Vice President Joe Biden has just completed a historic visit to Cyprus where he made a very good impression on its citizens.
The last sitting vice president to visit Cyprus was Lyndon Johnson in 1962, before the tragic events we know only too well had unfolded.
But no less a historic event that also took place in Washington before Biden’s trip was that he met for almost an hour at the White House with a small group of Greek-Americans, to listen – once again – to their opinions.
It was a group of leaders who with passion, patience, and perseverance have been fighting for Cyprus for decades.
Among them were Philip Christopher, Nick Mouyiaris, Tasso Zambas, Peter Papanicolaou, AHEPA Executive Director Basil Mossaidis, and AHI President Nick Larigakis.
We can all imagine what they said to Biden, but it is the realization of the meeting rather than the content of the discussion that is noteworthy.
Did the meeting have something to do with the 2016 presidential election? Of course it did, and that, too, is an indication of the Greek-American community’s role in American politics.
It is also important to note that Biden ran and hugged Papanicolaou when he saw him again at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, leaving other guests speechless.
Biden thus emphasized the importance he attaches to Greek-Americans and the close relationship he has maintained with them through the years.
It is a pity that the Cypriot government did not think to invite its leaders to Nicosia for Biden’s visit.
It might not have had great significance for them – they visit often on their own – but it would have been important for President Anastasiades, because it would have shown that he enjoys our community’s support. And most significantly, it would have been important for Cyprus to acknowledge the Diaspora’s efforts to place the Cyprus issue on domestic and international agendas for many decades.
It is a pity, indeed.
Note: I am happy to report that today, a day after this commentary ran in our Greek language paper, the Cypriot President called and thanked those that were invited to the meeting with Vice President Joe Biden.
