights: The Case of Turkey in Cyprus,” A Book Which Highlights Human Rights Violations in Cyprus

WASHINGTON, DC—On April 28, 2009 the American Hellenic Institute hosted a Capitol Hill book presentation featuring, “International Aggression and Violations of Human Rights: The Case of Turkey in Cyprus,” by Professor Van Coufoudakis, Rector Emeritus of University of Nicosia, Cyprus and Dean Emeritus of the School of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session with the audience.

“International Aggression and Violations of Human Rights: The Case of Turkey in Cyprus,” was published on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Adopted in the aftermath of World War II, this declaration recognized the importance of human rights for international peace and stability.

The material on which this volume is based on comes from: testimonies of witnesses, the victims of the Turkish invasion, Media accounts, NGO reports, reports by the European Commission of Human Rights on the four interstate applications filed by Cyprus against Turkey, numerous decisions by the European Court of Human Rights, resolutions by various international organizations including the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Professor Coufoudakis mentions these sources because their objectivity cannot be questioned. They are reports and actions are based on the European Convention of Human Rights.

“The Cyprus problem was and remains a problem of invasion, occupation and continuing violations of internationally guaranteed human rights. Actions by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and by individual Cypriots have elevated the importance of human rights in the search for a functional, viable and legitimate solution of the Cyprus problem. There is no statute of limitations for Turkey’s continuing violations of human rights in Cyprus,” stated Professor Coufoudakis.

Special guest who attended the event included: Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S. Andreas Kakouris, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and numerous Congressional staff members.

The following is a brief excerpt from the book:

“Cyprus became a EU member in 2004, while Turkey is in accession talks with the EU. This presents an opportunity, for the first time in recent years, to bring about a settlement of the perpetuated Cyprus problem. A settlement based on the restoration of human rights, on European law, and on the principles of Article VI of the EU founding treaty, will protect the rights of all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish alike.

Failure to take advantage of this opportunity will once again place real politic considerations above the rule of law, democracy, and human rights in post-Cold War Europe. This will undermine the progress made in Europe in the field of human rights over the last 50 fifty years, will not contribute to stability in the eastern Mediterranean, and will undermine the moral and legal stature, let alone the legitimacy, of European institutions.”

Dr. Van Coufoudakis is currently Rector Emeritus of University of Nicosia, Cyprus.  He is also Dean Emeritus of the School of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, and holds the rank of Professor Emeritus of Political Science. He served on the Graduate Faculty of Indiana University. From 1986 to 1995 he served as Assistant and later as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. He is the author of one book, the editor of four books, and the author of over eighty (80) journal articles and book chapters published in the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Greece and Cyprus. His latest book, edited in collaboration with Eugene T. Rossides is “The United States and Cyprus—Double Standards and The Rules of Law, Washington, DC: American Hellenic Institute Foundation,” (2002). His research focuses on the politics and foreign policies of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, as well as post-World War II U.S. foreign and defense policy with particular emphasis on Southeastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Professor Van Coufoudakis giving his book presentation.

To see full transcript of the event please see attachment (84KB PDF)

TO ORDER A COPY OF THE BOOK PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING:

MINNESOTA MEDITERRANEAN AND EAST EUROPEAN MONOGRAPHS

Modern Greek Studies
325 Social Sciences Building
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
267-19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 624-4526

ISBN-13: 978-0-9791218-2-1
ISBN-10: 0-9791218-2-5

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For additional information, please contact C. Franciscos Economides at (202) 785-8430 or at [email protected]. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org.