AHI CONGRATULATES CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS

WASHINGTON, DC—On April 8, 2004, AHI president, Gene Rossides, sent a letter to Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos to congratulate him for his "strong leadership" and his "call for a 'resounding NO' on the April 24th referendum" of the Annan Plan. The letter to President Papadopoulos follows:

April 8, 2004

VIA FAX:

His Excellency Tassos Papadopoulos
Presidential Palace
Nicosia, Cyprus

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of all of us at the American Hellenic Institute we congratulate you and commend you for your decision to call for a "resounding no" on the April 24th referendum on a Cyprus settlement plan proposed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

We know that these past few weeks have been extremely difficult and the pressure enormous. However, given the nature of the one-sided dimension of the Annan Plan, which "adversely affect the interests of the Greek Cypriots" as you stated, your decision was the only one possible.

As you further state, "the decisions we take today form and determine the fate of the generations to come."

Your strong leadership, fairness and vision, I believe, will help you in your resolve to get through these next few difficult weeks leading up to the vote and ultimately to bring to Cyprus on May 1 a new dawn that will eventually bring the functional and fair solution for all the people of Cyprus.

As always, be assured that the American Hellenic Institute will continue its efforts to support a settlement based on the rule of law as in the best interests of the U.S. and all the parties concerned.

Kalo Pascha kai Kali Anastasi.

Warmest regards.

Respectfully,

/s/Gene Rossides

For additional information, please contact Vivian Basdekis at (202) 785-8430 or at vivian@ahiworld.org. For general information on AHI, see our Web site at www.ahiworld.org.

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