AHEPA:National Security Council Responds to Community's Joint Letter on Varosha

 

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

December 30, 2020

National Security Council Responds to Community's Joint Letter on Varosha

The National Security Council (NSC) responded to an October 30, 2020 joint letter supported by AHEPA and several Greek and Cypriot American organizations that urged President Donald J. Trump to take action to hold Turkey accountable for its actions, especially for its illegal reopening of the Varosha beachfront in Cyprus, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates. The NSC’s December 29 letter reaffirmed the United States' position that the reopening of Varosha is provocative, inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolutions, and not conducive to a restart of settlement talks. “AHEPA welcomes and thanks the United States government’s continued close monitoring of the situation in Varosha and its expressed deep concern about the situation to Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities,” Supreme President Horiates said. “A difficult and trying year, 2020 ends with the NSC’s response to the diaspora’s concerns about Varosha. The defense of Hellenism is ongoing, even on the eve of a new year.” The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Federation of Cypriot-American Organizations (FCAO), Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), and the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, signed the October 30, 2020 letter. In addition, the organizations came together to place an advocacy ad in The Washington Times on October 29, 2020 conveying the same message to President Trump, urging him to sanction Turkey. The Administration eventually did impose sanctions on Turkey for its procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defense system on December 14, 2020, which the NSC also cited in its letter. ICYMI | Read more in the Winter 2020 edition of The Ahepan