— The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry as the secretary prepares for his upcoming visit to Cyprus and Greece in December. In the November 19, 2015 letter, AHI President Nick Larigakis raises several policy issues to Secretary Kerry.
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry as the secretary prepares for his upcoming visit to Cyprus and Greece in December. In the November 19, 2015 letter, AHI President Nick Larigakis raises several policy issues to Secretary Kerry.
On Cyprus, Larigakis congratulates Secretary Kerry’s ongoing interest in the Cyprus settlement talks, but reminds the secretary that Turkey’s actions prevent stability in the region and harms U.S. interests.
“However, Turkey’s continuing occupation of Cyprus, its intransigence in solving the Cyprus problem, its refusal to recognize the Republic of Cyprus and its veto to the accession of Cyprus to international organizations prevents this stability and damages U.S. interests,” Larigakis writes.
Larigakis also presents AHI’s positon on a settlement to the Cyprus problem and how the United States can play a constructive role by pressuring Turkey to not manipulate the current settlement talks or restrict Turkish Cypriot Leader Mustafa Akinci’s ability to negotiate.
On Greece, Larigakis stated AHI’s appreciation for the Obama Administration’s support of NATO ally Greece during its debt and refugee crises.
“As Greece continues to follow through with its obligations to its creditors, we hope more tangible actions will be taken by the United States to support one of its most valuable and faithful allies, Greece,” Larigakis writes. “Moreover, Greece has done its utmost to manage an extraordinary refugee crisis with limited and strained resources amid its economic crisis.”
Larigakis adds that despite these unprecedented two crises, Greece remains a steadfast contributor to the defense efforts of NATO and to the projection of U.S. strategic interests in the eastern Mediterranean via NSA Souda Bay, Crete.
The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
