US SUPPORT FOR STUDENT EXCHANGE DISAPPOINTS GREEK CYPRIOTS
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman, Turkey
Dec 14 2006
The Greek Cypriot administration, while trying hard in Brussels to
sabotage Turkey’s EU bid, also launched a campaign in San Diego to
deepen the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
The Greek lobby, which had initiated a campaign to cancel the student
exchange program between the University of California-San Diego (UCSD)
and the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Turkish Cyprus,
lost round one, but seems determined to continue its efforts.
Following extensive pressure from the Greek Cypriot embassy and the
Greek lobby, UCSD initiated an investigation into the exchange program,
but at a Dec. 6 meeting decided to continue the program.
However, a separate meeting will be convened in late January to
finalize the decision.
While the Greek lobby was seeking the support of two U.S. Democratic
senators to freeze the program, U.S. State Department Deputy
Undersecretary Matt Bryza stepped in to back the student exchange
program. Bryza’s letter to UCSD reportedly affected the university’s
decision to continue the program.
Despite the heavy influence of the Armenian-backed Greek lobby,
both the United States and university administrations favored the
continuation of the initiative.